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{\an7}[MISSILE ROARS]
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{\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: FOR CENTURIES,
AN EXTRAORDINARY WAR HAS RAGED
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00:00:07,174 --> 00:00:11,545
{\an7}ACROSS THE WORLD’S OCEANS,
ABOVE AND BELOW THE WAVES.
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00:00:11,578 --> 00:00:14,247
{\an7}\hMan: YOU COULD KILL HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE WITH ONE BROADSIDE.
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00:00:14,281 --> 00:00:17,985
{\an7}THESE WERE EXTREMELY POWERFUL
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAR MACHINES.
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00:00:18,018 --> 00:00:21,288
{\an7}Narrator: SHIPBUILDERS DESIGNED
BIGGER AND FASTER VESSELS
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00:00:21,321 --> 00:00:23,890
{\an7}TO OUTWIT AND CRUSH
\h\hTHEIR OPPONENTS.
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00:00:23,924 --> 00:00:26,860
{\an7}Man: THAT NATION THAT HAS THE
MOST POWERFUL BATTLESHIP FLEET
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00:00:26,894 --> 00:00:28,796
{\an7}CAN DESTROY THE ENEMY’S
\h\h\h\hBATTLESHIP FLEET
10
00:00:28,862 --> 00:00:30,497
{\an7}AND THEREFORE CONTROL THE SEAS,
11
00:00:30,531 --> 00:00:33,801
{\an7}AND IF YOU CONTROL THE SEAS,
\h\h\hYOU CONTROL THE WORLD.
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00:00:33,834 --> 00:00:36,470
{\an7}Narrator: THEY CARRIED
\hTERRIFYING WEAPONS.
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00:00:36,503 --> 00:00:37,704
{\an7}Man: THIS WAS GONNA BE
\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST TIME
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00:00:37,738 --> 00:00:40,174
{\an7}THAT SOMEBODY HAD FIRED
\h\h\hA TORPEDO IN ANGER
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{\an7}SINCE WORLD WAR II.
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00:00:41,642 --> 00:00:44,445
{\an7}THEY NEEDED TO GET IT RIGHT.
17
00:00:44,478 --> 00:00:46,981
{\an7}Narrator: BUT SHIPS
HAVE ALSO LIBERATED
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00:00:47,014 --> 00:00:49,483
{\an7}AND RESCUED THOUSANDS.
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00:00:49,516 --> 00:00:51,084
{\an7}Man: YOU COULD THINK
\h\h\h\hOF GERDA III
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00:00:51,118 --> 00:00:53,821
{\an7}AS BASICALLY A LIFEBOAT FOR
PERSONS HUNTED BY THE NAZIS.
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{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
AND INSPIRED MEN AND WOMEN
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00:00:56,189 --> 00:00:58,258
{\an7}TO ACTS OF INCREDIBLE BRAVERY.
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{\an7}Man: I WILL TAKE YOU THERE NOW,
TO YOUR CANNONS,
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00:01:01,361 --> 00:01:05,332
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO YOUR DEATH,
WE WILL SINK BEFORE SURRENDER.
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{\an7}Narrator: THESE VESSELS
\h\h\h\hAND THEIR CREWS
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{\an7}HAVE SHAPED WORLD HISTORY.
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{\an7}\hMan: AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER
OF A MISSILE-CARRYING SUBMARINE,
28
00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,576
{\an7}I WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE
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{\an7}FOR HELPING TO PREVENT
\h\h\h\hWORLD WAR III.
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{\an7}[MISSILE ROARS]
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{\an7}Narrator: THIS TIME,
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{\an7}THE 6th OF JUNE 1944...
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{\an7}D-DAY.
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{\an7}Man: IT WAS THE MOST COMPLEX
NAVAL OPERATION IN HISTORY.
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{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: EVERY SHIP
HAD TO LEAVE BY THE MINUTE,
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{\an7}BE IN EXACT POSITIONS
\h\h\h\hBY THE MINUTE,
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{\an7}ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
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{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE
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{\an7}DEPENDED ON A REMARKABLE
\h\h\hARMADA OF VESSELS.
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{\an7}Man: THE BIG BATTLESHIPS STARTED
FIRING OVER THE TOP OF US,
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{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND THEY WERE
LANDING ON THE BEACH,
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{\an7}WHICH WAS 300 YARDS
\h\h\hAWAY FROM US.
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{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
SOME WERE EXPERIMENTAL.
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{\an7}SOME, SIMPLY DANGEROUS.
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{\an7}Man: I CAN’T IMAGINE HOW ANYBODY
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{\an7}COULD RISK THEIR LIFE
\h\h\hIN ONE OF THESE.
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{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE SHIPS
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{\an7}THAT TURNED THE TIDE OF THE WAR
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00:02:01,521 --> 00:02:03,957
{\an7}IN ONE MOMENTOUS DAY.
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00:02:03,991 --> 00:02:15,569
{\an7}♪
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{\an7}[EXPLOSION]
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{\an7}♪
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{\an7}BY THE START OF 1944,
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{\an7}THE GERMANS KNOW AN INVASION
\h\hOF EUROPE BY THE ALLIES
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00:02:35,555 --> 00:02:37,023
{\an7}IS IMMINENT.
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00:02:37,057 --> 00:02:40,561
{\an7}THEY JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE
\hOR WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.
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00:02:42,629 --> 00:02:45,332
{\an7}THE GERMANS OCCUPY
\hMOST OF EUROPE,
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{\an7}AND THOSE FORCED TO LIVE
\h\h\hUNDER NAZI CONTROL
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{\an7}ARE DESPERATE TO BE LIBERATED.
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00:02:50,604 --> 00:02:54,875
{\an7}SLAVE LABOR IS ENACTED
ON A MONUMENTAL SCALE,
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00:02:54,908 --> 00:02:57,711
{\an7}\hAND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
EXTERMINATED IN AUSCHWITZ
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00:02:57,744 --> 00:03:01,848
{\an7}STANDS AT TWO MILLION
\h\h\h\h\hAND RISING.
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00:03:01,882 --> 00:03:04,451
{\an7}BY MAY 1944,
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00:03:04,484 --> 00:03:07,821
{\an7}\hANNE FRANK WROTE FROM HER
SECRET HIDEAWAY IN AMSTERDAM
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{\an7}THAT EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT
THE POSSIBLE INVASION,
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00:03:11,091 --> 00:03:15,095
{\an7}"DEBATING, MAKING BETS,
\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HOPING."
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{\an7}IN FACT, THE ALLIES HAD BEEN
\h\h\hARGUING FOR TWO YEARS
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00:03:20,233 --> 00:03:23,403
{\an7}ABOUT WHERE D-DAY
SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
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00:03:23,603 --> 00:03:25,605
{\an7}\h\h\h\hA FAILED RAID
ON THE PORT OF DIEPPE
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00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:27,441
{\an7}IN AUGUST 1942
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00:03:27,474 --> 00:03:30,477
{\an7}\h\h\hHAD SHOWN THEM
WHERE NOT TO INVADE.
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00:03:30,577 --> 00:03:35,382
{\an7}Andrew Gordon: EVERYONE ASSUMED
THAT A SERIOUS-SIZED INVASION,
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{\an7}EITHER ENGLAND OR FRANCE,
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00:03:37,651 --> 00:03:40,921
{\an7}WOULD NEED TO CAPTURE
\h\h\h\hA WORKING PORT
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{\an7}SO THAT THE BACK END COULD BE
\h\hSUPPLIED WITH MORE TROOPS,
76
00:03:44,391 --> 00:03:46,927
{\an7}WITH AMMUNITION, FOOD,
\hALL THE REST OF IT--
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00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:48,662
{\an7}VEHICLES.
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00:03:48,895 --> 00:03:53,733
{\an7}AND SO ANY INVASION PLAN MUST
INCLUDE THE CAPTURE OF A PORT.
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00:03:53,767 --> 00:03:54,835
{\an7}NOW, FROM DIEPPE,
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00:03:54,968 --> 00:03:59,139
{\an7}WE DREW THE CONCLUSION
THAT IT CAN’T BE DONE.
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00:03:59,172 --> 00:04:01,474
{\an7}THE GERMANS DREW THE CONCLUSION,
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00:04:01,508 --> 00:04:04,945
{\an7}THIS PROVES WHAT THE ALLIES
\h\h\h\h\h\hARE GOING TO DO.
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00:04:04,978 --> 00:04:06,379
{\an7}Narrator: SINCE DIEPPE,
84
00:04:06,413 --> 00:04:10,117
{\an7}THE GERMANS HAD STRENGTHENED
\h\hTHEIR COASTAL DEFENSES.
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00:04:10,150 --> 00:04:12,486
{\an7}THE ATLANTIC WALL,
\hAS IT WAS KNOWN,
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00:04:12,519 --> 00:04:16,490
{\an7}\h\h\hWAS NOW STRONGER THAN EVER
AROUND THE FRENCH CHANNEL PORTS.
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00:04:16,523 --> 00:04:20,394
{\an7}THIS HELPED PERSUADE THE ALLIES
TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.
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00:04:20,427 --> 00:04:23,563
{\an7}\h\h\hTHEY IDENTIFIED A 60-MILE
STRETCH OF COASTLINE IN NORMANDY
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00:04:23,597 --> 00:04:25,666
{\an7}AS SUITABLE.
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00:04:25,699 --> 00:04:28,936
{\an7}IT WAS FIVE HOURS BY BOAT
\hFROM THE ENGLISH COAST,
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00:04:28,969 --> 00:04:30,604
{\an7}BUT THE BEACHES WERE WIDE,
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00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:32,005
{\an7}THE SAND WAS FIRM,
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00:04:32,038 --> 00:04:35,341
{\an7}AND THE GERMAN DEFENSES
\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE WEAKER.
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00:04:35,509 --> 00:04:37,411
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEric Grove:
THE ALLIED PLAN WAS TO LAND
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00:04:37,444 --> 00:04:39,613
{\an7}ACROSS A RELATIVELY BROAD FRONT
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00:04:39,846 --> 00:04:42,816
{\an7}AND HOPEFULLY ADVANCE INLAND
\h\h\h\h\hQUITE A LONG WAY.
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00:04:42,916 --> 00:04:46,453
{\an7}\hNarrator: THE INVASION WAS
CODENAMED OPERATION OVERLORD
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00:04:46,486 --> 00:04:51,524
{\an7}AND WAS LED BY AMERICAN GENERAL
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER.
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00:04:51,558 --> 00:04:54,361
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE INVASION’S SUCCESS
RELIED ON THE ALLIES LANDING
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00:04:54,394 --> 00:04:58,665
{\an7}\hOVER 150,000 MEN
IN A SINGLE DAY--
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00:04:58,698 --> 00:04:59,999
{\an7}D-DAY.
