1944 - The D-Day landings, Corncobs and Gooseberries

The most ambitious amphibious assault in history on the beaches of Normandy on the June 6, 1944 would require urgent resupply of men, arms, equipment and, above all, fuel in the days subsequent.

 

How was this to be achieved with no pierheads or deep water available to the invading Allied forces?

 

The answer was to be seen off the coast of Oban in the weeks preceding June 6, when more than 77 old merchant ships were gathered with skeleton crews in the Firth of Lorn.

 

These vessels, to be known as Corncobs and Gooseberries in the planning phase of the operation, were to be deliberately sunk in allotted locations, close to the Normandy beaches to provide shelter to the constant flow of landing craft.

 

The ships were stripped down, ballasted and fitted with explosive scuttling charges for the operation. The large convoy would leave Oban in stages (code-named Corncobs) between May 22 and June 2, and be in a position to move to their required locations off the five invasion beaches immediately subsequent to June 6. Thereafter, artificial pontoon harbours, known as Mulberrys were to be floated into position, protected by the Gooseberry ships, which were armed with anti-aircraft guns.

 

Relics of the Mulberry harbours still exist off the French coast. The success of the re-supply operation depended to a great extent on those hulks gathered off Oban in early summer, 1944. The photograph show the vessels moored in the Firth of Lorn, off the Lismore light.