RESULTS OF ARTILLERY FIRE AND BOMBINGS in Montebourg (top). A 155-mm. howitzer M 1 firing on the defenses of the city of Cherbourg (bottom). On 19 June Montebourg fell to the U. S. forces and Valognes was taken the following day. The advance on Cherbourg was continued by three U. S. infantry divisions. An attack on Cherbourg was launched on the afternoon of 22 June, after an 80-minute air and artillery bombardment of the outer defenses, but the enemy at first fought back with determination.
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THE BOIS DU MONT DU ROC AREA. On 22–23 June the U. S. troops launched an attack from the valley to seize Hill 171. The critical enemy defense areas at Flottemanville-Hague and Hill 171 were closely pressed and before dark on 23 June the area of Hill 171 was reached and 400 enemy prisoners were taken. The Flottemanville-Hague defenses were bombed by Allied planes and the defenses were taken by the ground forces shortly thereafter. The enemy’s fortified line protecting Cherbourg was then broken and the U. S. troops were ready for the final drive to the city.
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FORTIFICATIONS AROUND CHERBOURG DAMAGED by Allied shelling and bombardment. The German defenders refused to surrender the city to the attacking U. S. forces, and on 22 June a co-ordinated attack was launched by the attackers, supported by aircraft of the tactical air forces and heavy artillery fire. However, no real break-through was achieved by this bombardment and the U. S. troops resorted to the methodical reduction of the strong points. It was not until 24 June that the main defenses cracked, and the next day the three attacking infantry divisions, supported by heavy naval bombardment, reached the outskirts of the city.
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