The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Friday, February 1, 2013

These Tanks Did Not Make It to D-day

From the July 28, 2011, BBC News "Isle of Wight's sunken WW II tanks studied.

Tanks and other equipment lost when the ships carrying them capsized heading for Normandy during the D-Day invasion have been found east of the Isle of Wight and Selsey, West Sussex.

The good folks who found the LCT 427 in the last post, The Southsea Sub Aqua Club discovered them in 2008.  The Mark V Landing Craft Tank ship LCT 2428 set off for Normandy on the evening of June 5, 1944 and had developed engine trouble in the English Channel.  It was being towed by the rescue tug HMS Jaunty.

On the way back, it capsized and lost its cargo.  The Jaunty fired on the upturned hull until it sank and would not cause a shipping obstruction.  All of the crew survived.

When the incident took place, the LCT 2428 was carrying two Centaur CS IV tanks, two armored bulldozers, a jeep and other equipment for the Royal Marines armored support group.

The cargo and ship occupy two sites 66 feet down, about 3.7 miles apart.

Didn't make Its Destination.  --GreGen

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