
One group of three torpedo ships did risk Allied wrath by slipping out to attack at Sword beach, successfully sinking a Norwegian destroyer. So, the submarines couldn’t deploy in broad daylight as D-Day got underway, knowing that any subs spotted leaving the safety of the harbor would be quickly hunted down and killed. So, any underwater boats actually deployed would be extremely vulnerable.
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Worse, the Allies had learned about how to kill U-boats on the surface in the Atlantic. And they didn’t want to risk their minuscule naval forces on what could be an Allied feint. So, many of Germany’s D-Day decisions were made with the belief that a second, larger invasion could be coming somewhere else. that would supposedly land later at a deepwater port on the French coast. had gone all out to convince German high command that D-Day at Normandy was a feint, creating an entire fake army helmed by Gen. Well, they could have, but there were more issues. Germany’s navy was so weak in World War II that they even pressed a sailing ship into active service.īut Germany did have a navy in World War II, and its U-boats were small but lethal, so they still should’ve had an impact at D-Day, right? Because of these strategic and industrial limitations, Germany has historically maintained a navy smaller and weaker than its rivals. Worse, they have very limited port access, so what ships they do have can be fairly easily contained with a blockade. Germany had the iron, but most of its coal is low-quality brown coal, and their oil and natural gas reserves are very limited. Germany doesn’t have a lot of natural resources, especially the ones necessary for large ship construction. In fact, a lot of it dates back to the formation of the Earth as well as the last few mass extinctions. The problems for the Kriegsmarine dated to well before the war. –day.D-Day: Where was the Kriegsmarine? – Normandy Landings (Neptune / Overlord) McKee, Fraser (2013) The Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy Present Off the Juno Beach on June 6/1944 and June 7/1944 (The Normandy D–Day Landings). Douglas and Sarty et al say that they were on blocking patrols east of Normandy, so presumably they were not present at Juno Beach. They were larger (and slower!) D–Class MLs. I’m not sure if any of the MGBs of the 65th Flotilla were present there or not. The battle honour for D–Day was given to many ships which served in the area over the next two months (60 days) which were not present on the first two days of action.Ģ. waters, or were on blocking or A/S patrols, or were escorting Normandy–bound Mulberry "Phoenixes" or were under RN or USN control etc.: (See page 312 of Ken Macpherson & Ron Barrie’s book "The Ships of Canada’s Naval Forces, 1910–2002", 3rd edition, 2002.) These vessels were not present at Juno Beach but may be considered to have been present at D–Day (off of one of the other beaches). Many other RCN ships were in service in U.K. Beach Master W.3 Lieutenant Forrest Angus RCNVRġ.Deputy Principal Beach Master A/Lieutenant–Commander Richard John Johnstone RCNVR.Principal Beach Master Lieutenant–Commander Dennis James O’Hagen RCNVR GM and Bar.RCN Beach Commando "W" in Operation Neptune Motor Torpedo Boats of the 29th Flotilla: (Arrived in p.m. Landing Craft Infantry (Large) – LCI(L)s: (Manned by RCN, ex–RN ships): Davie, RCNVR (+ served as Flotilla Officer) HMCS Prince David’s: 529 Flotilla – Lt J.C.HMCS Prince Henry’s: 528 Flotilla – Lt R.G.Landing craft from HMCS Prince David ( Photo from Wikipedia) The Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy Present Off the Juno Beach on June 6/1944 and June 7/1944 (The Normandy D–Day Landings)Ĭompiled by Commander Fraser McKee RCN(R) 2013 (Updated 2017)
