The twelve LCI's of the 262nd Flotilla had a passage that was as uncomfortable as it was uneventful. Although none of the LCI's were damaged or even attacked their escorting destroyer, H.M.S. "VERSATILE", was damaged by a mine at 0635 but by that time the LCI's were already in the assault area and there was no difficulty in following the well marked channel through the anchorages. They passed through the LSI anchorage shortly before 0900. LCA's were still being unloaded and proceeding towards the beach; the LCI's continued with them until they reached their waiting position about a mile off "Nan Red" beach. So as to keep together without being in the way of the craft proceeding to the beach, the LCI's formed a circle and kept moving around, ready to take up their beaching formation as soon as ordered, but orders did not come. Not until 1128 did H.M.S. "WAVENEY", the control frigate, give the order for which the Flotilla had been waiting and training for months.

If the assault had gone entirely according to plan, the 262nd Flotilla. of LCI's would have beached on "Nan Red" beach at 1015, but he delays in clearing exits from the beach, the lack of obstacle clearance to seaward and the enemy's fire caused the Flotilla to be sent in to the adjoining "Nan White" beach. It will be remembered that it was on "Nan White" beach that the "PRINCE DAVID'S" LCA's had come to grief on the obstacles. The LCI's operation orders had emphasized that it would probably be necessary for the LCI's to break their way through the obstacles by charging them at full speed so as to disembark their troops well up on the low gradient beach. It was therefore unnecessary for "WAVENEY" to make any dramatic signal to the LCI's telling them to charge the barricades. The Flotilla unwound from its circle in the waiting position, formed up in line abreast, worked up to their full 16 knots maximum speed, surged through the surf, and beached between 1130 and 1132.

By this time the tide stood at high water but soon began to ebb. All the rows of obstacles were at least partially covered by water. However, this did not make it any easier to pass through the obstacles because the water had covered the gaps that had been made by craft beached earlier or by obstacle clearance parties.

The LCI's beached in the following order from west to east: 125, 263, 252, 276, 262, 118, 250, 270, 135, 306, 299 and 115.

The Flotilla did not reach the beach without serious damage. Five craft were damaged in approaching the beach, four more were damaged on the beach and two in coming off. Only one craft, 306, managed to escape damage of any kind.

Fortunately the damage to the craft from beach obstacles and mines did not cause casualties among the army personnel, all of whom were landed safely in 31 feet of water or less. In LCI 270 army casualties were narrowly avoided by the forethought of the Commanding Officer who brought his troops on deck for the approach because since he correctly estimated that the danger from sniping and mortar fire was less than the danger from mines. Before 270 reached the beach a mine had blown a large hole through the forward troop space causing no casualties.

Naval personnel were not quite so fortunate. They suffered three wounded, when a mine was exploded near the bridge