NBB - Naval Beach Brigade
This is what i have been able to collect from a number of sources, if there is any mistakes, plz. Don´t hesitate to correct me, it has been quite difficult to find much about this interesting part of the invasion.
Prior to the invasion it was realised by the Americans that it would be essential to have qualified personel on the beaches to direct not only the landingcrafts on the way to the beach, but also the heavy traffic of
personel and tanks on the US beaches.
With that backgrund the Naval Beach Brigade was formed and trained i England and consisted of personel from US Navy, The british had there own personel for the task - The Beach Command.
Beside being the "traffic cops" of the invasion, the NBBs also set up firstaid stations, communications and worked prior and during the invasion on
removing mines, obstacels and other difficulties.
So the NBBs were among the first on the beach.
They were equiped more or less like the average G.I. but with 3 main differences:
1) the recived paratropers boots prior to the invasion, since they were better at keeping sand from the surf out than the normal gaiters.
2) each member painted special markings on his helmet - shoving his unit and aiding him not being taken for a German. Some had painted or printed "USN" on there backs, mostly i white - some in black.
3) They had the navy wetgear.
They were also armed like the G.I.s - but some also had the Springfield, and no heavy weapons like machineguns or mortars.
My dio shows 4 G.I.s preparing to move inland, while 2 NBB´s takes cover on the beach and directing landingcrafts over the "walkie talkie". The base is
cut out from MDF and the sand is a mixture of real beachsand (not from Normandy though...) and diluted white glue. The concrete wall is made from strips of balsawood and the tall grass is a worn out old paintbrush.
I thought about some casualties on the beach, but first i ran out of space on the base and didn´t wanted it too cluttered, secondly the idea don´t really apeal to me.
