Читать книгу Remembering D-day: Personal Histories of Everyday Heroes - Martin Bowman - Страница 24

May D-Day is set for 5 June, a time of favourable moon and tides, conditions which would still prevail on 6 and 7 June but not thereafter. Naval units are required to be in their designated assembly positions by 29 May, a directive which involves shipping movements at almost every southern British port from the Mersey to Harwich as well as at Belfast and a number of Scottish locations.

Majority of 300+ large cargo vessels are of the American-built Liberty type, many of them carrying vehicles (mechanized transport) and their attendant troops. Over 1,500 craft and barges are required as ferries between the anchorage position of the larger ships and the shore. After completing their initial task, the LSIs are to head back to the UK to reload.

23 May Because of their slow speed, being old or damaged ships, the section of the Corncob (blockship) fleet which had assembled in the estuary of the Forth set out to be scuttled or ‘planted’ off the French coast.

30 May First of a fleet of coasters, which have been waiting in the 20-mile stretch of the Thames, sail to take their places amongst over 500 ships in an anchorage, extending from Hurst Castle in the west to Bembridge in the east. 362 coasters are to help maintain a continuous flow of supplies to the beaches.

2–3 June From their anchorages in the Clyde or Belfast Lough, the battleships of the bombarding fleet sail.

5 June Landing craft with the longest crossings set out. HMS Scylla, flagship of the Eastern Task Force, leaves Portsmouth Harbour at 13:40 as the first assault forces pass through Spithead Gate. The US HQ ship Ancon leaves Plymouth so as to reach her assigned anchorage at Omaha. Troops joining their Utah-bound LSIs at Torbay anchorage are ferried to their ships in landing craft from Torquay. Troops embarking in Weymouth Bay, where over 80 ships are anchored, and Portland, are similarly transported from Weymouth Quay.

21:30 During the night the biggest invasion force the world has ever seen sails from British ports across the English Channel to France. The two Naval Task Forces total 672 warships for assault convoy escort, minesweeping, shore bombardment, local defence, etc., and 4,126 major and minor landing ships and craft for initial assault and ferry purposes: a total of 4,798. They carry the force of 39 army divisions – 20 American, 14 British, three Canadian and one Free French. To this ship total can be added (A) Home Command for follow-up escort and Channel patrols, plus reserves: 1 RN battleship; 118 destroyers and escorts (108 RN, 4 US, 1 French, 5 Allied); 364 other warships including coastal forces (340 RN, 8 French, 16 Allied). (B) Western Channel Approaches A/S Escort Groups and reserves: 3 RN escort carriers, 55 RN destroyers and escort vessels. (C) 864 Merchant ships (mainly British liners, tankers, tugs, etc) to supply and support the invasion and naval forces. Grand Total, 6,203 vessels. The armada converges on an area south of the lsle of White code-named Area Z but known unofficially as ‘Piccadilly Circus.’

6 June 05:00 First of the bombarding ships open fire. The heaviest bombardment takes place during the first 50 minutes after the sun rises at 05:58. Task is to silence, with saturating fire, not only the 13 main coastal artillery batteries but also the beach defence forces and then, after the assault has gone in, to engage other targets assisted by ground and air spotters. Destroyers assist the larger warships in these tasks.

09:00 German 84th Corps informed of seaborne landings.

09:30 Announcement of Overlord released to the press. British troops one mile inland on Gold. British capture Hermanville. Tactical surprise is total. Ship casualties are less than anticipated. (Naval action occurs early at the eastern extremity at 05:30 when three German torpedo boats on patrol, finding themselves unexpectedly confronted by an enemy fleet, fire and narrowly miss Warspite, Ramillies and the Sword HQ ship Largs but sink the Norwegian destroyer Svenner, 12 miles west of Le Havre, with the loss of one officer and 33 crew. A delayed-action mine sinks US destroyer Corry in the western sector while, just inside the northern limit of the eastern assault area, HMS Wrestler suffers a mine strike and has to be taken in tow.) Casualties to landing and small craft prove higher than allowed for, although 75 per cent of these are attributed to the weather. All told, 59,900 personnel, 8,900 vehicles and 1,900 tons of stores are landed. By D+50 631,000 personnel, 153,000 vehicles and 689,000 tons of stores, plus 68,000 tons of fuel and oil, are delivered to the bridgehead.

Plaque on the wall of Norfolk House, commemorating Eisenhower’s first London HQ.

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Norfolk House, Eisenhower’s first London HQ in St James Square.

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