Mulberry Harbour in 3D

[Flying10uk]

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.

Information

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[GeeRam]

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.

[30Three]

Arromanche is well worth a visit.

[Gil Boyd]

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!!

[30Three]

Very true at the moment Gil. But well worth it when you get the chance.

[GeeRam]

Arromanche is well worth a visit.

Indeed it is.
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......

[Gil Boyd]

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

[Flying10uk]

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

[Gil Boyd]

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.

[Flying10uk]

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.