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00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:05,271
{\an7}THE CRITICAL NAVAL OPERATION
WOULD HAVE ITS OWN CODENAME,
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00:05:05,305 --> 00:05:07,374
{\an7}OPERATION NEPTUNE,
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00:05:07,407 --> 00:05:08,642
{\an7}AND WOULD BE OVERSEEN
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00:05:08,675 --> 00:05:12,279
{\an7}\hBY BRITISH ADMIRAL
SIR BERTRAM RAMSEY.
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00:05:12,312 --> 00:05:14,714
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGordon:
HE WAS EISENHOWER’S SAILOR.
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00:05:14,748 --> 00:05:18,452
{\an7}HE KIND OF KNEW WHAT WOULD BE
\hA MISTAKE AND WHAT WOULDN’T.
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00:05:18,485 --> 00:05:19,886
{\an7}Narrator: FIVE INVASION FORCES
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00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,990
{\an7}WOULD SAIL FROM PORTS ALONG
\h\h\hENGLAND’S SOUTH COAST.
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00:05:23,023 --> 00:05:25,392
{\an7}\h\h\hAMERICAN FORCES
WOULD HEAD FOR BEACHES
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00:05:25,425 --> 00:05:28,795
{\an7}CODENAMED UTAH AND OMAHA.
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00:05:28,829 --> 00:05:30,431
{\an7}THE BRITISH AND CANADIANS,
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00:05:30,463 --> 00:05:33,166
{\an7}FOR GOLD, JUNO, AND SWORD.
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00:05:35,769 --> 00:05:37,571
{\an7}FROM MAY 1944,
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00:05:37,604 --> 00:05:40,307
{\an7}\h\hSOUTHERN ENGLAND
BECAME A VAST DEPOT.
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00:05:40,340 --> 00:05:41,875
{\an7}THERE WERE SO MANY TRUCKS,
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00:05:41,908 --> 00:05:43,743
{\an7}LOCAL PERSONNEL IN SOME TOWNS
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00:05:43,777 --> 00:05:47,080
{\an7}WERE GIVEN AN EXTRA
15 MINUTES FOR LUNCH
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00:05:47,113 --> 00:05:50,550
{\an7}JUST TO CROSS THE ROADS.
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00:05:50,584 --> 00:05:52,886
{\an7}SUPPLIES WERE HIDDEN IN WOODS;
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{\an7}LANDING CRAFT HIDDEN UP CREEKS.
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00:05:55,722 --> 00:05:59,192
{\an7}\hTHOUSANDS OF TROOPS
WAITED FOR THE ORDER.
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00:06:02,729 --> 00:06:06,566
{\an7}THEN, ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 5th,
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00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,002
{\an7}2,700 SHIPS
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{\an7}CARRYING THE LARGEST INVASION
FORCE THE WORLD HAD EVER KNOWN
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00:06:13,273 --> 00:06:16,309
{\an7}\h\h\hCONVERGED ON AN AREA
SOUTH OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT
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00:06:16,343 --> 00:06:19,980
{\an7}NICKNAMED "PICCADILLY CIRCUS."
128
00:06:20,013 --> 00:06:24,784
{\an7}FOR THOSE WHO WITNESSED IT,
IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT.
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00:06:24,818 --> 00:06:26,486
{\an7}Man: CLOSE UNDER THE HEADLAND
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00:06:26,519 --> 00:06:28,488
{\an7}\h\h\h\hI LOOKED DOWN
ON THE LANDING CRAFT.
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00:06:28,521 --> 00:06:31,991
{\an7}\h\hI COULD SEE THE TROOPS
IN BATTLE DRESS ON BOARD.
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{\an7}BEYOND THEM,
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{\an7}\h\h\hLINE AFTER LINE
OF TANK LANDING CRAFT,
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00:06:34,895 --> 00:06:38,432
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSIDE BY SIDE,
ESCORTED BY MOTOR LAUNCHES.
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00:06:38,465 --> 00:06:41,902
{\an7}\h\h\hOUT TO SEA, DESTROYERS AND
FRIGATES TOOK UP THEIR STATIONS.
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00:06:41,935 --> 00:06:47,307
{\an7}ON THE HORIZON, BATTLESHIPS
\hAND HEAVY CRUISERS WAITED.
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00:06:47,340 --> 00:06:51,945
{\an7}I SAID TO MY WIFE, "A LOT OF MEN
ARE GOING TO DIE TONIGHT.
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00:06:51,978 --> 00:06:54,547
{\an7}WE SHOULD PRAY FOR THEM."
139
00:06:54,581 --> 00:06:57,350
{\an7}Narrator: THERE WAS PLENTY
\h\h\hTHAT COULD GO WRONG.
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00:06:57,384 --> 00:07:00,988
{\an7}ONE OF EISENHOWER’S TEAM WROTE
\h\h\hIN HIS DIARY THAT NIGHT:
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00:07:01,021 --> 00:07:04,358
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h"I’M VERY UNEASY
ABOUT THE WHOLE OPERATION.
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00:07:04,391 --> 00:07:09,062
{\an7}\hIT MAY BE THE MOST GHASTLY
DISASTER OF THE WHOLE WAR."
143
00:07:09,095 --> 00:07:10,663
{\an7}THE SUCCESS OF D-DAY
144
00:07:10,697 --> 00:07:12,766
{\an7}\h\hAND THE ULTIMATE
LIBERATION OF EUROPE
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00:07:12,799 --> 00:07:15,568
{\an7}RELIED ON THE REMARKABLE
\hCOLLECTION OF VESSELS
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00:07:15,602 --> 00:07:19,072
{\an7}THAT GATHERED THAT NIGHT
\hAT PICCADILLY CIRCUS.
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00:07:20,573 --> 00:07:24,210
{\an7}♪
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00:07:24,244 --> 00:07:26,813
{\an7}AS JUNE 6th ARRIVED, HOWEVER,
149
00:07:26,846 --> 00:07:28,414
{\an7}THERE WERE A FEW D-DAY VESSELS
150
00:07:28,448 --> 00:07:32,652
{\an7}THAT WERE NOWHERE NEAR
\h\hTHE ISLE OF WIGHT.
151
00:07:32,686 --> 00:07:36,690
{\an7}\h\h\h30 FEET UNDERWATER,
OFF THE COAST OF NORMANDY,
152
00:07:36,723 --> 00:07:41,828
{\an7}TEN MEN ARE EXISTING ON A DIET
\h\h\hOF BAKED BEANS AND TEA.
153
00:07:41,861 --> 00:07:44,964
{\an7}\h\hTHEY ARE THE CREWS
OF TWO MINI-SUBMARINES
154
00:07:44,998 --> 00:07:46,700
{\an7}KNOWN AS X-CRAFT.
155
00:07:46,733 --> 00:07:59,679
{\an7}♪
156
00:07:59,713 --> 00:08:03,383
{\an7}THE MEN IN SUBMARINES
\h\h\h\hX-20 AND X-23
157
00:08:03,483 --> 00:08:06,453
{\an7}HAD BEEN WAITING FOR TWO DAYS.
158
00:08:06,653 --> 00:08:09,289
{\an7}THEIR JOB WAS TO ERECT
\h\hA TELESCOPIC MAST
159
00:08:09,322 --> 00:08:12,192
{\an7}FITTED WITH GREEN LIGHTS
\h\h\hAND A RADIO BEACON
160
00:08:12,225 --> 00:08:14,360
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD GUIDE
THE FIRST INVASION VESSELS
161
00:08:14,394 --> 00:08:18,365
{\an7}\hHEADING TO JUNO
AND SWORD BEACHES.
162
00:08:18,498 --> 00:08:21,568
{\an7}\h\hGordon: THEY WERE THERE TO
PROVIDE THE PRECISE NAVIGATION
163
00:08:21,601 --> 00:08:25,605
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT A LANDING CRAFT
EMERGING OUT OF THE DARKNESS
164
00:08:25,638 --> 00:08:27,306
{\an7}TOWARDS A BEACH
165
00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:29,342
{\an7}\h\hCOULDN’T EXPECT
TO HAVE ON ITS OWN.
166
00:08:29,476 --> 00:08:32,646
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHEY WERE THERE
AS NAVIGATIONAL MARKERS.
167
00:08:32,712 --> 00:08:35,648
{\an7}Narrator: THE X-CRAFT HAD EACH
BEEN TOWED ACROSS THE CHANNEL
168
00:08:35,782 --> 00:08:38,018
{\an7}BY AN ARMED TRAWLER.
169
00:08:38,051 --> 00:08:40,320
{\an7}NOW, UTTERLY ON THEIR OWN,
170
00:08:40,387 --> 00:08:42,756
{\an7}THEY WERE POWERED BY A DIESEL
\h\h\hENGINE FROM A LONDON BUS
171
00:08:42,789 --> 00:08:44,424
{\an7}WHEN ON THE SURFACE,
172
00:08:44,457 --> 00:08:48,561
{\an7}AND BY BATTERY WHEN SUBMERGED.
173
00:08:48,595 --> 00:08:50,730
{\an7}A HATCH GAVE THE CREW
\hACCESS TO THE DECK,
174
00:08:50,830 --> 00:08:55,668
{\an7}\hAND A "WET AND DRY" HATCH
ALLOWED A DIVER IN AND OUT.
175
00:08:55,702 --> 00:08:58,939
{\an7}\h\h4-TON EXPLOSIVE CHARGES
COULD BE FITTED AND RELEASED
176
00:08:58,972 --> 00:09:02,476
{\an7}FROM THE CONTROL ROOM.
177
00:09:02,509 --> 00:09:05,379
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE EXPLOSIVES
WEREN’T NEEDED ON D-DAY,
178
00:09:05,412 --> 00:09:06,813
{\an7}BUT HAD BEEN USEFUL
179
00:09:06,846 --> 00:09:09,349
{\an7}IN CARRYING OUT THE X-CRAFT’S
\h\h\h\h\h\hORIGINAL PURPOSE:
180
00:09:09,382 --> 00:09:13,019
{\an7}TO FIND AND SINK
GERMAN WARSHIPS.
181
00:09:13,053 --> 00:09:15,222
{\an7}Alexandra Geary: THE NEED FOR
SMALLER SUBMARINES CAME ABOUT
182
00:09:15,255 --> 00:09:18,091
{\an7}\h\h\hWITH THE LARGE GERMAN
BATTLESHIPS LIKE THE TIRPITZ
183
00:09:18,124 --> 00:09:19,692
{\an7}HIDING IN NORWEGIAN FJORDS.
184
00:09:19,726 --> 00:09:22,429
{\an7}SO ESSENTIALLY, REALLY FAR AWAY
FROM OPEN SEA,
185
00:09:22,462 --> 00:09:24,898
{\an7}AND THE BRITISH SHIPS
COULDN’T GET TO THEM.
186
00:09:24,931 --> 00:09:26,299
{\an7}AND THEY PROTECTED THE HARBORS
187
00:09:26,332 --> 00:09:29,368
{\an7}\hWITH HUGE ANTI-TORPEDO
AND ANTI-SUBMARINE NETS.
