Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Merville Gun Battery

Battle of Merville Gun Battery was a battle fought on 6 June 1944 at Merville-Franceville-Plage, in what is now France. It was part of Operation Tonga. The recorded result: 6 June 1944: British victory; 7 June 1944: German victory. Recorded strength: 6 June 1944: 150 (assault force); 600 (in total); 7 June 1944: about 150 men against 130.

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IWM caption : PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE FOR OPERATION 'OVERLORD'. Overhead aerial of the gun battery at Merville (3km east of Ouistreham) consisting of four medium casemates, after air bombardment, c
IWM caption : PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE FOR OPERATION 'OVERLORD'. Overhead aerial of the gun battery at Merville (3km east of Ouistreham) consisting of four medium casemates, after air bombardment, c . photographer not identified. Presumably RAF. Post-Work: User:W.wolny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought6 June 1944
WhereMerville-Franceville-Plage, France49.270N, 0.196W
Outcome6 June 1944: British victory; 7 June 1944: German victory
BelligerentsUnited KingdomagainstNazi Germany
Casualties and losses6 June 1944: 75 (during the assault); 7 June 1944: heavyand22 killed; 22 captured
Part ofOperation Tonga1944

Record

Date6 June 1944
PlaceMerville-Franceville-Plage, France
49.270N, 0.196W
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength6 June 1944: 150 (assault force); 600 (in total); 7 June 1944: about 150 men130
Casualties and losses6 June 1944: 75 (during the assault); 7 June 1944: heavy22 killed; 22 captured
Commanders
  • Terence Otway
  • Raimund Steiner
Battle of Merville Gun BatteryBattle of Merville Gun BatteryAction of 30 May 1798Battle of Douvres Radar StationBattle for CaenBattle of CaenSiege of CaenAction of 30 May 1798Le HavreRennesRouenAmiensVersaillesCherbourgDieppe100 km49.270N, 0.196W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Elsewhere in 1944

Battle of Merville Gun Battery is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 1,383 in present-day France.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4871715, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Merville Gun Battery, revision 1370449619, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.