D-Day: Assault on Fortress Europe

Early in the morning of 6th June 1944, a vast and bizarre armada ploughed steadily against stiff head-winds through the rough waters of the English Channel, heading for the Normandy coast. Amongst the 5000 vessels were many of the best British and American warships, of stupendous collective firepower, also ancient battleship and tankers on their last voyage, destined to be sunk to provide breakwaters. Thousands of the craft had been built to make one journey only and that a short one; to ferry the invading allied forces together with their immense diversity of equipment on the last difficult, dangerous stretch from the transports of the shore of enemy occupied France. The landing in Normandy was easily the largest and most extraordinary combined military operation ever attempted. It was also a crucial one.