With much better intelligence and planning, the glider landings in the Battle of Normandy were far more successful. In particular, one coup de main force in six Horsa gliders captured the Caen canal and Orne river bridges by surprise, led by Major John Howard. The 6th British Airlanding Brigade, part of 6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom), were in action early on following concentrated landings, and prevented early German attempts to counter-attack the Allied landings. American landings were more scattered, but still more successful than many planners had hoped for.