188
00:09:29,402 --> 00:09:31,271
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE X-CRAFT
ALSO HAD THE CAPABILITY
189
00:09:31,304 --> 00:09:32,872
{\an7}OF CUTTING THROUGH THOSE NETS.
190
00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:34,975
{\an7}\h\hSO BY DEVELOPING
A SMALLER SUBMARINE,
191
00:09:35,008 --> 00:09:37,010
{\an7}THAT ALLOWED US ACCESS
\h\h\h\h\hTO THE SHIPS
192
00:09:37,043 --> 00:09:40,013
{\an7}THAT COULD POTENTIALLY
\h\hCRIPPLE OUR NAVY.
193
00:09:40,046 --> 00:09:41,414
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THE X-CRAFT HAD MANAGED
194
00:09:41,448 --> 00:09:43,817
{\an7}TO DROP EXPLOSIVE CHARGES
\h\h\h\hUNDER THE TIRPITZ
195
00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:45,352
{\an7}AND DAMAGE HER.
196
00:09:45,385 --> 00:09:50,657
{\an7}\h\h\hBUT MANY SUBMARINE CREWS
HAD BEEN LOST IN THE PROCESS.
197
00:09:50,690 --> 00:09:53,826
{\an7}THE MEN WAITING SILENTLY
\hOFF THE NORMANDY COAST
198
00:09:53,860 --> 00:09:55,929
{\an7}IN EARLY JUNE 1944
199
00:09:55,962 --> 00:09:59,332
{\an7}WERE WELL AWARE OF THE DANGERS.
200
00:09:59,365 --> 00:10:00,666
{\an7}EARLIER THAT YEAR,
201
00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:03,636
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY HAD TRAINED
IN TOTAL SECRECY IN SCOTLAND,
202
00:10:03,670 --> 00:10:06,506
{\an7}UNTIL THE TIME CAME
\h\h\hTO MOVE SOUTH.
203
00:10:06,539 --> 00:10:10,510
{\an7}\h\h\h\hJIM BOOTH WAS
A CREW MEMBER OF X-23.
204
00:10:10,543 --> 00:10:12,345
{\an7}Jim Booth: WE STOPPED
\h\hAT A PUB, I THINK,
205
00:10:12,378 --> 00:10:13,913
{\an7}TO HAVE LUNCH OR SOMETHING,
206
00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:18,418
{\an7}AND A CHAP SAID, "WHAT HAVE
YOU GOT ON THAT LORRY, SAY?
207
00:10:18,551 --> 00:10:21,487
{\an7}LOOKS LIKE A MINI X-CRAFT,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDOESN’T IT?"
208
00:10:21,521 --> 00:10:23,656
{\an7}I SAID, "WELL, IT DOES A BIT,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDOESN’T IT?"
209
00:10:25,391 --> 00:10:28,561
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS EARLY
AS THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 4th,
210
00:10:28,595 --> 00:10:31,431
{\an7}JIM AND HIS FELLOW CREW MEMBERS
HAD BEEN IN POSITION
211
00:10:31,464 --> 00:10:34,634
{\an7}\h\hA QUARTER OF A MILE
FROM THE NORMANDY SHORE.
212
00:10:34,801 --> 00:10:36,069
{\an7}THEY WERE SO CLOSE,
213
00:10:36,102 --> 00:10:39,939
{\an7}THEY COULD WATCH GERMAN SOLDIERS
PLAYING WITH BEACH BALLS.
214
00:10:39,973 --> 00:10:41,508
{\an7}INSIDE THE X-CRAFT,
215
00:10:41,541 --> 00:10:45,211
{\an7}THEY WERE DRESSED AS FRENCH
\hTAXI DRIVERS AND WORKMEN.
216
00:10:45,245 --> 00:10:47,681
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIF THEY DROWNED
AND THEIR BODIES WERE FOUND,
217
00:10:47,714 --> 00:10:51,718
{\an7}NO ONE WOULD THINK THEY WERE
\h\h\h\hBRITISH SUBMARINERS.
218
00:10:51,751 --> 00:10:53,052
{\an7}THAT NIGHT,
219
00:10:53,086 --> 00:10:55,789
{\an7}EXPECTING OPERATION NEPTUNE
TO BE TAKING PLACE AT DAWN,
220
00:10:55,822 --> 00:10:57,524
{\an7}THE TWO X-CRAFT SURFACED
221
00:10:57,557 --> 00:10:59,993
{\an7}\hTO PICK UP A VITAL
CODED RADIO MESSAGE.
222
00:11:00,026 --> 00:11:04,797
{\an7}IT WOULD BE PART OF THE BBC’S
\h\h10 O’CLOCK NEWS BULLETIN.
223
00:11:04,931 --> 00:11:05,999
{\an7}Booth: THERE WERE TWO SIGNALS,
224
00:11:06,032 --> 00:11:08,067
{\an7}AND ONE OF THEM WAS BEING
225
00:11:08,101 --> 00:11:09,636
{\an7}THAT THE OPERATION’S
\h\hNOT ON TOMORROW,
226
00:11:09,669 --> 00:11:11,871
{\an7}\h\h\hAND THE OTHER ONE WAS
THAT IT WAS--SIMPLE AS THAT.
227
00:11:11,971 --> 00:11:13,406
{\an7}PLANNED LANGUAGE.
228
00:11:13,439 --> 00:11:14,874
{\an7}THEY CAME, SOMETHING LIKE,
229
00:11:14,908 --> 00:11:18,044
{\an7}\h\h\h"MRS. HUNTINGTON’S CAT HAD
THREE KITTENS IN LITTLEHAMPTON,"
230
00:11:18,077 --> 00:11:20,580
{\an7}OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU SEE.
231
00:11:20,613 --> 00:11:22,815
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
BUT EISENHOWER HAD DECIDED
232
00:11:22,849 --> 00:11:25,485
{\an7}THE WEATHER WAS TOO BAD
FOR A CHANNEL CROSSING.
233
00:11:25,585 --> 00:11:28,922
{\an7}D-DAY WAS DELAYED FOR 24 HOURS.
234
00:11:28,955 --> 00:11:32,425
{\an7}Booth: EVERYBODY’S SAYING,
\h\h\h\hOH, GOD, YOU KNOW.
235
00:11:32,458 --> 00:11:34,026
{\an7}DOWN WE GO AGAIN.
236
00:11:34,194 --> 00:11:37,764
{\an7}\h\h\hGordon: WHEN D-DAY
WAS POSTPONED FOR A DAY,
237
00:11:37,797 --> 00:11:42,035
{\an7}THESE POOR MEN HAD TO LIVE
\h\hIN THIS TINY TIN CAN,
238
00:11:42,202 --> 00:11:44,471
{\an7}IN DISGUSTING CONDITIONS,
239
00:11:44,504 --> 00:11:47,407
{\an7}FOR A WHOLE 24 HOURS MORE.
240
00:11:47,574 --> 00:11:48,708
{\an7}Geary: TO BE INSIDE AN X-CRAFT,
241
00:11:48,741 --> 00:11:50,576
{\an7}THE ONLY WAY I CAN THINK
\h\h\h\h\hTO DESCRIBE IT
242
00:11:50,610 --> 00:11:52,979
{\an7}IS ALMOST LIKE LIVING
\hIN A BROOM CUPBOARD.
243
00:11:53,012 --> 00:11:55,381
{\an7}IT WAS AN EXTREMELY
\h\h\hCRAMPED SPACE.
244
00:11:55,415 --> 00:11:57,517
{\an7}THEY HAD ONE SMALL BUNK,
\h\h\h\hAND THAT WAS IT.
245
00:11:57,550 --> 00:11:59,519
{\an7}THEY HAD TO TAKE TURNS
\h\h\h\h\hIN SLEEPING.
246
00:11:59,686 --> 00:12:01,922
{\an7}\h\h\hBooth: WELL, OF COURSE,
YOU COULDN’T STAND UP ANYWHERE
247
00:12:01,955 --> 00:12:04,524
{\an7}EXCEPT IN THE PERISCOPE WELL.
248
00:12:04,691 --> 00:12:06,493
{\an7}\hMOST OF THE TIME I WAS
SITTING DOWN, I SUPPOSE,
249
00:12:06,526 --> 00:12:08,695
{\an7}I SAT DOWN BY THE WHEEL.
250
00:12:08,728 --> 00:12:11,798
{\an7}\h\h\hAND THEN EVERYTHING WAS,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS WET AND DAMP
251
00:12:11,831 --> 00:12:12,999
{\an7}AND THAT SORT OF THING,
252
00:12:13,032 --> 00:12:15,735
{\an7}SO IT WAS PRETTY,
\hPRETTY HORRIBLE.
253
00:12:15,902 --> 00:12:17,203
{\an7}AND WE WERE YOUNG.
254
00:12:17,237 --> 00:12:19,539
{\an7}YOU DON’T COMPLAIN THEN, DO YOU,
WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG?
255
00:12:21,541 --> 00:12:23,510
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 5th,
256
00:12:23,543 --> 00:12:26,312
{\an7}THE CREWS SURFACED ONCE MORE.
257
00:12:26,346 --> 00:12:28,949
{\an7}THEY RECEIVED THE SIGNAL
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY WANTED.
258
00:12:28,982 --> 00:12:31,852
{\an7}D-DAY WAS ON.
259
00:12:31,884 --> 00:12:36,288
{\an7}BY 4:30 THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
\h\hTHE SUBS WERE IN POSITION.
260
00:12:36,322 --> 00:12:39,725
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE MASTS WERE RAISED
AND RADIO BEACONS ACTIVATED.
261
00:12:39,759 --> 00:12:46,032
{\an7}♪
262
00:12:46,099 --> 00:12:49,035
{\an7}\h\h\hBooth: THEN THERE WAS
THIS RATHER PREGNANT PAUSE.
263
00:12:49,068 --> 00:12:50,436
{\an7}\h\h\hWE WONDERED
WHAT WAS HAPPENING
264
00:12:50,603 --> 00:12:52,038
{\an7}\h\h\hWHEN THERE WE WERE
SITTING THERE, YOU KNOW,
265
00:12:52,138 --> 00:12:53,606
{\an7}LIKE BLOODY FOOLS OFF THE BEACH.
266
00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,776
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW,
RATHER FRIGHTENING, REALLY.
267
00:12:56,809 --> 00:12:59,011
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
BUT WHILE THE X-CRAFT WAITED,
268
00:12:59,045 --> 00:13:00,313
{\an7}OUT IN THE CHANNEL,
269
00:13:00,346 --> 00:13:03,015
{\an7}\h\hOPERATION NEPTUNE
WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
270
00:13:03,049 --> 00:13:05,218
{\an7}SPECIALIZED BOATS
\hWERE GATHERING,
271
00:13:05,251 --> 00:13:07,320
{\an7}\h\hREADY TO GUIDE
THE INVASION FORCE
272
00:13:07,353 --> 00:13:10,990
{\an7}\hTHROUGH A MASSIVE FIELD
OF FLOATING GERMAN MINES.
