Elbow Beach was a flat beach on Bermuda Island. Though it had no docks, it was only a few kilometers from Hamilton, the island's largest city. If the German Marine Corps successfully landed here, they could launch an attack on Hamilton. Once Hamilton was taken, the remaining forces of the 1st Marine Division could disembark through the port in an endless stream. At that point, the German military would easily sweep across all of Bermuda Island and the Bermuda Islands.
The US Marine Corps had only one regiment stationed throughout the Bermuda Islands. Apart from the 3rd Battalion, which was deployed across St. David's Island and St. George's Island, the rest of the troops were concentrated on Bermuda Island.
Elbow Beach had therefore become one of the US Marine Corps' key defensive beaches. The US Marine Corps had deployed a full battalion along this stretch of coast.
However, during the German Navy's earlier fierce bombardment, the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment, 3rd Division, US Marine Corps, stationed here had already suffered grievous losses. Their defensive zone looked as though it had been plowed over by German artillery fire. Not only had their fortifications been completely destroyed, but their casualties were also severe. Of the three Infantry Companies, two had suffered more than half their men killed or wounded. The remaining company had also taken significant losses. The Battalion Headquarters Company and weapons company had suffered heavily as well; much of their equipment had been blown apart by German naval fire, and their personnel losses were equally severe.
"God! What is that?" A US Marine stared wide-eyed at the helicopters flying toward them in the sky.
Although the German Army had already deployed helicopters on a large scale in the Buru theater, this was the first time Germany had used