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The Crisis Of Exercise Tiger Ahead Of The D-Day Landings
Across the build up to the Allied invasion in Normandy in 1944, a superb deal of preparation and organising was required. Data was consistently being gained by a net of spies while materials and gear were being brought to England. These would be vital all through and following what was and is still the biggest invasion force ever assembled.
Preparation and practise was a big part of the plans. Rangers who were to attack Point du Hoc correctly trained by climbing cliffs and men made practice beach landings. A critical piece of the operation of privacy and the neighbors of Great Britain were counted upon to play their part. In Devon, an area called Slapton Sands was picked as a sound procedure area because of the similarities with the Utah landing beach in Normandy.
Exercises for the landings began in late 1943 with the main invasion scheduled for June 1944. With 3,000 area folk were evacuated from the area near Slapton Sands. Assorted exercises were organized and among the most important was Operation Tiger with close to 30,000 men (approximately one 3rd of the present size of the British Armed forces) were to be involved.
Exercise Tiger happened in late April 1944. The 1st practice landings were made without any issues but in the exercise planned for the early morning of 28th April 1944, tragedy struck. German E-Boats patrolling from Cherbourg intercepted a fleet of 8 LST (Landing ships). They fired torpedoes at the LSTs and desperate men leapt into the icy waters to dodge the sinking boats. Several hadn't been directed the simple way to put on their life jackets and drowned.
In addition to the E-Boat attacks, more men died on the beaches themselves. Using live ammunition had been authorised and along with the fatal injuries in the sea, more men died by friendly fire when they wandered into the wrong parts of the beaches.
Overall in excess of 900 men died for the length of Exercise Tiger which was about 40 years until the facts were revealed. Ironically, only roughly 200 men died on Utah Beach across the real landings in Normandy on 6th June 1944. These days, a Sherman Tank is on show at Slapton Sands as a memorial to the men who perished in the course of Exercise Tiger.
Preparation and practise was a big part of the plans. Rangers who were to attack Point du Hoc correctly trained by climbing cliffs and men made practice beach landings. A critical piece of the operation of privacy and the neighbors of Great Britain were counted upon to play their part. In Devon, an area called Slapton Sands was picked as a sound procedure area because of the similarities with the Utah landing beach in Normandy.
Exercises for the landings began in late 1943 with the main invasion scheduled for June 1944. With 3,000 area folk were evacuated from the area near Slapton Sands. Assorted exercises were organized and among the most important was Operation Tiger with close to 30,000 men (approximately one 3rd of the present size of the British Armed forces) were to be involved.
Exercise Tiger happened in late April 1944. The 1st practice landings were made without any issues but in the exercise planned for the early morning of 28th April 1944, tragedy struck. German E-Boats patrolling from Cherbourg intercepted a fleet of 8 LST (Landing ships). They fired torpedoes at the LSTs and desperate men leapt into the icy waters to dodge the sinking boats. Several hadn't been directed the simple way to put on their life jackets and drowned.
In addition to the E-Boat attacks, more men died on the beaches themselves. Using live ammunition had been authorised and along with the fatal injuries in the sea, more men died by friendly fire when they wandered into the wrong parts of the beaches.
Overall in excess of 900 men died for the length of Exercise Tiger which was about 40 years until the facts were revealed. Ironically, only roughly 200 men died on Utah Beach across the real landings in Normandy on 6th June 1944. These days, a Sherman Tank is on show at Slapton Sands as a memorial to the men who perished in the course of Exercise Tiger.
About the Author:
The D-Day landings at Normandy were carried out by the best invasion fleet the world had seen. Exercise Tiger was a part of the preparations for the large operation during WWII.