RM Engineers - LCOCU's (Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units)

ON D-DAY,  six Royal Marine and four Royal Navy LCOCUs, Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units [LCOCUs pronounced Lock-yews] each comprising an officer and 11 men, were deployed from LCAs from H-Hour. 

LCOCUs (3, 4 RN), 9 and 10 were assigned to Gold Beach (Force G), 7 and 8 to Sword (Force S), and (1, 5 RN), 11 and 12 to Juno (Force J). 

Launched from LCAs and operating from inflatable boats, they were responsible for clearing obstructions in depths between 3m and 1.4m, while the Royal Engineers had the job of clearing shallower areas and the beach itself.

They were all intended to clear paths through beach obstacles, but owing to the conditions of the tide and dangers from incoming craft the men were unable to use their shallow water diving gear, but nevertheless managed to clear some obstacles. 

The original concept of operations was to dive on the obstacles from LCA Mother craft to clear them, however due to rough seas and congested lanes this was abandoned and obstacles were cleared by more traditional methods

Despite coming under artillery and mortar fire and being shot at, the LCOCUs in some areas succeeded in clearing a thousand-yard-wide gaps in the offshore defenses before helping the Royal Engineers with their tasks. By the end of the day, they had cleared 2500 obstacles at the cost of Acting Leading Seaman Allister Austin (LCOCU 3) being killed and several other divers wounded, some seriously.

Royal Marine Commando Engineers prepare to demolish Czech hedgehogs om a Normandy beach designed to prevent an Allied forces landing.

RN Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Units (1, 5, 11 and 12 LCOCU)

The army engineers were assisted in the task of clearing obstacles by RN Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Units. These were specially trained and equipped to deal with obstacles in more than three foot of water.

They were also to mark the gaps and any obstacles within them. 1 and 5 LCOCU landed on 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade front. Each unit had its own LCA which carried the units special equipment and they landed with the first wave of infantry. They soon found that the water was too deep for them to work on the seaward belt of obstacles and they moved on to those further up the beach. When they had to abandon this task they used their skills and equipment to assist with rescue work on the beach.

There are reports of them taking ropes out to landing craft for personnel to hang on to as they waded through the waves. They also used their underwater gear to attach tow ropes to vehicles so they could be towed ashore. [2]

For “gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the initial landings on the coast of Normandy”, Lieutenants Robert Billington, Harold Hargreaves and John Taylor of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Lt David Cogger RM was awarded the Military Cross. 

Royal Marine Sergeants Keith Briggs and Peter Jones, Petty Officers Sydney Eagles and George Lock, Leading Seaman Frank Livingstone and Marine Eric Deans were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Related Royal Marines 'Dits':

1. The RM Engineer Commando

2. Royal Marines Engineer Commando - Burma

References/ Further Reading:

[2] Juno Beach landing Tables - By Lt (Ret’d) Barry N Miller, CD, CME