273
00:13:12,525 --> 00:13:15,294
{\an7}IN THE SUMMER OF 1944,
274
00:13:15,328 --> 00:13:18,131
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE FATE OF EUROPE
DEPENDED ON THE ALLIED PLAN
275
00:13:18,164 --> 00:13:22,735
{\an7}TO LAND OVER 150,000 TROOPS
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN JUST 24 HOURS
276
00:13:22,769 --> 00:13:24,938
{\an7}ON THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY.
277
00:13:24,971 --> 00:13:27,574
{\an7}JUNE 6th WAS D-DAY.
278
00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:33,012
{\an7}A KEY PART OF THE INVASION WAS
\hTHE CROSS-CHANNEL OPERATION,
279
00:13:33,046 --> 00:13:34,748
{\an7}CODENAMED NEPTUNE.
280
00:13:34,847 --> 00:13:37,817
{\an7}HUNDREDS OF VESSELS--
\h\h\hSOME UNTESTED--
281
00:13:37,850 --> 00:13:43,289
{\an7}\h\h\hWOULD TRANSPORT THE TROOPS
AND GUIDE THEM SAFELY TO SHORE.
282
00:13:43,323 --> 00:13:45,392
{\an7}BUT DEADLY GERMAN MINEFIELDS,
283
00:13:45,425 --> 00:13:48,094
{\an7}\h\hBEACH DEFENSES,
AND SHORE BATTERIES
284
00:13:48,127 --> 00:13:51,664
{\an7}\h\hMEANT THAT SUCCESS
WAS FAR FROM CERTAIN.
285
00:13:58,771 --> 00:14:01,474
{\an7}\h\h\h\hOUT IN THE CHANNEL,
IN THE EARLY HOURS OF D-DAY,
286
00:14:01,507 --> 00:14:05,411
{\an7}WAS A TINY FLOTILLA OF VESSELS--
287
00:14:05,445 --> 00:14:09,282
{\an7}SOME OF THE UNSUNG HEROES
\h\hOF OPERATION NEPTUNE.
288
00:14:09,315 --> 00:14:14,387
{\an7}THESE WERE THE HARBOR DEFENSE
\h\hMOTOR LAUNCHES, OR HDMLs--
289
00:14:14,420 --> 00:14:16,088
{\an7}BUILT TO GUARD BRITISH PORTS
290
00:14:16,122 --> 00:14:20,326
{\an7}\h\hAGAINST THE THREAT
OF GERMAN SUBMARINES.
291
00:14:20,526 --> 00:14:25,598
{\an7}TODAY, ONE HDML IS PRESERVED
\h\h\hAND STILL SEAWORTHY--
292
00:14:25,765 --> 00:14:27,667
{\an7}HMS MEDUSA.
293
00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:41,480
{\an7}♪
294
00:14:41,514 --> 00:14:42,882
{\an7}MEDUSA WAS DESIGNED
295
00:14:42,915 --> 00:14:44,517
{\an7}TO EVADE SUBMARINES
296
00:14:44,550 --> 00:14:45,885
{\an7}USING TWO ENGINES
297
00:14:45,918 --> 00:14:47,920
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT COULD BE
INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED
298
00:14:48,054 --> 00:14:49,889
{\an7}FOR EXTRA TURNING POWER.
299
00:14:50,056 --> 00:14:51,791
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAlan Watson: THERE’S
NO OTHER VESSEL IN THESE DAYS
300
00:14:51,824 --> 00:14:53,726
{\an7}THAT IS MANEUVERED
\h\hLIKE THIS ONE.
301
00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:55,295
{\an7}IF YOU PUT ONE ENGINE AHEAD,
\h\h\h\h\hONE ENGINE ASTERN,
302
00:14:55,328 --> 00:14:56,629
{\an7}AND THE HELM OVER,
303
00:14:56,662 --> 00:14:58,297
{\an7}YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPIN THE SHIP
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON A SIXPENCE.
304
00:14:58,331 --> 00:15:00,633
{\an7}IT’S A BIT LIKE DRIVING
\hA HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAR
305
00:15:00,666 --> 00:15:04,236
{\an7}ON A SKID PAN IN HEAVY RAIN
\h\h\hAND MAYBE FOG AS WELL.
306
00:15:04,270 --> 00:15:05,638
{\an7}ON THE BRIDGE HERE,
307
00:15:05,671 --> 00:15:07,473
{\an7}WE DON’T HAVE DIRECT CONTROL
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE ENGINES.
308
00:15:07,507 --> 00:15:08,842
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hI’VE GOT TWO
BRASS TELEGRAPHS HERE,
309
00:15:08,875 --> 00:15:11,111
{\an7}AND THERE’S A CHAP BELOW MY FEET
DOWN IN THE ENGINE ROOM
310
00:15:11,144 --> 00:15:12,579
{\an7}WATCHING THE DIALS,
311
00:15:12,612 --> 00:15:15,849
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND HE HAS TO HAVE
HIS WITS ABOUT HIM AS WELL.
312
00:15:15,882 --> 00:15:18,785
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: THE HDMLs
HAD ONE UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE
313
00:15:18,818 --> 00:15:23,256
{\an7}THAT WAS FOREMOST IN THE MINDS
\h\h\h\hOF THE D-DAY PLANNERS.
314
00:15:23,289 --> 00:15:25,324
{\an7}THE BOATS WERE MADE OF WOOD,
315
00:15:25,358 --> 00:15:28,428
{\an7}UNDETECTABLE BY RADAR.
316
00:15:28,461 --> 00:15:30,697
{\an7}TO MAKE UP FOR THE LACK
\h\h\hOF ARMOR PLATING,
317
00:15:30,730 --> 00:15:35,635
{\an7}HDMLs LIKE MEDUSA BOASTED
\hSOME SERIOUS FIREPOWER.
318
00:15:35,668 --> 00:15:37,403
{\an7}Watson: THE MAIN ARMAMENT
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THIS VESSEL
319
00:15:37,570 --> 00:15:39,472
{\an7}IS A 20-MILLIMETER OERLIKON.
320
00:15:39,505 --> 00:15:42,241
{\an7}A GOOD TEAM ON THERE
CAN SHIFT 400 ROUNDS
321
00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:44,110
{\an7}OF HIGH-EXPLOSIVE SHELLS
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN A MINUTE.
322
00:15:44,143 --> 00:15:45,778
{\an7}ON THE BRIDGE WING BEHIND ME,
323
00:15:45,812 --> 00:15:48,248
{\an7}THERE’S TWO LIGHT-CALIBER
MACHINE GUNS ON EACH SIDE,
324
00:15:48,281 --> 00:15:49,816
{\an7}AND THESE VESSELS WERE EXPECTED
325
00:15:49,849 --> 00:15:52,685
{\an7}TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
WITH THE OPPOSITION AS WELL.
326
00:15:52,718 --> 00:15:55,087
{\an7}\h\h\h\hON THE BRIDGE, THERE’S
TWO BUCKETS OF HAND GRENADES.
327
00:15:55,221 --> 00:15:56,589
{\an7}\h\hSO YOU WENT UP
TO THE OTHER CHAP
328
00:15:56,756 --> 00:15:59,492
{\an7}\h\hAND CHUCKED ONE
THROUGH THE WINDOW.
329
00:15:59,525 --> 00:16:01,360
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: THE MEN
WHO TOOK THEIR CHANCES
330
00:16:01,394 --> 00:16:04,197
{\an7}ON A VESSEL DESIGNED FOR SUCH
\h\h\hCLOSE-QUARTERS FIGHTING
331
00:16:04,230 --> 00:16:07,667
{\an7}\h\h\hWERE NICKNAMED
CHURCHILL’S PIRATES.
332
00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:12,104
{\an7}\hDoug Withey: WE WERE NEVER
DRESSED PROPERLY, YOU KNOW.
333
00:16:12,138 --> 00:16:14,507
{\an7}THE NAVY DIDN’T LIKE US,
334
00:16:14,540 --> 00:16:17,910
{\an7}\h\hAND WE WEREN’T REALLY
FOND OF THE NAVY, EITHER.
335
00:16:17,944 --> 00:16:19,846
{\an7}Narrator: CHURCHILL’S PIRATES
336
00:16:19,879 --> 00:16:23,015
{\an7}WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL TASK
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON D-DAY.
337
00:16:23,049 --> 00:16:24,484
{\an7}A GERMAN MINEFIELD STRETCHED
338
00:16:24,517 --> 00:16:27,954
{\an7}ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH
\h\h\h\hOF THE CHANNEL.
339
00:16:28,187 --> 00:16:29,689
{\an7}THE INVASION FLEET
340
00:16:29,789 --> 00:16:32,425
{\an7}\hCOULD ONLY PASS THROUGH THIS
SEEMINGLY IMPENETRABLE BARRIER
341
00:16:32,525 --> 00:16:34,460
{\an7}ONCE DESIGNATED ROUTES
\h\h\hHAD BEEN CLEARED
342
00:16:34,494 --> 00:16:37,097
{\an7}BY A FLEET OF MINESWEEPERS.
343
00:16:37,129 --> 00:16:38,697
{\an7}Watson: SO THE PLAN WAS
344
00:16:38,731 --> 00:16:41,500
{\an7}\hFOR EACH OF THE D-DAY BEACHES
TO HAVE TWO NARROW CHANNELS CUT,
345
00:16:41,534 --> 00:16:43,202
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONLY ABOUT
A QUARTER OF A MILE WIDE.
346
00:16:43,236 --> 00:16:44,571
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT OF COURSE
THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE
347
00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:46,072
{\an7}RIGHT AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT
348
00:16:46,105 --> 00:16:47,540
{\an7}\h\hBECAUSE OTHERWISE
IT GAVE THE GAME AWAY
349
00:16:47,573 --> 00:16:49,241
{\an7}AS TO WHERE THE INVASION
WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
350
00:16:49,275 --> 00:16:52,512
{\an7}SO IT COULD ONLY BE DONE
\h\hIN THE NIGHT BEFORE.
351
00:16:52,545 --> 00:16:56,616
{\an7}Narrator: MEDUSA AND OTHER HDMLs
WOULD STATION THEMSELVES
352
00:16:56,649 --> 00:16:59,519
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAT THE ENTRANCES
TO THESE VITAL CHANNELS
353
00:16:59,552 --> 00:17:01,854
{\an7}SO THAT THE LANDING CRAFT
\h\h\h\h\hAND LARGER SHIPS
354
00:17:01,888 --> 00:17:05,425
{\an7}WOULD SEE THE SAFE ROUTE IN.
