Gooseberries and Blockships
British blackships
Battle of Normandy
In order to facilitate the landing of human and material reinforcements by sea by limiting the impact of the sea on these operations, the Allies have the idea of voluntarily scuttling old ships off the coast that are used as breakers. blades: these are the “Gooseberries”. The marine current is thus greatly reduced and navigation improved.
List of British breakwaters engaged during the Battle of Normandy facing off the landing beaches:
Ship | Mission |
|---|---|
| HMS Alynbank | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Becheville | Blockship at Sword Beach |
| Bendoran | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| HMS Centurion | Blockship at Omaha Beach |
| Dover Hill | Blockship at Sword Beach |
| HMS Durban | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Elswick Park | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Empire Bunting | Blockship at Sword Beach |
| Empire Defiance | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Empire Flamingo | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Empire Moorhen | Blockship at Sword Beach |
| Empire Tamar | Blockship at Sword Beach |
| Empire Tana | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Empire Waterhen | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Ingman | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Innerton | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Manchester Spinner | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Mariposa | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Panos | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Saltersgate | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Vera Radcliffe | Blockship at Juno Beach |
| Vinlake | Blockship at Gold Beach |
| Winha | Blockship at Gold Beach |
