Force Mulberry: The Planning and Installation of Artificial Harbor Off U.s. Normandy Beaches in World War II - Couverture souple

Stanford, Alfred

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1406706086 ISBN 13 : 9781406706086

Editeur : Read Books, 2007

Synopsis

In this book Commander Stanford has made a very important contribution to the history of World War II, and in the writing of it he has recaptured the tense excitement, almost desperation, of planning and executing the landings in Normandy. The "Mulberries," the two artificial harbors established immediately after the initial landings, were absolutely essential for the success of Operation Overlord. For, as we found out in World War II, the most difficult thing in an amphibious operation is not to establish the initial beachhead-that can almost always be done if sufficient force is employed and tactical surprise is obtained-but to sustain and reinforce the ground troops against the beachhead, and attain the objective. Massive as was the Anglo-American assault on the Normandy beaches, it had to be followed up immediately by even greater increments of men, armor, vehicles and supplies to make it succeed. There was no possibility of getting all this ashore over wave-lashed beaches where spring tides rose twenty-one feet. One or more ports were essential to maintain an even flow of men and matériel. But all the French ports, notably the nearest ones at Cherbourg and Le Havre, were so strongly held by the enemy that the capture of one would employ forces badly needed elsewhere for at least six weeks, during which the Germans would be unexpectedly weak or very stupid if they did not succeed in rubbing out the initial beachhead. The only possible way out of this dilemma was the apparently impossible task of providing sheltered water off the beaches within a matter of three days. Since speed was of the essence, all elements of the artificial harbors would have to be constructed in England, towed across the Channel under danger of wind, weather and enemy air attack, and sited under fire.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Force Mulberry, first published in 1951, describes the planning, construction, and emplacement of artificial breakwaters and harbors off the Normandy beaches as part of the Allied D-Day invasion in World War II. Author Alfred Stanford, Commander, USNR, who worked on the project, describes the building of the huge concrete caissons (named 'Phoenix') and the pontoon-supported ramps (named 'Whales'), and the use of 'Gooseberries' (vessels to be sunk as an outer breakwater). The planning, construction, and training had to be performed in England under the tightest secrecy before the massive task of transporting the harbor components began shortly after D-Day. The harbor off Omaha Beach was almost completely destroyed by a severe storm after being in use for only several days, but was quickly repaired. Two other harbors (off Utah Beach and behind the Calvados Reef at the mouth of the Orne River) were constructed and weathered the storm well. The artificial harbors proved vital, enabling the Allies to successfully unload massive quantities of supplies in a timely manner in support of the invasion. Included are 12 illustrations.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Read Books
• Date d'édition: 2007
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1406706086
• ISBN 13: 9781406706086
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 248
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
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