355
00:17:05,458 --> 00:17:06,960
{\an7}Watson: I HAVE HERE
\hONE OF THE CHARTS
356
00:17:07,126 --> 00:17:10,096
{\an7}\h\hFROM THE INSTRUCTION PACK
FOR MEDUSA FOR HER D-DAY ROLE,
357
00:17:10,129 --> 00:17:14,500
{\an7}\hAND THIS IS THE GERMAN
MINEFIELD THAT WAS LAID.
358
00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:18,571
{\an7}MEDUSA WAS AT POSITION FOUR,
RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE THERE,
359
00:17:18,604 --> 00:17:24,276
{\an7}AND ML1383, SISTER SHIP,
AT NUMBER THREE CHANNEL.
360
00:17:24,310 --> 00:17:25,545
{\an7}Narrator: FOR THIS OPERATION,
361
00:17:25,578 --> 00:17:27,880
{\an7}\h\h\h\hMEDUSA WOULD BE
OUTFITTED WITH EQUIPMENT
362
00:17:27,914 --> 00:17:30,984
{\an7}LIKE NO OTHER VESSEL BEFORE HER.
363
00:17:31,017 --> 00:17:32,285
{\an7}BUT FOR SECURITY,
364
00:17:32,318 --> 00:17:34,520
{\an7}\h\h\hMOST OF HER CREW
WERE KEPT IN THE DARK
365
00:17:34,554 --> 00:17:38,658
{\an7}\hABOUT EXACTLY WHAT
THAT EQUIPMENT DID.
366
00:17:38,691 --> 00:17:41,460
{\an7}\hWithey: WE HAD ALL THIS
SECRET STUFF ON THE BOAT.
367
00:17:41,561 --> 00:17:43,496
{\an7}WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
368
00:17:43,529 --> 00:17:47,400
{\an7}\h\hI THINK THEIR IDEA WAS
THAT IF WE DID GET CAUGHT,
369
00:17:47,633 --> 00:17:50,736
{\an7}WE COULDN’T TELL THEM ANYTHING
’CAUSE WE DIDN’T KNOW ANYWAY.
370
00:17:50,770 --> 00:17:53,106
{\an7}Narrator: ANOTHER PROBLEM
\h\hFOR THE D-DAY PLANNERS
371
00:17:53,139 --> 00:17:55,408
{\an7}\hWAS THAT THE GERMANS
HAD LEARNED HOW TO JAM
372
00:17:55,441 --> 00:17:57,710
{\an7}ROYAL NAVY NAVIGATION DEVICES,
373
00:17:57,743 --> 00:18:00,546
{\an7}KNOWN AS THE GEE SYSTEM.
374
00:18:00,580 --> 00:18:03,450
{\an7}BUT BY D-DAY, A NEW PIECE
\hOF GEAR HAD BEEN DEVISED
375
00:18:03,482 --> 00:18:05,951
{\an7}\hTHAT THE GERMANS
DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT.
376
00:18:05,985 --> 00:18:08,387
{\an7}IT WAS CALLED DECCA RADAR
377
00:18:08,421 --> 00:18:10,690
{\an7}AND WAS SWITCHED ON
\hFOR THE FIRST TIME
378
00:18:10,723 --> 00:18:12,458
{\an7}ON JUNE 6th.
379
00:18:12,491 --> 00:18:16,095
{\an7}Watson: THIS SHIP WAS THE FIRST
TO USE DECCA OPERATIONALLY,
380
00:18:16,128 --> 00:18:17,096
{\an7}AND AT THE TIME OF D-DAY,
381
00:18:17,263 --> 00:18:19,332
{\an7}\hTHERE WERE ONLY
20 SETS AVAILABLE.
382
00:18:19,465 --> 00:18:21,834
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: THE DECCA SYSTEM
USED A NETWORK OF TRANSMITTERS
383
00:18:21,968 --> 00:18:23,436
{\an7}TO EMIT SIGNALS.
384
00:18:23,469 --> 00:18:25,037
{\an7}BY COMPARING THE TIME IT TOOK
385
00:18:25,237 --> 00:18:27,239
{\an7}\h\h\hFOR THE SIGNALS
TO REACH THE RECEIVER,
386
00:18:27,273 --> 00:18:30,143
{\an7}YOU COULD ACCURATELY PLOT
\hYOUR POSITION ON A MAP.
387
00:18:32,645 --> 00:18:35,047
{\an7}BUT OPERATING AHEAD
\hOF THE MAIN FLEET,
388
00:18:35,081 --> 00:18:36,616
{\an7}MEDUSA WAS CAUGHT IN THE STORM
389
00:18:36,782 --> 00:18:40,452
{\an7}THAT HAD POSTPONED D-DAY
\h\h\h\h\h\hBY 24 HOURS.
390
00:18:40,486 --> 00:18:42,455
{\an7}DESIGNED TO OPERATE
\hIN CALMER WATERS,
391
00:18:42,488 --> 00:18:46,592
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE HDMLs
STRUGGLED IN HIGH SEAS.
392
00:18:46,626 --> 00:18:50,396
{\an7}Withey: WE FOUND WE HAD TO
\h\h\hFIGHT OUR WAY ACROSS
393
00:18:50,429 --> 00:18:54,767
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE, UH,
YOU COULDN’T STEER A COURSE.
394
00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,869
{\an7}THE SHIP WOULDN’T ALLOW IT.
395
00:18:56,902 --> 00:18:59,405
{\an7}IT WAS HORRIFIC.
396
00:18:59,438 --> 00:19:03,008
{\an7}\h\h\hI THOUGHT WE WEREN’T
GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
397
00:19:03,042 --> 00:19:06,879
{\an7}THIS IS GOING TO BE
\h\hCURTAINS, LIKE.
398
00:19:06,912 --> 00:19:08,914
{\an7}Narrator: HAVING FOUND
HER ASSIGNED POSITION
399
00:19:08,948 --> 00:19:10,750
{\an7}AT THE HEAD OF THE SAFE CHANNEL,
400
00:19:10,783 --> 00:19:15,454
{\an7}MEDUSA STRUGGLED NOT TO DRIFT
\h\h\h\hFROM THAT VITAL SPOT.
401
00:19:15,488 --> 00:19:18,591
{\an7}Watson: THE IDEA OF HER STAYING
ON THE STATION 30 HOURS,
402
00:19:18,624 --> 00:19:19,758
{\an7}WHICH SHE DID,
403
00:19:19,792 --> 00:19:21,394
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN FOUL WEATHER,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANNEL,
404
00:19:21,427 --> 00:19:25,097
{\an7}\hIT REALLY DOESN’T
BEAR THINKING ABOUT.
405
00:19:25,131 --> 00:19:26,399
{\an7}Narrator: THEN FINALLY,
406
00:19:26,432 --> 00:19:28,734
{\an7}AS THE D-DAY INVASION FLEET
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDREW NEAR,
407
00:19:28,768 --> 00:19:32,338
{\an7}THE MOMENT CAME FOR MEDUSA
\h\h\hAND THE OTHER HDMLs
408
00:19:32,371 --> 00:19:35,574
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO ACTIVATE
THE UNTESTED DECCA RADAR.
409
00:19:37,376 --> 00:19:41,046
{\an7}Withey: AFTER 30 HOURS, UH,
410
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,383
{\an7}A MESSAGE COMES THROUGH,
411
00:19:44,417 --> 00:19:48,755
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND THE OFFICERS
SWITCHED ON THE EQUIPMENT.
412
00:19:48,788 --> 00:19:51,724
{\an7}Narrator: IT WORKED.
413
00:19:51,757 --> 00:19:54,893
{\an7}\h\h\hBUT WITH VERY FEW
DECCA SETS IN OPERATION,
414
00:19:54,927 --> 00:20:01,066
{\an7}\h\hTHE SHIPS HAD TO IMPROVISE
AND PLAY "FOLLOW THE LEADER."
415
00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:03,869
{\an7}Withey: SO MANY SHIPS
\hHAD THE EQUIPMENT ON
416
00:20:03,903 --> 00:20:05,538
{\an7}TO PICK THE BEAM UP,
417
00:20:05,571 --> 00:20:09,542
{\an7}AND THEY HAD ONE SHIP,
WHICH WAS A LEAD SHIP,
418
00:20:09,575 --> 00:20:12,545
{\an7}\hAND ABOUT 10 OR 12 BOATS
BEHIND, ALL FOLLOWING IT.
419
00:20:12,578 --> 00:20:16,482
{\an7}Watson: THE WHOLE D-DAY FLEET
\hCONSISTED OF 6,000 VESSELS,
420
00:20:16,515 --> 00:20:19,218
{\an7}AND THEY WERE DEPENDENT
ON PERHAPS 20 OF THESE.
421
00:20:21,654 --> 00:20:24,657
{\an7}Narrator: MEDUSA’S CREW
NOW HAD A RINGSIDE SEAT
422
00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:28,494
{\an7}AS THE INVASION FLEET
\h\h\hPASSED THEM BY.
423
00:20:28,527 --> 00:20:31,530
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSHE HAD SUCCESSFULLY
CARRIED OUT HER VITAL ROLE.
424
00:20:33,499 --> 00:20:36,502
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE OPERATION’S SUCCESS
425
00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:40,939
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hNOW RESTED WITH
THE BIGGEST SHIPS OF D-DAY.
426
00:20:40,973 --> 00:20:43,476
{\an7}\hTO TAKE THE FIVE
INVASION BEACHES,
427
00:20:43,509 --> 00:20:45,945
{\an7}THE ALLIES WOULD HAVE TO DEAL
\h\h\h\hWITH THE DEADLY MENACE
428
00:20:45,978 --> 00:20:48,781
{\an7}OF THE ATLANTIC WALL.
429
00:20:48,814 --> 00:20:51,517
{\an7}A STRING OF FORMIDABLE
\h\h\hGERMAN DEFENSES
430
00:20:51,550 --> 00:20:53,719
{\an7}\hWOULD NEED TO BE
PUT OUT OF ACTION
431
00:20:53,753 --> 00:20:56,589
{\an7}BEFORE THE VAST NUMBER
OF TROOPS COULD LAND.
432
00:20:56,622 --> 00:21:00,593
{\an7}THIS VITAL TASK WAS GIVEN
\hTO THE ALLIED WARSHIPS.
433
00:21:03,496 --> 00:21:07,266
{\an7}AT DAWN ON THE MORNING
\h\h\h\h\hOF JUNE 6th,
434
00:21:07,299 --> 00:21:09,368
{\an7}SCORES OF WARSHIPS
\hWERE IN POSITION
435
00:21:09,401 --> 00:21:12,404
{\an7}\h\h\hSIX MILES OFF
THE NORMANDY COAST.
436
00:21:12,438 --> 00:21:16,943
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT 5:27,
THE BOMBARDMENT BEGAN.
