The westernmost of the five code-named landing beaches in Normandy , Utah is on the Cotentin Peninsula , west of the mouths of the Douve and Vire rivers .

The objective at Utah was to secure Assistance a beachhead on the Cotentin Peninsula , the location of important port facilities at Cherbourg .

The intention was to rapidly seal off the Cotentin Peninsula , prevent Preventing_or_letting the Germans from reinforcing Cause_change_of_strength Cherbourg , and capture Conquering the port as quickly as possible .

After landing Self_motion in the Cotentin Peninsula on 12 July , the English army had burnt Damaging a path of destruction Destroying through some of the richest lands in France to within of Paris , sacking Attack a number of towns on the way .