FRANCE. 1983. Halfway between Omaha and Utah beaches stands the Pointe du Hoc, dominating the sea with its vertical cliffs. It was crowned by a battery in a concrete shelter. This had to be taken by the Allies in order to free the beaches of the menace which it threatened. The US 2nd Ranger Battalion did the job, approaching the cliff by boat with fire ladders and rafts they shot grappling irons up the cliff face, under close naval artillery cover and managed to scale to the summit. In the following days they withstood the German counter attacks.