NJC/00/261/33

CONTENTS


PART I.	COVER PLAN – FORTITUDE (SOUTH)
	Appendix A. Order of Battle.
	Appendix B. Wireless Diagram and Location of Formations.
	Appendix C. Dummy Craft Areas.
	Appendix D. Air Plan.
	Appendix E. Night Lighting.
PART II^*.	DIVERSIONARY PLANS
	Appendix A. Map of Sea Diversions.
	Appendix B. Map of Airborne Diversions.
PART III^*	Decoy Lighting of NEPTUNE Beaches and Beach Exits
	Appendix A. Map of Decoy Beaches and Exits.

Introduction

1. The Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief Expeditionary Force, the Commander-in-Chief 21 Army Group and the Air Commander-in-Chief Allied Expeditionary Air Force have been charged by the Supreme Commander with the responsibility for directing towards the Pas de Calais the threat created by the forces under their control and for concealing the state of readiness of these forces so as to indicate NEPTUNE D plus 45 as the real target date. The three Commanders-in-Chief are also responsible for continuing the threat against the Pas de Calais after NEPTUNE D Day. Further they will adhere to the broad design of Plan FORTITUDE.

Story

2. The story on which Plan FORTITUDE is based falls naturally into two phases:

(a) Phase (i)

The main Allied assault is to be made against the Pas de Calais area.

In the first place, the notional date for the operation will be D Day plus 45. There will come a time, however, when as D Day approaches our preparations will indicate the imminence of the assault, and when the enemy will realise the approximate date of our attack. When it is estimated that this period has been reached, the imminence of an attack will be confirmed by special means, but the area of die main attack will remain the Pas de Calais area.

(b) Phase (ii)

NEPTUNE is a preliminary and diversionary operation, designed to draw German reserves away from the Pas de Calais and Belgium. Once the main German reserves have been committed to the NEPTUNE battle, the main Allied attack against the Pas de Calais will take place.

The enemy will be induced to believe for as long as possible after NEPTUNE D Day that the main threat to the Pas de Calais is still to be carried out.

3. The code-word QUICKSILVER is used to cover the various operations which implement the threat to the Pas de Calais area either before or after D Day.

(a) Phase (i) (Before D Day)

4. The Supreme Commander has under command two Army Groups, the 21 Army Group, and the First United States Army Group, which consists of the First Canadian Army with under command 2 Canadian and VIII US Corps, and the Third United States Army with under command XX Corps and XII Corps.^*

The First United States Army Group is located in the East and South-East of England.

The Air Force associated with the First United States Army is the Ninth United States Air Force stationed in the South and South-East.

(b) Phase (ii) (After D Day)

The First United States Army Group and a proportion of its associated Air Force is ready to attack the Pas de Calais. Once the forces under command 21 Army Group have enticed the enemy reserves in the Pas de Calais area towards the NEPTUNE bridgehead, the Supreme Commander intends to assault the area Pas de Calais with another Army Group.

Before the final assault a series of large-scale exercises will take place (of which the mounting of the assault on NEPTUNE is one).

QUICKSILVER II

W.T. Plan

5. (a) Appendix A shows the notional Order of Battle of the First United States Army Group, and at Appendix B is shown the diagram of the wireless communications of this Army Group.

(b) These stations, as shown in the diagram, will commence to operate from 24th April.

(c) Two notional combined exercises, the first DRYSHOD, the second WETSHOD, will be held by the 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade assisted by Force G. These exercises will take place on about 16th and 25th April.

Craft Indication

6. (a) In order that the threat supported by the wireless traffic of the notional First United States Army Group should be substantiated by the result of enemy aerial reconnaissance dummy landing craft will be erected and maintained in accordance with the table at Appendix C.

(b) Naval wireless traffic proportionate to the number of craft will be simulated in the mooring areas, appropriate Army wireless traffic being linked to these flotillas as far as possible.

(c) The signing of roads and special areas consistent with the story of the embarkation of the force will be carried out in Eastern and South-Eastern Commands.

QUICKSILVER IV

Air Plan

7. (a) The details of the Air Plan for the threat to Pas de Calais is contained in the general Air Plan for FORTITUDE which is attached at Appendix D.

(b) In additional a short programme against the beach area in the area Pas de Calais will be carried out immediately prior to D Day of OVERLORD. This will be supported by the tactical railway bombing plan which includes attacks on rail targets in the cover area.

QUICKSILVER V

Increase of Activity at Dover

8. In order to show the correct increase in activity in the area of Combined Headquarters Dover (Headquarters of 2 Canadian Corps) special work will be carried out to give the impression of extra tunnelling and the erection of further wireless stations being undertaken.

Appropriate new wireless circuits will be opened up.

QUICKSILVER VI

Night Lighting

9. In order to show activity at night in the areas where dummy craft are indicated, night lighting installations simulating vehicle lights and beach lighting will be erected in accordance with the table at Appendix E. These installations will be operative from mid-May onwards.

