A chronological telling of the dramatic 1944 D-Day story, focusing on the vessels that made the landings possible, with an insight into personal stories and engineering wonders. Learn of the X-Craft lying on the seabed in the days before the invasion and of the battleship USS Texas and light cruiser HMS Belfast bombarding the Normandy beaches. We sail on the HMS Medusa – a harbor patrol boat crucial to guiding the invasion fleet through minefields. Explore the technology behind the most unseaworthy vessel of the invasion – the Duplex Drive tanks. Pay tribute to Andrew Higgins, whose landing craft, LCVP (Higgins Boat) and LCT, brought so many men and so much equipment to the Normandy shore.
Cast Appearances
Kieran O'Brien
voices Himself (Narrator)Episode Discussion
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Smithsonian Channel rebroadcast this episode on June 6, 2024, as a Special titled "D-Day Combat Ships" to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in history, which was conducted by the Allies in World War II. The episode summary used: "D-Day 80th Anniversary: A retelling of the D-Day invasion and its critical naval operation involving an armada of diverse and ingenious vessels."