Texas opened the Normandy bombardment against Pointe du Hoc, firing 255 14-inch shells in 34 minutes before shifting to other targets. Airborne spotters then directed the main battery against reinforcement areas, inland batteries, and strongpoints while the five-inch guns worked on beach exits. As Omaha's situation deteriorated, the ship closed to roughly 3,000 yards and used minimum-elevation main-battery fire to help clear exit D1. Five-inch fire engaged smaller targets, including snipers, illustrating the value of multiple gun calibres when supporting troops at very short range.
Chapter · 52:33-1:01:24
Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and close support
At D-Day, Texas used sustained bombardment and unusually close-in fire to support the assault at Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc.