British LCTs on D-Day
HMS Rodney and HMS Nelson...Although several U.S. warships were used, notably the older battleships, USS Nevada & USS Arkansas, it was the Royal Navy which bore the brunt of operations at D-Day. In total over 4,000 ships and a further 3,000 light crafts took part in what was the largest seaborne invasion of all time.
Manpower demand was so high that several older capital ships were taken out of service to release an additional 45,000 personnel over and above normal ships’ compliments. This was for manning requisitioned Merchant Navy vessels used as troop carriers and to manage the hundreds of amphibious landing craft in use.
By 18th June the 36,000 ton battleship, HMS Warspite, had fired over 1,000 shells from its 15” main armament, each shell weighing nearly 1 ton. Other supporting battleships were HMS Rodney, HMS Nelson and HMS Ramillies.
It was later reported that HMS Ramillies had carried out the fiercest and most effective shore bombardment ever known by a battleship. During the early hours of 8th June, HMS Ramillies with HMS Rodney & HMS Mauritius alongside all opened fire together with broadsides directed at enemy tanks, motor vehicles and infantry grouped in woodlands.
Those able to record experiences declared it an awe-inspiring sight to see these capital ships light up as they unleashed such devastating firepower.
By 10th June the Admiralty was receiving congratulatory messages from ashore on the accuracy of the naval bombardment and the help this provided for the army’s advances, with special mention of support for 6th Airborne Division approaching Caen.
Most capital ships had returned to Portsmouth by 18th June, a job well done. On 5th July, as Operation NEPTUNE came to its end, the one millionth man stepped ashore in Normandy.
Allied Maritime Forces Assigned to Operation Neptune:
- Naval Combatant Vessels 1,213
- Landing Ships & Craft 4,126
- Ancillary Ships & Craft 736
- Merchant Ships 864
- Total 6,939
The naval combat vessels were approximately 80% British & Canadian; 16% American & 4% other Allies.