APPENDIX A TO PART I OF JOINT COMMANDERS’ PLAN

(The notional Order of Battle of the First United States Army Group is given at page 92).

APPENDIX B TO PART I OF JOINT COMMANDERS’ PLAN

(The wireless communications closely followed the lines of the Order of Battle referred to at Appendix A; the diagram is therefore omitted.

APPENDIX C TO PART I OF JOINT COMMANDERS’ PLAN

Serial	Place and Area of Berthing	Approx. Quantity of Craft
1 Yarmouth	Breydon Water	50
Ref. OS 1” to 1 mile, Sheet 67.
2 Lowestoft	Harbour 992105–996105	20
Ref. OS 1” to 1 mile, Sheet 77.
3 Waldringfield	R. Deben	66
R. Deben.
Ref. OS 1” to 1 mile, Sheet 87.
4 Wolverstone	R. Orwell	70
Cathouse,
R. Orwell.
Ref. OS 1” to 1 mile, Sheet 87.
5 Dover	Dover Harbour	46
Ref. OS 1” to 1 mile, Sheet 117A.
6 Folkestone	Folkestone Harbour	18
Ref. OS 1” to 1 mile, Sheet 117A.
	Total	—— 270

APPENDIX D TO PART I OF JOINT COMMANDERS’ PLAN AIR PLAN STORY A

1. The main large-scale threat will be mounted by the actual forces in the South of England and the enemy will be induced to believe that the main attack will be at a later date than NEPTUNE D Day, and directed against the Pas de Calais area. This threat will be implemented by air forces by:

(i) Long-term preparations in South-East England indicating a target date of NEPTUNE D plus 45.

(ii) Carrying out training flying in the South-East by fighter type squadrons based in the South. This will indicate that familiarisation training for these squadrons is being undertaken prior to an assault against the Pas de Calais.

(iii) Carrying out training by High Speed Air Sea Rescue launches in the South-East. The use of two launches can simulate training of much larger numbers. Air Sea Rescue Squadrons will also carry out training in this area.

(iv) Carrying out a large-scale air operation, on or about NEPTUNE D minus 3 with fighters and a large force of bombers. A proportion of the fighter squadrons will be flown, on the days of this operation from airfields in the South, to advanced bases in the South-East from which they will operate. The aim of the operation will be to test the efficiency of operating fighter squadrons in ‘shuttle service’ from advanced bases whose position gives tactical advantage. The use of a large bomber force gives a good ‘cover’ excuse for staging this test. The movement of aircraft from the South of the Thames Estuary and Kent will be arranged to give the impression of a desire to conceal the operation. This will involve the careful manipulation of call-signs, the arrangement of deliberate indiscretions by R/T and very strict orders as to the height at which aircraft are to fly.

(v) Commencing the construction of additional dummy hard standings on airfields in the South-East to strengthen the impression of incomplete preparation already given by normal construction being carried out on these airfields.

(vi) Undertaking small-scale operations of the same nature as that referred to in sub-paragraph (iv) at frequent intervals with small air forces operating under the control of Sectors in the South-East. This will involve artistic disclosure of such operations by deliberate indiscretions on R/T and manipulation of call-signs.

STORY B

2. After NEPTUNE D Day, it will be evident to the enemy that a major attack has been launched. It will, therefore, be necessary to maintain the threat against the Pas de Calais. This will be implemented by:

REAL OPERATIONS

3. The bombing programme as designed does not compromise NEPTUNE and assists the Cover Plan.

Operations which indicate the NEPTUNE area will be compensated by ‘Cover’ flights against the ‘Cover’ area.

CULMINATION OF THREAT

4. It may become necessary for the threat against the Pas de Calais to culminate in order to contain or delay enemy forces which might be employed in areas where their presence would be embarrassing. It is estimated that the most likely period for this culmination would be from NEPTUNE D Day to D plus 14. If and when it is decided that the threat should culminate, concentrated close support bombing attacks, consistent with the time, size and scope of the operation, should be undertaken.

APPENDIX E TO PART I OF JOINT COMMANDERS’ PLAN
NIGHT LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS

Dummy Craft Indication Area	Site of Night Lighting Installations	Ref. Map 1” to 1 mile Sheets 67, 77, 87, 98
1. Great Yarmouth	Breydon Water	(67/954246)
2. Lowestoft	Oulton Broad	(77/957109)
3. Lowestoft	Benacre Ness	(77/992011)
4. Deben River	Whitehall Farm	(87/742613)
5. ” ”	Kirton Creek	(87/745596)
6. ” ”	Falkenham Marshes	(87/762571)
7. Orwell River	Long Reach	(87/675557)
8. ” ”	Trimley Marshes	(98/703540)

APPENDIX IV

FORTITUDE SOUTH

Joint Commanders’ Plan