....
-
..
"'.
~
t: f-
en
25 ~ > < z
"'u.::::>
0
>-
~
::::>
0
L------------'-''-'-'--'------~c..:.....~~~~~-~--------------~!lal-.ÂŁU....~_J U
The Mulb erries were huge artificial harbors built to speed the landing of troops and men. They were comprised of Phoenixes, protective barriers of enormous concrete caissons as big as a fi ve-story apartment house, Gooseberries, vessels sunk in an outer line of protection, and Whales, pontoon-supported ramps capable of handling heavy armor.
The Saga of American Blockships at Normandy
tions, referred to as "Phoenixes," to do the job adequately. Some means had to be fo und to supplement these concrete By James E. Valle "caissons" and it was fi nally decided to scuttle a line of ships adjacent to the The Allied amphibious landing on the design and construction. Normandy Beaches on June 6, 1944 was A critical element in the design was the caissons to extend the area of sheltered the most ambitious seaborne assault ever construction of fo ur artificial breakwaters water. Mulberry A off Omaha Beach undertaken in the history of warfare. to calm the seas over which troops and would require about sixteen American Among the many facets of th is mighty supplies would be ferried. This scheme, merchant ships and Mulberry B off Gold endeavor was the plan to build two arti- codenamed Operation Gooseberry, was Beach would need sixty-five British and fic ial harbors to land the huge masses of unique in that it required the services of other Alli ed merchant ships. These ships were precious assets in men and equipment on the coast of approximately one thousand men of the France-one for the British landing, United States Merchant Marine and an wartime and the decision to sacrifice them called Mulberry B, and one for the equal number of Army Transportation was not made easily. The British ultiAmerican landing, called Mulbe1Ty A. Service seafarers. These men would be mately made their selection from cargo The basic idea for Mulberry harbors among the few civilians participating in vessels available in the British Isles that were over thirty years old, supplemented was the work of the British Scientist that momentous occasion. As the preparations unfolded, it be- by a few wo1t hless warships such as the JohnDesmondBemal,oneofChurchill 's famous "Wizards." Bernal realized that came obvious that the req uired break- disarmed dreadnought Centurion. The any landing on the Continent would waters were so extensive that it would be Americans settled on eight World War I have to take place over open beaches impossible to build enough concrete sec- Emergency Fleet "rustbuckets" and eight Liberty ships that had been extenand that it might take weeks or Blockships fo rm a Gooseberry line at Normandy . sively damaged. All vessels seeven months to capture a proper lected were in commission with seaport. He first broached his ffi crews aboard and were capable of plan to the British Prime Minis~ moving under their own power. (J ter while he and hi s party were -' Six additional Liberty ships were en route to the Quebec Confer- 25 selected and earmarked to serve ence aboard the Queen Mary in ~ as breakwater accommodation August, 1943. Utilizing a partly i and service vessels. fi lled bathtub in his cabin, some ..J :; Preparation of the bl ockships paper boats and a life preserver, ~ took pl ace in one of seven locaBernal demonstrated the con~ tions in Scotland, England or cept and was given the go ahead ~ Wales and consisted of setting by an enthusiastic Churchill. ::::> ~::::.,,;=:z..;=:.......~___::::;.....:::____J 8 demolition charges in the holds, Thus began a year of frantic
°'
SEA HISTORY 69, SPRING 1994
17