9 Infantry Division (USA) closed the ring around Cherbourg

9 Infantry Division (USA) closed the ring around Cherbourg at Barneville.

The 9th Infantry Division, in concert with the 82nd Airborne Division, spearheaded a drive to cut the Cotentin Peninsula in two.

This isolated elements of three divisions and other German units in the vicinity of Cherbourg, and led to the eventual capture of that important port city.
Despite formidable Norman bocage terrain in the path of its advance, the division forced the Douve River and seized a crossing site at Sainte-Colombe on 16 June.

One regiment attacked from this position while another passed through the 82nd Airborne Division at Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, and then both regiments sped on towards the Atlantic Ocean.
By 18 June the division had fought its way through collapsing resistance to reach the coast, and then turned its orientation northwards towards Cherbourg.
A German column attempting to escape the closing trap collided with the division in confused close quarters fighting, but was defeated with heavy losses.
By 20 June the division had closed to the outer defenses of Cherbourg.