6 June 1944 D Day

[Evans Electric]

Anyone watching the Channel 4  " As it happens " programme? 

Did you hear about the coincidences in the Daily Telegraph crossword running up to D Day ?

The following top secret code words devised for the Normandy landings appeared in the crossword which prompted M15 to arrest and question the compiler   , an innocent headmaster . 

Juno, Gold, Sword, Utah, Omaha, Overlord, Mulberry, & Neptune

 

[ProDave]

I saw a program about it yesterday.  Horrific casualties on the beaches.

Why all the fuss now?  NEXT year will be the 70th anniversary.  Why all the fuss on the 69th anniversary?

 

[Evans Electric]

Just thinking looking at this ....if my Dad had've stayed on the Hood I wouldn't be here !

 

[binky]

and the world would be a worse place

 

[Evans Electric]

:Salute

 

[Technician]

....And the Hood was sunk by the Bismarck, Evans.

One shell, straight into the main magazine.

What about Pluto?

Pipeline Under The Ocean;  the oil line under the

channel to the Normandy beaches.

 

[NozSpark]

I had a customer a few years ago that had 2 or 3 ships sunk under him during WW2.... now is that bad or good luck???

 

[Technician]

That used to be called a Pier Head Jump.

 

[wozz]

The actions of those that went ashore are truly remarkable and should never be forgotten.  A neighbor of mine went ashore with the dorset regiment on D Day.  

I believe the hood was actually sunk due to the powder being incorrectly handled (stored in wrong location ect), this powder was was struck by a shell from the bismarck set off a chain reaction of explosions which led to the magazine igniting.  I dont know too much about gunnery and where the charges are stored so cant comment further.  

Interestingly I read a document the other day which indicated it was Hood that hit the bismarck rupturing the fuel tank and sending her dashing for the french coast where on the way she was caught by the fairy swordfish biplanes.  In all other reports and programs I watched they stated it was the prince of wales that hit the bismarck.  

Either way although the hood and the bismarck were the pride of each navy it was no where near comparable fight look at the dates they were laid down Hood was a old girl by the time she met the Bismarck. Must have been truly shocking when the nation found out what had happened to the pride of the navy.  

Evans what are the last three vessels on that list I cant make them out?

 

[Technician]

From my reading of it, armour plating was fitted to the Hood but owing

to expenditure cuts (heard that one before?) this armour plating was

not extended to the decks, only to the hull plating.  The Fairey Swordfish

squadrons took her on and damaged the steering gear.

Churchill made it QUITE clear that the Bismark HAD to be sunk.

 

[septiclecky]

That used to be called a Pier Head Jump.

Don't know who told you that but it means something totally different to what you are implying

From my reading of it, armour plating was fitted to the Hood but owing

to expenditure cuts (heard that one before?) this armour plating was

not extended to the decks, only to the hull plating.  The Fairey Swordfish

squadrons took her on and damaged the steering gear.

Churchill made it QUITE clear that the Bismark HAD to be sunk.

 HMS Hood was designed as a Battlecruiser not a Battleship she had the guns of a Battleship she did not have the deck or side armour of a battleship but was fast as a cruiser at the time when built.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hood_(51)

 

[Technician]

Thanks for the tip.  I must have been hoodwinked.

What do YOU understand a pierheadjump to be?

 

[wozz]

Churchill made it QUITE clear that the Bismark HAD to be sunk.

I can imagine that coming from a naval man.  It must have been shocking at the time facing invasion with only the RAF and the threat of the navy to stop the panzers crossing the channel.  Loosing naval batles could not be allowed to happen. 

As for the armor plating i dont know alot about that not really my area, i know they had armored bands rather than all over.  Also she was a old girl probably didnt need slowing down anymore compared to younger rivals.  Also we was fighting a global naval war, the threat of us turning up was sometimes enough for us to win of them take flight, so speed was still important!   But as there was a war on cuts and shortages must have been more than common! 

 

[septiclecky]

Thanks for the tip.  I must have been hoodwinked.

What do YOU understand a pierheadjump to be?

Lets just say it involves someone of the opposite sex

 

[Evans Electric]

The actions of those that went ashore are truly remarkable and should never be forgotten.  A neighbor of mine went ashore with the dorset regiment on D Day.  

I believe the hood was actually sunk due to the powder being incorrectly handled (stored in wrong location ect), this powder was was struck by a shell from the bismarck set off a chain reaction of explosions which led to the magazine igniting.  I dont know too much about gunnery and where the charges are stored so cant comment further.  

Interestingly I read a document the other day which indicated it was Hood that hit the bismarck rupturing the fuel tank and sending her dashing for the french coast where on the way she was caught by the fairy swordfish biplanes.  In all other reports and programs I watched they stated it was the prince of wales that hit the bismarck.  

Either way although the hood and the bismarck were the pride of each navy it was no where near comparable fight look at the dates they were laid down Hood was a old girl by the time she met the Bismarck. Must have been truly shocking when the nation found out what had happened to the pride of the navy.  

Evans what are the last three vessels on that list I cant make them out?

The last three are ,  Ceres..( Cruiser)...Griffin (Battleship) and the L-S-E   I'm not sure of , I think its a Landing craft attached to Griffin presumably.

 

[Manator]

The last three are ,  Ceres..( Cruiser)...Griffin (Battleship) and the L-S-E   I'm not sure of , I think its a Landing craft attached to Griffin presumably.

 L-S-E was an emergency landing craft repair unit. So I would say it was a pretty special assignment and under extreme conditions.

 

[Evans Electric]

Thank you Maneater .  My Dad was'nt at the Normandy landings but I know he landed troops in Burma .  ( And every year the malaria would return)  

 

[wozz]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_ARL-5

 

[Manator]

What many people forget is that the landing craft was a very useful tool. After D Day many troops went to Burma, my grandfather was reported missing in action presumed dead. He spent 14 months in the jungle and was finally saved by the Gurka's.

many of the landing craft used on D Day were used in Burma. They had the ability to land in shallow waters and in some really terrible boggy environments.The purpose of the L S E's were not only to provide emergency repairs to other landing craft but to provide support for land based maintenance crews.

This role is now often undertaken by the SBS. (Special Boat Service). As they are trained to overcome the hazards of getting vital spares and repair teams into battle.

You should be proud of your father because he was one of the pioneers of the SBS.

 

[Evans Electric]

Wozz.thanks for the Wiki...heads up on L-S-E .very interesting .

Maneater ....Yes , always been proud of my Dad .