DISASTROUS STORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1944, Page 8

DISASTROUS STORM

i PORTABLE HARBOUR WRECKED

LONDON, October 18,

Huge 6000-ton concrete blocks forming the breakwater for an American portable harbour which had been taken across the English Channel afLer D Day disintegrated under pounding surf during the violent gales that swept the Normandy beaches in June, states a United States naval headquarters report. The harbour, which was one of two —one American and one British — was entirely unprotected, and the waves transformed the floating metal outer breakwater into twisted wreckage, which became a serious hazard to -navigation.

The storm, was so severe that a decommissioned British battleship which had been sunk as a blockship almost split in half. Craft of all descriptions were congested inside the line of blockship's seeking refuge from the 25ft. seas, and many lost their anchors and snapped their mooring lines. Some put to sea but exhausted their fuel and were swept on to the beaches.

Salvage went on even while the storm raged. The crews of small boats performed heroically, even carrying cargo from the floundering ships to the beaches. Usable components from the harbour were subsequently moved to the' British beach-head, which was protected by a reef.

It is disclosed in London that more than 100 enemy warships, auxiliaries, and merchant ships were sunk or severely damaged as the result of extensive mine-laying in conjunction with the Normandy landing. It is estimated that 30 per cent, of the casualties may be attributed to mines laid by the Navy and 70 per cent, to mines laid by planes.