Warspite joined Bombardment Force D with six operational 15-inch guns and opened fire from about 26,000 yards in support of the 3rd Division at Sword Beach. She may have been the first battleship to fire on D-Day, in part because she may have begun before receiving the formal order. After firing roughly 300 shells, she crossed to Portsmouth to replenish ammunition. Warspite returned to support American forces at Utah Beach and then the British 69th Infantry Brigade near Gold Beach. A damaged veteran could still sustain repeated heavy-gun missions across several invasion sectors.
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Warspite's D-Day bombardment mission
With only six operational 15-inch guns, Warspite supported Sword, Utah, and Gold beaches and may have been the first battleship to open fire on D-Day.