Pointe du Hoc, a prominent headland situated between Utah and Omaha, was assigned to two hundred men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder.
Their task was to scale the 30 m (98 ft) cliffs with grappling hooks, ropes, and ladders to destroy the coastal gun battery located at the top.
The cliffs were defended by the German 352nd Infantry Division and French collaborators firing from above.
Allied destroyers Satterlee and Talybont provided fire support.
After scaling the cliffs, the Rangers discovered that the guns had already been withdrawn.
They located the weapons, unguarded but ready to use, in an orchard some 550 metres (600 yd) south of the point, and disabled them with explosives.

The now-isolated Rangers fended off numerous counter-attacks from the German 914th Grenadier Regiment.
The men at the point became isolated and some were captured.
By dawn on D+1, Rudder had only 90 men able to fight.
Relief did not arrive until D+2, when members of the 743rd Tank Battalion and others arrived.
By then, Rudder's men had run out of ammunition and were using captured German weapons.
Several men were killed as a result, because the German weapons made a distinctive noise, and the men were mistaken for the enemy.
By the end of the battle, the Rangers casualties were 135 dead and wounded, while German casualties were 50 killed and 40 captured.
An unknown number of French collaborators were executed.
Pointe du Hoc, a prominent headland situated between Utah and Omaha, was assigned to two hundred men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder. Their task was to scale the 30 m (98 ft) cliffs with grappling hooks, ropes, and ladders to destroy the coastal gun battery located at the top. The cliffs were defended by the German 352nd Infantry Division and French collaborators firing from above. Allied destroyers Satterlee and Talybont provided fire support. After scaling the cliffs, the Rangers discovered that the guns had already been withdrawn. They located the weapons, unguarded but ready to use, in an orchard some 550 metres (600 yd) south of the point, and disabled them with explosives.
The now-isolated Rangers fended off numerous counter-attacks from the German 914th Grenadier Regiment. The men at the point became isolated and some were captured. By dawn on D+1, Rudder had only 90 men able to fight. Relief did not arrive until D+2, when members of the 743rd Tank Battalion and others arrived. By then, Rudder's men had run out of ammunition and were using captured German weapons. Several men were killed as a result, because the German weapons made a distinctive noise, and the men were mistaken for the enemy. By the end of the battle, the Rangers casualties were 135 dead and wounded, while German casualties were 50 killed and 40 captured. An unknown number of French collaborators were executed.
Normandy landings