Rodman (DD 456) - Naval Cruise Book

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A convoy of Landing Craft Leaving England for the Norfrnancly Invasion Note Bafrrage Balloons for Repelling Low Altitude Attacks f 9

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NORMANDY AND CHERBOURG--Jana 6. llllii The'iRODMAN arrived at Normandy at about noon on D-Day. after iafdy UKQ large convoy of landing craft, of which she was the escort commander. Ou uvinl th was ordered to the area screen, an assignment she kept during most of the It WR ing a night air attack that the RODMAN shot down ' her first plane, A JU-88 thlt an bomb our ships in the area. Near the middle of the operation the RODMAN returned to England for supplies. to the area, she carried as a passenger, Major General William Porter, USA., head oi tht U. Chemical Warfare Service. As a climax to the invasion of Normandy the RUDMAN participated in the r Cherbourg. On June 25th a Task Force consisting of two U. S. blttleshipl, two S. cruisers, two British light cruisers, and a mixed force of U. S. and Britilh 6yUl'l into Cherbourg, France, to neutralize the port's defences. It was during thin g gg RODMAN fired on German held soil for the first time, in silencing some M :ig guns. Severaltimes the ship was straddled by eight and eleven inch nhl, 1 man was slightly wounded by shrapnel, the ship itself emerged ungggqg,

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THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE--All' The RODMAN had a ringside seat for the invasion of Southern Franca. in fire-support group consisting of U. S. battleships, U. S. and French cruisers. ld destroyers. The group, under Rear Admiral Bryant, U. S. NSVY, left fm' tb' Taranto, Italy, on August 11, 1944. They were to support the landings at Ste. about 0530 the RODMAN, who had been assigned the task of supporting the The task group arrived at the invasion area early in the morning of D-Day, . . pu commenced steaming into the beach. The sweeping was over by 0600, and thai then on her fire-support station less than- two thousand yards from the bench. the rest of the fire support group to take their stations. n It was because she had to approach so close to the beach that the RODUAN hd firing the first shot at the enemy here. There were eleven inch shone blttu-lg the nearest one only six thousand yards from the RODMAN. Just bdore H lg mence the scheduled bombardment, the RODMAN observed a gun Blah fmg is nearest battery. She immediately commenced counter-battery fire. at the S1 the task group commander of the situation. The heavy ships then C0mlBE signated target, and the RODMAN shifted fire to her scheduled job that of house on a given sector of the beach. 10