D-Day - The Untold Story

Page 5 of 6

• 1. Operation Overlord
• 2. Surveying Omaha Beach
• 3. Witnessing the horror
• 4. Historical discrepancies
• 5. The element of surprise
• 6. Find out more
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The element of surprise

DD-Tanks were designed to preserve the element of surprise during an amphibious assault by hiding the bulk of the tank below the waterline until it reached shore. At sea it looked relatively benign, when compared to the armada offshore.

It should be noted that there were several training losses in England with Valentine DD-Tanks, which were much lighter than the Sherman DD-Tanks used on D-Day; there were also several mishaps with the Sherman Tanks. Numerous reports criticising the performance of the DD-Tanks were prepared by the training battalions in England, but never reached the upper echelons of command.

'... that they launched at all is a testament to the courage and determination of the Allies ...'

From the outset the DD-Tanks were never intended to launch in seas with waves greater in height than 1 foot, and were designed to maintain a freeboard (dry canvas above water when floating) of at least 48 inches. On D-Day, waves reached nearly 6 feet, and the freeboard of the 741st DD-Tanks ranged from 14-18 inches. That the freeboard was so greatly reduced can be attributed to flex in the metal hoops used to support the canvas exterior when raised to provide floatation, and also to stretch in the canvas skirt itself; both problems leading to a reduction in buoyancy.

Coupled with the general clumsiness of the tank, and its difficulty in holding course even in good conditions, it is no wonder that the 741st was lost on D-Day. However, many of the tanks actually swam a great distance toward shore, contradicting statements that the tanks sank immediately after launching. And that they launched at all is a testament to the courage and determination of the Allies, in the face of daunting odds and grave danger.

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Published: 2002-06-01