June 6th 1944 – The D-Day Landings
Operation Neptune
Was the code name given to the naval group’s task on this
momentous day in 1944. As the remaining survivors of this epic day gather in the U.K. and over in France we salute them.
Operation Neptune
The protection of
NEPTUNE from enemy
counter action was essential to the success of the operation. Allied forces
were most vulnerable to enemy counter action when they were embarked and at
sea. Some 6,900 allied vessels, carrying approximately nine army divisions with
full combat equipment, were at sea at one time. These ships were formed into around
75 convoys and groups, passing along narrow coastal lanes, moving across the
channel through the narrow mine-swept channels of the allotted areas for the
convoys or crowded into the congested confines of the assault area.
You will find many more books and information on this day and so many more at our Maritime Library at
Ships and the Sea
Had the enemy not been deterred by a comprehensive program
of defence capability in the form of escort ships and of course command of the
air, this enormous armada would have presented to enemy air and naval forces a
very profitable target.
The largest assembly of Ships and amphibious forces ever
seen were to retake Europe from the clutches of the Nazi.
And of course along with the many ships involved where some
that were built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd.
Without the amazing job done by the mine-sweepers there could have been no landing and one of the lead ships was the minesweeper
HMS SIDMOUTH Ship No 310 built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd, yet another of the small ship Navy.
The ships crest of HMS SIDMOUTH a Bangor Class Minesweeper built at Leith
Ships such as
HMS PINK Ship No 318 amongst many as this battle did not
just last for one day but stretched out for something like 6 weeks before the
establishment of forces in
Normandy
had the capability to make the break out of the
Normandy
region on the roads that lead into the heart of
Germany.
 |
HMS PINK the final Flower Class Corvette built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd
as Ship No 318
Damaged
by U988 27th-29th July 1944 and was regarded as a constuctive total loss.
The
Uboat was sunk 2 days later |
|
Not only warships but also some of the Bustler Class tugs
were involved with the gigantic task of towing the huge mulberry harbours over
the channel and into position to enable the supply of the ground forces, along
with the massive drums that carried the oil pipeline to the French
Coast.
The Bustler Class Tugs such as BUSTLER and SAMSONIA seen here after the war had there part to play in the invasion plans to re-take Europe in 1944
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord, the Allied codename for the invasion of Normandy,
involved more than 150,000 men and 6,939 ships. It consisted of American,
British, Canadian, Polish, and Free French Armies under command of General Eisenhower,
the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (the choice of
Eisenhower was officially made by President Roosevelt in December 1943, and
agreed upon by the British).
The Deputy Supreme Commander of the invasion was British Air
Chief Marshal Arthur W. Tedder, who had been the commander of the Allied Air
Forces in the Mediterranean. While British Admiral
Bertram H. Ramsay, was appointed naval commander. He had conducted the
evacuation at Dunkirk and also
planned the Torch landing in North Africa. British
Air Chief Marshal Trafford L. Leigh-Mallory was appointed as commander of the
air forces.
Bernard Montgomery was chosen as the ground forces' commander.