437
00:21:16,976 --> 00:21:23,716
{\an7}[GUNS BOOMING]
438
00:21:23,749 --> 00:21:25,784
{\an7}FOR THE X-CRAFT CREWS,
439
00:21:25,818 --> 00:21:27,286
{\an7}WAITING JUST OFFSHORE
440
00:21:27,319 --> 00:21:30,422
{\an7}WITH THEIR NAVIGATION LIGHTS
\h\hAND BEACONS SWITCHED ON,
441
00:21:30,456 --> 00:21:34,593
{\an7}THIS WAS THEIR FIRST GLIMPSE
OF THE TRUE SCALE OF D-DAY.
442
00:21:34,627 --> 00:21:36,429
{\an7}[BOOMING]
443
00:21:36,462 --> 00:21:37,630
{\an7}Booth: THE BIG BATTLESHIPS
444
00:21:37,663 --> 00:21:40,065
{\an7}\h\h\hSTARTED FIRING
OVER THE TOP OF US,
445
00:21:40,099 --> 00:21:43,502
{\an7}AND THAT WAS A SPECTACULAR
\h\h\h\h\hSOUND AND NOISE.
446
00:21:43,536 --> 00:21:46,172
{\an7}\h\hI MEAN, IT DID
LITERALLY WHISTLE.
447
00:21:46,205 --> 00:21:48,140
{\an7}\hAND THEY WERE LANDING
ON THE BEACH, YOU KNOW,
448
00:21:48,174 --> 00:21:50,743
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH WAS
300 YARDS AWAY FROM US.
449
00:21:50,776 --> 00:21:53,078
{\an7}[EXPLOSIONS]
450
00:21:53,112 --> 00:21:55,715
{\an7}Narrator: ONE OF THE FIRST SHIPS
TO OPEN FIRE
451
00:21:55,748 --> 00:21:58,851
{\an7}IS NOW IN MORE PEACEFUL
\h\h\h\h\hSURROUNDINGS.
452
00:21:58,884 --> 00:22:04,056
{\an7}\hTHIS IS THE ROYAL NAVY’S
LIGHT CRUISER HMS BELFAST.
453
00:22:04,089 --> 00:22:17,502
{\an7}♪
454
00:22:17,536 --> 00:22:20,072
{\an7}INCLUDED IN BELFAST’S ARMAMENT
455
00:22:20,105 --> 00:22:21,940
{\an7}WERE 12 6-INCH GUNS
456
00:22:21,974 --> 00:22:27,813
{\an7}USED TO TARGET GUN BATTERIES
ABOVE GOLD AND JUNO BEACHES.
457
00:22:27,847 --> 00:22:30,917
{\an7}THE BLAST OF THESE GUNS
\hWAS A REASSURING SOUND
458
00:22:30,950 --> 00:22:34,520
{\an7}\h\hFOR THE NERVOUS TROOPS
NOW HEADING FOR THE SHORE.
459
00:22:36,422 --> 00:22:39,892
{\an7}TO THE WEST, THE MOST HEAVILY
DEFENDED OF THE FIVE BEACHES,
460
00:22:39,925 --> 00:22:41,427
{\an7}OMAHA,
461
00:22:41,460 --> 00:22:46,398
{\an7}WAS BEING BOMBARDED BY A VETERAN
OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR--
462
00:22:46,432 --> 00:22:50,503
{\an7}THE BATTLESHIP USS TEXAS.
463
00:22:50,536 --> 00:22:52,872
{\an7}\h\hAndy Smith: TEXAS IS ONE
OF THE LAST REMAINING SHIPS
464
00:22:52,905 --> 00:22:53,906
{\an7}IN THE WORLD
465
00:22:53,939 --> 00:22:55,140
{\an7}THAT SERVED IN BOTH WORLD WAR I
466
00:22:55,174 --> 00:22:56,142
{\an7}AND WORLD WAR II.
467
00:22:56,175 --> 00:22:57,576
{\an7}THERE’S A HANDFUL,
468
00:22:57,610 --> 00:23:00,046
{\an7}BUT SHE’S REALLY THE BIGGEST,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBADDEST ONE.
469
00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:14,860
{\an7}♪
470
00:23:14,894 --> 00:23:18,531
{\an7}Narrator: THE TEXAS IS ARMED
\h\h\hWITH 10 14-INCH GUNS,
471
00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:21,333
{\an7}CAPABLE OF SENDING
1,500-POUND SHELLS
472
00:23:21,367 --> 00:23:25,204
{\an7}UP TO 12 MILES.
473
00:23:25,404 --> 00:23:27,439
{\an7}Smith: THE PROCESS
OF FIRING THIS GUN
474
00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,543
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hINVOLVED GETTING
ONE OF THE ROUNDS, PER GUN,
475
00:23:30,576 --> 00:23:32,144
{\an7}AND FOUR POWDER BAGS
\h\h\hUP AND LOADED.
476
00:23:32,177 --> 00:23:34,513
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE POWDER BAGS
ARE 105 POUNDS APIECE.
477
00:23:34,546 --> 00:23:36,882
{\an7}THEY WERE MANHANDLED
\h\h\h\hBY SAILORS.
478
00:23:36,916 --> 00:23:39,652
{\an7}SO, GET THE ROUND UP THROUGH
\hTHIS ELEVATOR RIGHT HERE.
479
00:23:39,685 --> 00:23:41,720
{\an7}\hAND THEN IT ROLLS
INTO A LITTLE TRAY,
480
00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:43,456
{\an7}AND THEN THEY HAVE A POWDER RAM
481
00:23:43,489 --> 00:23:45,658
{\an7}\h\h\hTHAT PUSHES THAT ROUND
ALL THE WAY INTO THE BREECH.
482
00:23:45,691 --> 00:23:49,128
{\an7}NEXT COMES THE FOUR POWDER BAGS,
AND THEY’RE PUSHED IN.
483
00:23:49,161 --> 00:23:51,563
{\an7}\h\hTHEY ACTUALLY USED
THE OLD RAMMING STICKS
484
00:23:51,597 --> 00:23:53,799
{\an7}\hTHAT YOU’LL SEE FROM
18th-CENTURY CANNONS.
485
00:23:53,832 --> 00:23:56,735
{\an7}\h\h\h\hONCE THAT WAS DONE,
THEY WOULD CLOSE THE BREECH
486
00:23:56,769 --> 00:23:58,738
{\an7}AND BE READY TO FIRE.
487
00:23:58,771 --> 00:24:01,007
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
UNLIKE ARTILLERY ON LAND,
488
00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,709
{\an7}WARSHIPS HAD TO CONTEND
WITH THE ROLLING OCEAN.
489
00:24:03,742 --> 00:24:05,711
{\an7}ACCURACY WAS DIFFICULT.
490
00:24:05,744 --> 00:24:10,048
{\an7}BUT TEXAS HAD THE TECHNOLOGY
\hTO DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM.
491
00:24:10,282 --> 00:24:11,984
{\an7}\hSmith: NO MATTER WHAT
YOU FIGURED OUT TO FIRE,
492
00:24:12,017 --> 00:24:14,720
{\an7}YOU HAD TO BASICALLY WAIT
UNTIL THE SHIP WAS LEVEL.
493
00:24:14,753 --> 00:24:17,689
{\an7}SO, WHEN THEY WOULD PULL
\hTHE TRIGGERS TO FIRE,
494
00:24:17,723 --> 00:24:21,460
{\an7}THERE WAS ONE LITTLE SWITCH THAT
WAITED UNTIL THE SHIP GOT LEVEL,
495
00:24:21,493 --> 00:24:23,462
{\an7}AND THAT WOULD CLOSE THE CIRCUIT
AND FIRE THE GUNS.
496
00:24:23,662 --> 00:24:25,998
{\an7}THAT WAY YOU WEREN’T FIRING
INTO THE WATER OR TOO HIGH.
497
00:24:26,031 --> 00:24:28,534
{\an7}[GUN FIRES]
498
00:24:28,701 --> 00:24:30,469
{\an7}Narrator: IN 1944,
499
00:24:30,502 --> 00:24:32,137
{\an7}THE SHIP’S BOMBARDMENT
\h\h\h\h\hOF THE COAST
500
00:24:32,171 --> 00:24:36,475
{\an7}LAY THE GROUND FOR THE INVASION
OF OMAHA BEACH.
501
00:24:36,508 --> 00:24:38,243
{\an7}Man: AS DAWN BEGAN TO BREAK,
502
00:24:38,277 --> 00:24:41,814
{\an7}WE RECEIVED THE SIGNAL
AND HEADED INTO SHORE.
503
00:24:41,847 --> 00:24:43,515
{\an7}I REMEMBER THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS
504
00:24:43,549 --> 00:24:46,852
{\an7}FIRING BROADSIDE AFTER BROADSIDE
INLAND WHEN WE WERE CLOSE BY.
505
00:24:47,019 --> 00:24:48,988
{\an7}\hIT WAS GOD-AWFUL,
TERRIBLE EXPLOSIONS,
506
00:24:49,021 --> 00:24:52,157
{\an7}MUZZLE BLASTS IN OUR EARS
\h\h\h\h\hWHEN THEY FIRED.
507
00:24:52,191 --> 00:24:53,626
{\an7}THE SMOKE RING PASSED US BY,
508
00:24:53,659 --> 00:24:56,228
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND IT WAS LIKE
THE FUNNEL OF A TORNADO,
509
00:24:56,261 --> 00:24:59,664
{\an7}GROWING LARGER AND LARGER
\hAND FINALLY DISSIPATING.
510
00:24:59,698 --> 00:25:03,235
{\an7}\hWE ACTUALLY FELT
THE MUZZLE BLAST.
511
00:25:03,268 --> 00:25:06,705
{\an7}[GUNS FIRING]
512
00:25:06,739 --> 00:25:08,874
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
IN THE EARLY MORNING OF D-DAY,
513
00:25:08,907 --> 00:25:11,810
{\an7}A FLEET OF WARSHIPS ANCHORED
\h\h\hOFF THE NORMANDY COAST
514
00:25:11,844 --> 00:25:16,015
{\an7}BOMBARDED THE GERMAN DEFENSES
\hKNOWN AS THE ATLANTIC WALL.
515
00:25:16,048 --> 00:25:17,983
{\an7}[BOOM]
516
00:25:21,353 --> 00:25:24,456
{\an7}\h\hA SUCCESSFUL BOMBARDMENT
WOULD SAVE HUNDREDS OF LIVES
517
00:25:24,490 --> 00:25:28,627
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWHEN THE TROOPS
LATER SCRAMBLED ASHORE.
518
00:25:28,660 --> 00:25:31,630
{\an7}BUT DID THE SHIPS ACHIEVE
\h\h\h\h\hTHEIR VITAL AIM?
519
00:25:34,199 --> 00:25:36,268
{\an7}THE CLUES CAN STILL BE FOUND
520
00:25:36,301 --> 00:25:39,204
{\an7}\h\h\hBEHIND BEACHES
LIKE UTAH AND OMAHA.
521
00:25:39,238 --> 00:25:43,375
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MAISY BATTERY
STILL BEARS THE SCARS OF D-DAY.
