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(see details) The port on June 18, before the storm
From 19 to 22 June, a northeastern wind surge, force 6 ( gusts to 7 and 8), tested the Mulberry and Gooseberry facilities. In addition, a high tide had raised water levels at sea, and the waves could easily overwhelm the bridges of the scuttled vessels and fill the Phoenixs that were not designed to hold under those conditions when the sea level came down.
The wind of NE began to settle on June 18, setting at 25 knots. He forced 30 knots on June 19 and 20, then 35 knots on June 21, before weakening on June 22.
These forces of nothing exceptional in Vierville sur mer. These small winds are frequent, even in June, they are seen every year, they last a few days, rarely several weeks.
The results were dramatic for the Mulberry artificial port.
The very strong wind accompanied a great tide and the sea level almost reached the superstructures of the Phoenix pontoons of the offshore dyke, sunk by a little too strong and sandy bottoms, which made them sink more easily. The Phoenix was not decked and the waves were easily filled at the open sea. A few hours later, on the low sea, it did not emptied quickly enough and the walls broke out, causing the collapse of most of those of the offshore dyke.
The floating breakwaters, obviously not calculated for the force of the sea those days, quickly broke their moorings. The moorings would also have been simplified to move faster (1 anchor instead of 2 at each end??). The Bombardons then turned into floating rams hurled by the wind on the line of the 24 fragile Phoenix pontoons. 7-8 Phoenix of the offshore dyke survived.
The sea was then able to directly attack the Lobnitz auto-lift docks and the floating bridges that suffered irreparable damage. The columns of several implanted Lobnitz broke and many bridges were cast or distorted.
Most of the LCTs wet in the no longer protected harbour, chased on their anchors and were thrown at the coast and the floating bridges. The list of ships stranded as a result of the wind blow is impressive.
On the Gooseberry dyke, consisting of 14 sunken blockships, the damage was less spectacular, but as the line was not doubled, the sea engulfed between the sterns and the bows of the aligned ships, digging balls into the sand. The cargo bowls did not resist and they broke down, weakening the ships that also sank into the sand much more than expected.
After the storm, bailout efforts resulted in the recovery of most stranded vessels, but Mulberry Harbour with its wharves and bridges was abandoned. The equipment saved and those not put in place were sent to Arromanches to reinforce the Mulberry B which, installed on rocky bottoms, and somewhat protected by the rocks of Calvados, had held better.
The line of the 14 St-Laurent Gooseberry Blockships was then reinforced by doubling with 10 other blockships (including several Liberty Ships sacrificed) and 21 new Phoenix Bridges.
The operation of the port was continued without disembarkation, using beaches and causeways to unload ships with shuttles from Rhinoferry, ducks, LCD and LCT, with small units sheltering in the event of wind behind the reinforced dyke. There was little wind this summer.
The experience has finally demonstrated the efficiency of these processes and, taking advantage of the good weather, the traffic of Omaha Beach has reached and exceeded the traffic of Arromanches, without yet having docks and floating piers.
(details)
To the left the West Pier, in front of the Pier Centre, to the right the East Pier and many LCT supported against the bridges
Maycrest placed on 1 August
Illinoian on 28 July
Exford placed on 26 July (or August ??), bailed out in 1951 and lost by grounding on the Phoenix on 1/12/51
West Niles placed on 16 July
Stanwell placed on July 16, bailed in 1946??(he is in the August 47 photo), demolished in 47?
Lena Luckenbach placed on 4 August
Robin Gray placed on 18 August
Kofresi 14 July
Alcoa Leader placed on July 13 (or August??)
Kentucklan placed on July 12 (or August??)
Sahale?? Uncertain, would have been placed on July 24 or August, but where?
1 - Many Landing Craft failed, we notice the ruins of the villa on Mount Olive
Below are excerpts from a film taken from a small plane flying over the bridges destroyed after the storm (around June 23):
3 - The Centre Gateway
