Source: http://gateway.ca.k12.pa.us/memorial/mulb.gif
Note: Image is of a US Mulberry Installation at Omaha Beach
Canadian Engineering Feats by the Canadian Military during the war included the designing and erecting floating docks for the invasions
Definitions
- PHOENIX
- Concrete caissons for use as breakwaters when sunk in 5.5 fathoms or less. There are six sizes which vary from about 2,000 tons to 6,000 tons. Each unit required two large (759 H.P.) tugs to tow it; the average speed being 3 knots.
- CORNCOBS
- Blockships that were planned to be sunk in 2.5 fathoms or less to form breakwaters.
- GOOSEBERRIES
- Sheltered water provided by sinking in a line a series of blockships in 2.5 fathoms of water. It served two purposes:
- To provide a sheltered beach for landing craft to use in the event of strong onshore winds.
- To provide a refuge for ferry service and other small craft in rough weather.
- WHALE
- Military piers and pierheads for discharge of coasters and LSTs – LCTs directly to shore. This equipment was designed to ride out rough weather.
- SPUD PIERHEAD
- The pierhead part of WHALE. These can be used as a pierhead for unloading stores from coasters or vehicles from LSTs and LCTs. It consists of a floating pontoon 200 ft. long which rides up and down with the tide on four pillars or “spuds”. When in tow these spuds extend below the pontoon to a draught of 7 feet. The beam is 60 ft. and tonnage 1,760 tons, with its attached intermediate pontoon.
- PIER ROADWAY
- The roadway part of WHALE. These link the pierhead to the shore and consist of 80 ft. steel girder bridge spans supporting a single way road, carried on “Beetles” (concrete or steel floats). Beetles are designed so that they function in shallow water or fully aground, the steel type being used over rock.
- DOLPHINS
- Tubular structures, 126 tons displacement, which when erected, act as rigid extensions to the spud pierhead to secure the stern of the LSTs which is longer than the spud pierhead. When in tow they are folded somewhat similar to a deck chair. Draught – 20 ft.
- BOMBARDON
- 200 ft. long cruciform floating steel structures which moored end on in a line, form a shelter in an outer deep water anchorage outside the Phoenix breakwater. Behind this Bombardon breakwater it was hoped that shelter would be found for the unloading of Liberty ships. Dimensions: Length – 200 ft., Beam – 25 ft., Draught – 19 ft., Dead weight – 1,500 tons.
Story One: Floating Docks
Resource: Mulberry
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/ETO/Overlord/MulberryB/
Story Two: Engineering at the Anzo Beachhead in Italy
Story Three: Dambusters
This is an unique weapon that bounced on the water and colliding with a dam and exploding it at it’s base.
On 16 May 1943, 19 aircraft set out to destroy the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany’s industrial heartland.
Resources
Tribute Blog on Guy Gibson
http://atributetothercaf.blogspot.com/2008/05/guy-gibson-and-dambusters-remembered-65.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dam_Busters_(movie)
Technology Feature Clip