522
00:25:46,545 --> 00:25:49,681
{\an7}Gary Sterne: ON D-DAY, IT WAS
THREE SEPARATE GUN BATTERIES,
523
00:25:49,715 --> 00:25:51,951
{\an7}AND THEIR SOLE PURPOSE
524
00:25:51,984 --> 00:25:55,654
{\an7}WAS TO REPEL ANY INVASION FORCES
COMING TOWARDS THE COAST.
525
00:25:55,687 --> 00:25:58,690
{\an7}SO YOU HAVE A LONG-RANGE BATTERY
WHICH COULD HIT THE SHIPS,
526
00:25:58,724 --> 00:26:02,027
{\an7}AND A SMALLER-RANGE BATTERY
\hWHICH COULD HIT THE BEACH.
527
00:26:02,061 --> 00:26:03,796
{\an7}IT WAS DESIGNED
TO FIRE AT SHIPS
528
00:26:03,829 --> 00:26:06,532
{\an7}TO STOP THEM SUPPORTING
\hTHE INFANTRY LANDING,
529
00:26:06,698 --> 00:26:10,135
{\an7}AND IT DID A VERY GOOD JOB
\h\h\h\h\hFOR THREE DAYS.
530
00:26:10,169 --> 00:26:12,672
{\an7}Narrator: THE MAISY BATTERY
\hWAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND
531
00:26:12,704 --> 00:26:15,207
{\an7}EVERYTHING THE ALLIES
\h\hCOULD THROW AT IT,
532
00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,442
{\an7}FROM A BOMB-PROOF
PERSONNEL BUILDING
533
00:26:17,476 --> 00:26:20,612
{\an7}\h\h\hTO A REINFORCED
CONCRETE HEADQUARTERS.
534
00:26:20,646 --> 00:26:23,282
{\an7}\h\hSterne: THE SERIOUS SIZE OF
THE CONCRETE AND THE STRUCTURE--
535
00:26:23,315 --> 00:26:24,683
{\an7}IT WAS A COMBAT BUILDING.
536
00:26:24,716 --> 00:26:27,819
{\an7}\h\h\h\hIT WAS DESIGNED
TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS
537
00:26:27,853 --> 00:26:29,021
{\an7}DURING THE COMBAT SITUATION,
538
00:26:29,054 --> 00:26:30,656
{\an7}AND D-DAY WAS JUST THAT.
539
00:26:30,689 --> 00:26:35,427
{\an7}♪
540
00:26:35,461 --> 00:26:38,998
{\an7}SO HERE YOU HAVE A SOLID
\hCONCRETE CONSTRUCTION,
541
00:26:39,031 --> 00:26:40,599
{\an7}3 OR 4 METERS THICK,
542
00:26:40,632 --> 00:26:43,168
{\an7}AND THEN THEY’VE COATED IT HERE
WITH A BLACK BITUMEN
543
00:26:43,302 --> 00:26:44,537
{\an7}TO WATERPROOF IT.
544
00:26:44,570 --> 00:26:46,072
{\an7}THIS IS 70-ODD YEARS OLD,
545
00:26:46,205 --> 00:26:47,807
{\an7}\hAND IT’S STILL AS GOOD
AS THE DAY IT WAS MADE,
546
00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:52,078
{\an7}BECAUSE IT REALLY, REALLY IS
\hIMPERVIOUS TO BOMBARDMENT.
547
00:26:52,244 --> 00:26:53,846
{\an7}Narrator: THE COMPLEXITY
\h\h\h\h\hOF THE BATTERY
548
00:26:53,879 --> 00:26:58,183
{\an7}MADE IT A DIFFICULT TARGET FOR
\hTHE ALLIED SHIPS TO DESTROY.
549
00:26:58,217 --> 00:27:00,519
{\an7}\h\h\h\hNOT ONLY DID
THE BATTERY SURVIVE,
550
00:27:00,552 --> 00:27:03,622
{\an7}\hIT TURNED THE TABLES
ON THE INVASION FLEET.
551
00:27:05,290 --> 00:27:06,591
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSterne:
IN ONE PARTICULAR INSTANCE
552
00:27:06,625 --> 00:27:09,495
{\an7}THERE’S A NAVAL REPORT SAYING,
\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE U.S. NAVY,
553
00:27:09,528 --> 00:27:13,232
{\an7}THAT WE ARE BEING FIRED UPON
\hBY THE BATTERIES AT MAISY,
554
00:27:13,398 --> 00:27:16,368
{\an7}WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO REVERSE OUT
AND GO FURTHER OUT TO SEA
555
00:27:16,535 --> 00:27:18,971
{\an7}TO GET OUT OF ITS RANGE.
556
00:27:19,004 --> 00:27:21,206
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: THE ALLIES’
INITIAL NAVAL BOMBARDMENT
557
00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,909
{\an7}WAS ONLY A PARTIAL SUCCESS,
558
00:27:23,942 --> 00:27:27,279
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND MANY GERMAN
GUN BATTERIES SURVIVED.
559
00:27:27,312 --> 00:27:30,115
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hDESPITE THIS,
HUNDREDS OF LANDING CRAFT
560
00:27:30,149 --> 00:27:32,551
{\an7}CARRYING TENS OF THOUSANDS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF SOLDIERS
561
00:27:32,584 --> 00:27:35,821
{\an7}CONTINUED TO MAKE THEIR WAY
\h\h\h\h\hTOWARDS THE SHORE.
562
00:27:35,854 --> 00:27:37,622
{\an7}JUST AHEAD OF THEM, THOUGH,
563
00:27:37,656 --> 00:27:41,560
{\an7}THE ALLIES WERE ABOUT TO REVEAL
THEIR BIGGEST SURPRISE.
564
00:27:44,696 --> 00:27:47,365
{\an7}AT 6:25 A.M. ON D-DAY,
565
00:27:47,399 --> 00:27:49,668
{\an7}VESSELS EMERGED FROM THE WATER
566
00:27:49,701 --> 00:27:54,806
{\an7}\hTHAT WERE UNLIKE ANYTHING EVER
USED IN THE HISTORY OF WARFARE.
567
00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,810
{\an7}THESE WERE DUPLEX DRIVES--
568
00:27:57,843 --> 00:27:59,878
{\an7}TANKS THAT SWAM.
569
00:27:59,912 --> 00:28:13,526
{\an7}♪
570
00:28:13,559 --> 00:28:16,429
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS ONE OF
THE VERY FEW DUPLEX DRIVES
571
00:28:16,461 --> 00:28:20,699
{\an7}TO SURVIVE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
572
00:28:20,732 --> 00:28:25,003
{\an7}THIS STRANGE TANK WAS DEVELOPED
AFTER A NATIONAL HUMILIATION
573
00:28:25,037 --> 00:28:28,140
{\an7}TWO YEARS EARLIER.
574
00:28:28,173 --> 00:28:32,744
{\an7}THE 1942 ALLIED RAID ON DIEPPE
\h\hHAD BEEN A COSTLY FAILURE,
575
00:28:32,778 --> 00:28:36,348
{\an7}\h\hPARTLY DUE TO A LACK
OF SUPPORTING FIREPOWER.
576
00:28:37,583 --> 00:28:42,888
{\an7}\hTHE STRATEGY AT D-DAY
WOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT.
577
00:28:42,921 --> 00:28:44,556
{\an7}John Pearson: THE IDEA WAS
578
00:28:44,590 --> 00:28:47,226
{\an7}THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TANKS
\h\h\hCOMING UP THE BEACH
579
00:28:47,259 --> 00:28:49,628
{\an7}ALONG WITH THE VERY FIRST
\h\h\h\hWAVE OF INFANTRY,
580
00:28:49,661 --> 00:28:51,129
{\an7}\h\hWHICH MEANT OF COURSE
THAT THE TANKS THEMSELVES
581
00:28:51,163 --> 00:28:53,499
{\an7}HAD TO BE AMPHIBIOUS.
582
00:28:53,532 --> 00:28:55,601
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: IT TOOK
CONSIDERABLE INGENUITY
583
00:28:55,634 --> 00:29:00,706
{\an7}\hTO COME UP WITH A TANK THAT
COULD MAKE ITS OWN WAY ASHORE.
584
00:29:00,739 --> 00:29:03,542
{\an7}\hAN INVENTOR NAMED
NICHOLAS STRAUSSLER
585
00:29:03,575 --> 00:29:05,177
{\an7}BELIEVED HE HAD THE ANSWER.
586
00:29:05,344 --> 00:29:07,947
{\an7}\h\hHIS COMPANY BUILT
BOTH COLLAPSIBLE BOATS
587
00:29:07,980 --> 00:29:11,016
{\an7}AND ARMORED VEHICLES.
588
00:29:11,049 --> 00:29:15,320
{\an7}\hSTRAUSSLER BUILT A PROTOTYPE
BY ADAPTING A VALENTINE TANK,
589
00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:19,624
{\an7}THE WORKHORSE OF THE BRITISH
\h\h\hNORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN.
590
00:29:19,658 --> 00:29:24,830
{\an7}HIS CREATION WAS GIVEN THE NAME
DUPLEX DRIVE--DD FOR SHORT--
591
00:29:24,863 --> 00:29:27,199
{\an7}BECAUSE IT COULD BE POWERED
\h\h\h\hBY THE DUAL METHODS
592
00:29:27,232 --> 00:29:31,436
{\an7}OF PROPELLERS OR TRACKS.
593
00:29:31,470 --> 00:29:33,806
{\an7}THE TANK HAD TO FIT
ON A LANDING CRAFT,
594
00:29:33,839 --> 00:29:37,543
{\an7}SO ANY FLOTATION DEVICE
\h\h\hHAD TO BE COMPACT.
595
00:29:37,643 --> 00:29:41,480
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSTRAUSSLER CAME UP
WITH AN INGENIOUS SCREEN.
596
00:29:41,647 --> 00:29:44,717
{\an7}\h\hPearson: THE SCREEN
IS ATTACHED TO THE HULL,
597
00:29:44,750 --> 00:29:46,986
{\an7}\h\h\hAND BELOW THE SCREEN,
THE HULL IS MADE WATERPROOF
598
00:29:47,019 --> 00:29:49,588
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWITH VARIOUS
MASTIC-TYPE MATERIALS.
599
00:29:49,621 --> 00:29:52,190
{\an7}\h\h\hIT’S INFLATED
WITH COMPRESSED AIR,
600
00:29:52,224 --> 00:29:55,861
{\an7}THESE BECOME RIGID,
\h\hLIFT THE FRAMES,
601
00:29:55,961 --> 00:29:59,598
{\an7}\h\h\hAND THE CANVAS ACTS
AS A BARRIER TO THE WATER,
602
00:29:59,731 --> 00:30:01,233
{\an7}AND THE MACHINE FLOATS,
603
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:02,568
{\an7}WITH THE TOP OF THE TURRET
604
00:30:02,601 --> 00:30:04,937
{\an7}\h\h\h\hJUST ABOUT LEVEL
WITH THE WATER SURFACE.
