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I hadn't realised quite how extensive the Mulberry Harbours were until I saw this. Some of the concrete parts of the harbours were made on the Beaulieu river, Hampshire, England.
Full 3D panoramic of the Mulberry temporary harbour built for the D-Day Landings - YouTube
There were two Mulberry's.....Mulberry A and Mulberry B.
A was for the American beaches which was pretty much destroyed within a week of D-Day in the big storm, and Mulberry B for the British beaches. Mulberry B remained in operation until November 1944. It was the design of the Spud Pierheads on the jackup legs that was the big deal that enabled it to work with the large change in sea level with the tide change. Its said by many, that without Mulberry, D-Day wouldn't have been a success. When I started in the construction industry back in 1980, one of the old boys in the office I started in, was just about to retire, and he was one of the Engineers that had worked on the design of Mulberry.
Arromanche is well worth a visit.
When?
They have even stopped the use of the tunnel except for haulage. Ferries are going out of business, so not much chance of that this year at least!!
Very true at the moment Gil. But well worth it when you get the chance.
Indeed it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by 30Three
I was last there in 1999 for the 55th Anniversary of D-Day events and have happy memories of getting rather 'familiar' over quite a few drinks with a lovely WREN from HMS Montrose...... :p
Strange when you think of the thousands of veterans that go to Arromanche each year, that they could straighten out the concrete harbour pieces which would preserve the coast line a bit more from the elements, as it chews its way into Arromanche each year. Easy to do one would think with all the new technology on lift capability. Veterans could then walk out on the piers!
They left them in situ to mark their real significance on the 6th June 1944 but made sure all the sunken ships were removed after the war, strange when you think they could protect at the same time reflect better their purpose if placed in line!
Just an observation :)
I believe that either a number of the concrete pontoons (Beetles) were brought back to the UK after the Mulberries were no longer needed in France or more pontoons were manufactured than were needed and did not all leave the UK. This is because there is/was somewhere in the UK where they were used to "make-up/protect" a river bank. I forget where exactly but I think that it was on the South coast of the UK somewhere.
According to the article below some were used at marshland at Debden Bay, although I thought that it was a river bank, unless it was more than one location.
Mulberry Harbour - Maritime Archaeology Trust
Thought these might visually give some assistance to the incredible feat of engineering these were. The last shot of U.S. Troops on a motorised landing come harbour.
I believe that we made a floating dry-dock out of concrete during WW2 in a similar way as the harbours that was in use for many years after the war.
The U.S version (last photo) was very sensible in that rough weather IMHO looking at somemore photos I have it looks like they made their own mulberry. The first one drives onto the beach and the other literally butt onto the one in front. Clever idea. Not sure how much fuel they needed to cross though!!
Ah, yes, "the British beaches..." Were there two or three? I can never quite remember. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by GeeRam
It appears the bulldozer is being used to keep the barge from being pushed too far onto the beach.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Here are a few photos of D-DAY showing the heavy MMG stuff coming their way when they were clearing the pontoons on the first wave on various beaches and also assaulting in those flimsy landing craft too.
Always need to remind ourselves of the facts............staggering RIP to so many brave lads:
On D-Day, the Allies landed 156,000 troops in Normandy. The American forces landed numbered 73,000: 23,250 on Utah Beach, 34,250 on Omaha Beach, and 15,500 airborne troops. In the British and Canadian sector, 83,115 troops were landed (61,715 of them British): 24,970 on Gold Beach, 21,400 on Juno Beach, 28,845 on Sword Beach, and 7900 airborne troops.
11,590 aircraft were available to support the landings. On D-Day, Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties, and 127 were lost.
In the airborne landings on both flanks of the beaches, 2,395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day.
Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6,939 vessels: 1,213 naval combat ships, 4,126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US, 112,824 British, and 4,988 from other Allied countries.
By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.
As well as the troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day, and those in supporting roles at sea and in the air, millions more men and women in the Allied countries were involved in the preparations for D-Day. They played thousands of different roles, both in the armed forces and as civilians.
It looks similar to the present day Mexeflote which is used by the Royal Navy/Royal Fleet Auxiliary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Mexeflote - Wikipedia