The success of the D-Day is due to a very good preparation, in the greatest secrecy, but also to technological prowess as the autonomous artificial harbor. A successful technique at Arromanches.
Since all the ports are held by the Germans, it is necessary to create an autonomous, resistant artificial harbor, which allows the ships to deliver their men and the vehicles: 150 000 men and 20 000 jeeps and tanks for June 6th and the rest of the troops and material in the following weeks.
More than 4 million soldiers, grouped in England, must cross the Channel to defeat Nazi Germany. An extraordinary feat of technology required of men of military engineering.
Omaha and Arromanches are the 2 beaches envisaged. The weather makes Omaha impractical. The bridgehead will be in Arromanches and its 3 kilometers of beach.
147 caissons are towed from England, they each have the height of a building of 5 floors. They are flown to protect the inside of the harbor from the swell. Then platforms are installed where ships will dock. These are iron roads that have to support 40-ton tanks that are articulated to move and follow the tide.
These floating jetties are the link with the mainland. 20% of the troops will pass by Arromanches as well as a quarter of the supply.
>> Find our series on the scenes of the landing:
- Episode 1: Disembarkation: the secrets of the operation
- Episode 2: Disembarkation: June 6, 1944, D-Day