Post by KG on Jun 6, 2018 19:56:55 GMT
Re: D-day: MN 1
In the build up to the Normandy landings on 6th June 1944 the immense task of transporting the concrete Phoenix's, which formed Mulberrry Harbours, which would be used to supply the allies in the invasion of Europe was left to the Merchant Navy Deep Sea Rescue Tugs of which 160 were deployed for this task which also included the towing and sinking 59 Merchant ships to form a breakwater codenamed Gooseberry. These breakwaters helped create a deep water port approximately the size of Dover. The tugs were also used for "Operation Pluto" to tow the huge drums for the oil pipelines which supplied 1.25 million gallons of fuel every day to the liberating armies.
Around the southern ports of England nearly 1,500 Merchant ships of all shapes and sizes and 50,000 Merchant Seamen, every last man a volunteer had been assembled, with over 300 ship sent over to in the first invasion waves between the 6th and 7th June, with many of the small coastal ships simply running themselves onto the beachhead to await the outgoing tide to unload their vital cargo of war materials.
One of the first casualties from the invasion fleet was the cargo ship Sambut, 7,219grt, (MOWT, P. Henderson and Co.) Loaded with a cargo of military vehicles, ammunition, cased petrol and nearly 600 troops bound for the Normandy beaches joined one of the first waves of the invasion fleet sailing from Southend on the 6th June 1944 in the 12 ship Convoy ETM-1. The same day 15 nautical miles North-West of Calais, the convoy came under attack from German shore batteries. Two 16 inch shells slammed into the Sambut setting fire to the petrol and vehicles in number two hold, while blowing a hole through the side of the ship above the water line killing the Second and Third Engineers and an estimated 130 troops lost, many drowning after abandoning ship. Unable to fight the raging fires and in danger of exploding the ship was ordered abandoned. A large number of rafts were launched with all the men going over the side, the Master, Chief Officer and pilot the last to leave. The survivors were rescued by a number of motor launches a short time later and landed at Dover. The body of one other crewmember was eventually recovered and buried at Dover (St. James) Cemetery. An escort vessel was deployed to sink the blazing ship to prevent a hazard to other sections of the invasion fleet, but finally sank on her own in position 51’ 08N 01’ 33E before they arrived at the scene.
Cargo ship Fort Pic, 7,130grt, (MOWT, J.&C. Harrison mgrs) loaded with a cargo of war stores and 567 troops bound for the D-Day Landings sailed from Southend on the 8th June 1944 in the 14 ship Convoy ETM-3, arriving at Gold Beach, Normandy the following day. On the 10th June off the beachhead the ship was attacked by German aircraft and strafed with cannon fire and suffered slight bomb damage and the ships Second and Third Radio Officers and one DEMS gunner were killed by shrapnel. Two other crewmembers died later from wounds the same day and are buried at Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery.
Cargo ship Albert. C. Field, 1,764grt (Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Ltd) loaded with a cargo of ammunition and bags of mail for American troops at Normandy and was to join up with the 18 ship Convoy EC-14, which sailed from Southend on the 17th June 1944 bound for the Seine Bay. The following day just before midnight South-East of the Isle of Wight in position 50’ 28N 01’ 46W the Albert C. Field was hit by a German aerial torpedo amidships setting fire to the bags of mail in number two hold and blowing both lifeboats out of their davits. Three rafts were quickly released and the crew began to abandon ship. Within three minutes of being hit the ship broke in two and sank taking four crewmembers with her. The survivors were picked up by the naval trawler HMT Herschell and landed at Portsmouth the following day.
Billy McGee
In the build up to the Normandy landings on 6th June 1944 the immense task of transporting the concrete Phoenix's, which formed Mulberrry Harbours, which would be used to supply the allies in the invasion of Europe was left to the Merchant Navy Deep Sea Rescue Tugs of which 160 were deployed for this task which also included the towing and sinking 59 Merchant ships to form a breakwater codenamed Gooseberry. These breakwaters helped create a deep water port approximately the size of Dover. The tugs were also used for "Operation Pluto" to tow the huge drums for the oil pipelines which supplied 1.25 million gallons of fuel every day to the liberating armies.
Around the southern ports of England nearly 1,500 Merchant ships of all shapes and sizes and 50,000 Merchant Seamen, every last man a volunteer had been assembled, with over 300 ship sent over to in the first invasion waves between the 6th and 7th June, with many of the small coastal ships simply running themselves onto the beachhead to await the outgoing tide to unload their vital cargo of war materials.
One of the first casualties from the invasion fleet was the cargo ship Sambut, 7,219grt, (MOWT, P. Henderson and Co.) Loaded with a cargo of military vehicles, ammunition, cased petrol and nearly 600 troops bound for the Normandy beaches joined one of the first waves of the invasion fleet sailing from Southend on the 6th June 1944 in the 12 ship Convoy ETM-1. The same day 15 nautical miles North-West of Calais, the convoy came under attack from German shore batteries. Two 16 inch shells slammed into the Sambut setting fire to the petrol and vehicles in number two hold, while blowing a hole through the side of the ship above the water line killing the Second and Third Engineers and an estimated 130 troops lost, many drowning after abandoning ship. Unable to fight the raging fires and in danger of exploding the ship was ordered abandoned. A large number of rafts were launched with all the men going over the side, the Master, Chief Officer and pilot the last to leave. The survivors were rescued by a number of motor launches a short time later and landed at Dover. The body of one other crewmember was eventually recovered and buried at Dover (St. James) Cemetery. An escort vessel was deployed to sink the blazing ship to prevent a hazard to other sections of the invasion fleet, but finally sank on her own in position 51’ 08N 01’ 33E before they arrived at the scene.
Cargo ship Fort Pic, 7,130grt, (MOWT, J.&C. Harrison mgrs) loaded with a cargo of war stores and 567 troops bound for the D-Day Landings sailed from Southend on the 8th June 1944 in the 14 ship Convoy ETM-3, arriving at Gold Beach, Normandy the following day. On the 10th June off the beachhead the ship was attacked by German aircraft and strafed with cannon fire and suffered slight bomb damage and the ships Second and Third Radio Officers and one DEMS gunner were killed by shrapnel. Two other crewmembers died later from wounds the same day and are buried at Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery.
Cargo ship Albert. C. Field, 1,764grt (Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Ltd) loaded with a cargo of ammunition and bags of mail for American troops at Normandy and was to join up with the 18 ship Convoy EC-14, which sailed from Southend on the 17th June 1944 bound for the Seine Bay. The following day just before midnight South-East of the Isle of Wight in position 50’ 28N 01’ 46W the Albert C. Field was hit by a German aerial torpedo amidships setting fire to the bags of mail in number two hold and blowing both lifeboats out of their davits. Three rafts were quickly released and the crew began to abandon ship. Within three minutes of being hit the ship broke in two and sank taking four crewmembers with her. The survivors were picked up by the naval trawler HMT Herschell and landed at Portsmouth the following day.
Billy McGee