BOAT-LANDING DRILL during a training exercise, Slapton Sands near Weymouth, Devon, England, May 1944. The infantrymen shown here have their equipment as complete as it will be during the actual invasion landings. They are descending ladders into an LCVP. Standing with his back to the camera at the top of the ladder is an officer, identified by the broad white vertical stripe painted on the back of his helmet. Noncommissioned officers had a similar horizontal stripe painted on their helmets.] [Illustration: ENGLAND MEN AND TRUCKS ON THE UPPER DECK OF AN LST near Slapton Sands in May 1944. As D Day drew nearer loading exercises and amphibious operations were practiced by the invasion troops. The greatest advantage the United States was to have in equipment over the Germans was the multiple-drive motor equipment, principally the ¼-ton truck and the 2½-ton truck. Shown in the picture are: ¼-ton 4×4 truck, ¾-ton 4×4 weapons carrier truck, 1½-ton 6 × 6 personnel and cargo truck and 2½-ton 6×6 truck.] [Illustration: ENGLAND AMPHIBIAN TRUCKS CARRY SUPPLIES ASHORE from a coaster under the protection of a smoke screen during landing maneuvers (top). A 2½-ton amphibian truck hitting the beach during maneuvers (bottom). These versatile trucks proved invaluable in bringing supplies to the beaches during the early stages of landing and during the build-up after the invasion of Normandy. During one of the amphibious exercises, which were made as realistic as possible, two LST’s were sunk by German E-boats. In other respects the training was successful and valuable lessons were learned.] [Illustration] [Illustration: ENGLAND LCVP’S CIRCLING NEAR THE MOTHER SHIP while waiting for the signal to land on the beach during landing operation training at Slapton Sands (top). Members of an armored unit being briefed at a marshalling area (bottom). At the conclusion of the training exercises in May all the assault, follow-up, and build-up troops moved from their camps to marshalling areas for final staging.] [Illustration] [Illustration: ENGLAND MEN AND EQUIPMENT BEING LOADED INTO LST’S (top) and LCVP’s (bottom) during the first days of June 1944 at one of the “hards” (paved strips running to the water’s edge) in southern England for the invasion of Normandy. The training given the assault forces during the amphibious exercises was so thorough that the final loadings for the invasion were accomplished with a minimum of delay and confusion and resembled another exercise more than the real thing. Two and one-half years after the first U. S. troops sailed for the United Kingdom, the training and preparation was completed and the large invasion force of U. S. and Allied troops was to receive its real test in battle against the enemy.] [Illustration] NORMANDY CAMPAIGN