Located 4 miles west of Omaha Beach, a battery of six German 155 m.m. Howitzers encased in massive concrete fortifications were the strongest defensive position on the Normandy front.
It was imperative that the complete destruction of this fortification was achieved to prevent it firing at the American troops who would be landing at Omaha and Utah.
Bombing alone could not provide this guarantee, only an attack by ground forces could ensure the full disablement of the German firepower.
Due to the location of the battery, which was on a plateau with a sheer drop of at least 100 ft. It became obvious to the Allied Commanders that only a special force trained to the up- most readiness could achieve success.

Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder, three companies of the 2nd. Rangers would land at the same time as the forces on Omaha Beach. The fourth company would land at the western most point of Omaha to attack another German defence at Pointe de la Percee.
The 5th. Rangers along with the remaining two companies from the 2nd. would form the second wave.

04:30 hrs. June 6th. 1944 on the deck of  H.M.S. Ben Machree, James Earl Rudder gathered his men together.

On the run-in to the beach at Pointe du Hoc, Rudder's men were carried away by strong currents from the intended landing point, it took them 40 minutes to correct the position.
The second wave under the command of Lieutenant Max Schneider assumed the landing had failed so therefore committed themselves to land at Omaha and to attack the position from this point.

"Rudders Rangers" all 225 of them, were now on the very small beach at Pointe du hoc, The only thing between them and the German Guns were 100 ft. cliffs and well dug in German troops to meet them at the top!!