HMS Warspite (03)

In the British sector the heavy bombarding ships for the counter-battery tasks were organized in three Bombarding Forces. Of these the largest was Bombarding Force "D", composed of the battleships Warspite and Ramillies, the monitor Roberts and five cruisers. This force was to deal with the formidable batteries on the eastern flank of the assault area and south of the Seine. (The heaviest batteries which could bear on the assault area were those at Le Havre, which included guns up to 15-inch. These batteries would, however, it was hoped, be neutralized by bombing before D Day, and in fact they do not appear to have interfered with the assault and no naval fire had to be directed at them.)

Royal Navy Operation Neptune 1944-06-06 Coast of Normandy On 6 June 1944, Warspite provided naval gunfire support for the Allies' Normandy landings. She formed part of the Eastern Task Force and concentrated her fire on German positions near Sword Beach. Despite "X" turret still being inoperable, Warspite remained off Normandy in support of American forces and the British at Gold Beach.

She later sustained heavy damage from a magnetic mine while steaming to Rosyth to have her guns replaced. Partial repairs, sufficient for her to return to action, enabled Warspite to resume her bombardment duties.  Warspite bombarded Brest, Le Havre and Walcheren, the latter in support of an amphibious assault in November. Having been mostly inactive following Walcheren, Warspite was placed into Category C Reserve on 1 February 1945.