605
00:30:04,970 --> 00:30:06,705
{\an7}WHEN YOU’RE AFLOAT...
606
00:30:09,041 --> 00:30:11,143
{\an7}YOU HAVE THAT EXTENSION PIPE,
607
00:30:11,176 --> 00:30:14,279
{\an7}WHICH BLOWS THE SMOKE
\hOUT FROM THE SCREEN.
608
00:30:14,313 --> 00:30:15,447
{\an7}THERE’S A DRAIN HERE.
609
00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,515
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIT RUNS DOWN
TO THE REAR OF THE TANK,
610
00:30:17,549 --> 00:30:21,086
{\an7}\h\h\hAND ANY WATER THAT
COMES INSIDE THE SCREEN
611
00:30:21,119 --> 00:30:22,354
{\an7}EVENTUALLY GOES DOWN,
612
00:30:22,454 --> 00:30:24,823
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hGOES TO THE REAR,
WHERE THERE’S A BILGE PUMP.
613
00:30:24,856 --> 00:30:27,692
{\an7}\h\hTHE DRIVER IS THE ONE WHO
REALLY NEEDS TO BE COURAGEOUS,
614
00:30:27,726 --> 00:30:29,962
{\an7}BECAUSE HE’S DOWN
\hINSIDE THE HULL,
615
00:30:29,995 --> 00:30:31,597
{\an7}UNDER THE WATER SURFACE.
616
00:30:31,630 --> 00:30:34,733
{\an7}HE’S THE ONE WHO’S GONNA GO DOWN
IN THE VEHICLE IF IT SINKS.
617
00:30:36,234 --> 00:30:39,237
{\an7}Narrator: THERE WAS ADDITIONAL
\h\h\h\hDANGER FOR THE DRIVER.
618
00:30:39,271 --> 00:30:43,408
{\an7}IF THE TANK MADE IT TO SHORE,
\hTHE SCREEN BLOCKED HIS VIEW.
619
00:30:43,442 --> 00:30:46,946
{\an7}AGAIN, THE DESIGNERS
\h\hHAD A SOLUTION.
620
00:30:46,978 --> 00:30:49,414
{\an7}Pearson: THERE’S A SMALL
BUT VITAL FITTING HERE,
621
00:30:49,448 --> 00:30:51,750
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH HAS GOT
A RUBBER BULB ON THE INSIDE,
622
00:30:51,883 --> 00:30:53,385
{\an7}WHICH THE DRIVER CAN SEE.
623
00:30:53,418 --> 00:30:55,520
{\an7}AND WHEN THIS IS IN WATER,
624
00:30:55,554 --> 00:30:58,424
{\an7}THAT BULB IS INFLATED
\h\h\hLIKE A BALLOON.
625
00:30:58,457 --> 00:31:00,859
{\an7}WHEN THE WATER LEVEL
\hDROPS BELOW THERE,
626
00:31:00,892 --> 00:31:02,494
{\an7}THE BULB DEFLATES
627
00:31:02,527 --> 00:31:05,764
{\an7}AND THE DRIVER KNOWS THAT HE’S
THEN SUFFICIENTLY ON DRY LAND
628
00:31:05,797 --> 00:31:07,632
{\an7}TO DROP THE SCREEN.
629
00:31:09,868 --> 00:31:11,303
{\an7}Narrator: AT FIRST,
630
00:31:11,336 --> 00:31:16,408
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTANK CREWS PRACTICED ON
THE CALM WATER OF INLAND LAKES.
631
00:31:16,508 --> 00:31:18,710
{\an7}THEN THEY MOVED TO THE SOLENT,
632
00:31:18,744 --> 00:31:23,349
{\an7}\h\h\hA 20-MILE STRAIT
OFF THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
633
00:31:23,382 --> 00:31:26,018
{\an7}Pearson: SOMETIMES THE CREWS
\h\h\h\hARRIVED ON THE BEACH
634
00:31:26,184 --> 00:31:28,620
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE DRIVER
UP TO HIS CHEST IN WATER,
635
00:31:28,653 --> 00:31:31,156
{\an7}THE THING JUST ABOUT AFLOAT.
636
00:31:31,189 --> 00:31:33,858
{\an7}Narrator: SEVERAL CREWS
\h\h\hWERE NOT SO LUCKY.
637
00:31:33,992 --> 00:31:35,627
{\an7}AT LEAST 10 DD TANKS
638
00:31:35,660 --> 00:31:38,296
{\an7}ARE KNOWN TO HAVE SUNK
OFF THE BRITISH COAST
639
00:31:38,530 --> 00:31:40,632
{\an7}DURING TRAINING EXERCISES.
640
00:31:40,665 --> 00:31:42,167
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPearson:
I CAN’T IMAGINE HOW ANYBODY
641
00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,302
{\an7}COULD RISK THEIR LIFE
\h\h\hIN ONE OF THESE.
642
00:31:44,336 --> 00:31:48,707
{\an7}\hYOU’RE ACTUALLY HANGING BELOW
THE WATER SURFACE IN A STEEL BOX
643
00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:51,343
{\an7}WHICH IS SUPPORTED
\hONLY ON CANVAS.
644
00:31:52,944 --> 00:31:55,513
{\an7}Narrator: BY JUNE 1944,
645
00:31:55,547 --> 00:32:00,018
{\an7}\h\hMOST DUPLEX DRIVES WERE NOW
MODIFIED AMERICAN SHERMAN TANKS.
646
00:32:01,253 --> 00:32:02,721
{\an7}THE NORMANDY INVASION
647
00:32:02,754 --> 00:32:08,093
{\an7}WOULD SEE THEM USED IN BATTLE
\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE FIRST TIME.
648
00:32:08,126 --> 00:32:09,761
{\an7}THE NIGHT BEFORE D-DAY,
649
00:32:09,795 --> 00:32:12,498
{\an7}TANK LANDING SHIPS, OR LSTs,
650
00:32:12,531 --> 00:32:16,268
{\an7}\hCARRIED 290 DDs
ACROSS THE CHANNEL
651
00:32:16,301 --> 00:32:19,371
{\an7}AND CLOSE TO THE NORMANDY COAST.
652
00:32:19,404 --> 00:32:21,406
{\an7}THE FINAL FEW THOUSAND YARDS
653
00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:25,511
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWOULD BE UP TO
THE TANKS THEMSELVES.
654
00:32:25,544 --> 00:32:26,879
{\an7}\h\hCraig Symonds:
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA
655
00:32:26,912 --> 00:32:29,348
{\an7}BECAUSE IT COULD
GET TANKS ASHORE
656
00:32:29,381 --> 00:32:31,650
{\an7}BEFORE YOU HAD TO RISK
\h\h\h\h\hTHE BIG LSTs
657
00:32:31,683 --> 00:32:34,686
{\an7}\h\h\hUNDER THE ARTILLERY
OF GERMAN SHORE BATTERIES.
658
00:32:34,719 --> 00:32:36,955
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: AT 5:50
THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
659
00:32:36,988 --> 00:32:40,959
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST 29 DD TANKS
WERE LAUNCHED BY THE AMERICANS
660
00:32:40,992 --> 00:32:43,228
{\an7}OFF OMAHA BEACH.
661
00:32:43,261 --> 00:32:47,499
{\an7}Pearson: GUNFIRE, SHOTS,
\hCASUALTIES, BOMBING...
662
00:32:47,532 --> 00:32:49,234
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WOULD BE
A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE.
663
00:32:49,267 --> 00:32:51,169
{\an7}[EXPLOSION]
664
00:32:51,203 --> 00:32:53,872
{\an7}Narrator: THEN TERROR
\hTURNED TO DISASTER.
665
00:32:53,905 --> 00:32:57,208
{\an7}THE TANKS HAD BEEN LAUNCHED
\h\hALMOST THREE MILES OUT,
666
00:32:57,242 --> 00:33:00,212
{\an7}AND THE SEA WAS ROUGH.
667
00:33:00,245 --> 00:33:04,249
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWAVES OFF OMAHA
REACHED 6 FEET IN HEIGHT.
668
00:33:04,282 --> 00:33:10,388
{\an7}27 OF THOSE FIRST 29 TANKS
\h\h\h\hSANK LIKE STONES.
669
00:33:10,422 --> 00:33:12,991
{\an7}Symonds: THE PROBLEM WAS
\h\hTHE WEATHER WAS SUCH
670
00:33:13,024 --> 00:33:14,592
{\an7}THAT THEY COULD NOT FUNCTION.
671
00:33:14,626 --> 00:33:17,362
{\an7}THEY WERE FINE IN THE TESTS
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN STILL WATER,
672
00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:18,630
{\an7}BUT THIS WAS NOT STILL WATER,
673
00:33:18,663 --> 00:33:21,332
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND MOST OF THEM
WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM
674
00:33:21,366 --> 00:33:22,701
{\an7}WITH THEIR CREWS INSIDE
675
00:33:22,734 --> 00:33:25,437
{\an7}AND NEVER MADE IT TO SHORE.
676
00:33:25,470 --> 00:33:27,872
{\an7}Narrator: ON THE BRITISH
\hAND CANADIAN BEACHES,
677
00:33:27,906 --> 00:33:29,608
{\an7}THERE WAS GREATER SUCCESS.
678
00:33:29,641 --> 00:33:32,144
{\an7}Pearson: THE BRITISH BROUGHT
\hTHEM MUCH CLOSER INSHORE,
679
00:33:32,177 --> 00:33:34,212
{\an7}AND THEY LOST ONES AND TWOS,
680
00:33:34,246 --> 00:33:35,781
{\an7}AND, UM, THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL
681
00:33:35,814 --> 00:33:39,451
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIN THE SENSE THAT
THE TROOPS HAD HEAVY SUPPORT
682
00:33:39,484 --> 00:33:41,720
{\an7}WITH THEIR INITIAL CONTACT
\h\h\h\hWITH THE GERMANS.
683
00:33:41,753 --> 00:33:45,156
{\an7}Man: ON THE BEACH I GAVE ORDERS
TO DEFLATE THE CANVAS SKIRT,
684
00:33:45,190 --> 00:33:46,358
{\an7}AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
685
00:33:46,391 --> 00:33:48,827
{\an7}WILL ALWAYS REMAIN VIVID
\h\h\h\h\hIN MY MEMORY.
686
00:33:48,860 --> 00:33:51,896
{\an7}THE GERMAN MACHINE GUNNERS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE DUNES
687
00:33:51,930 --> 00:33:55,934
{\an7}WERE ABSOLUTELY STUPEFIED TO SEE
A TANK EMERGING FROM THE SEA.
688
00:33:55,967 --> 00:33:57,602
{\an7}SOME OF THEM RAN AWAY,
689
00:33:57,636 --> 00:34:01,440
{\an7}\hSOME JUST STOOD AND STARED,
UNABLE TO BELIEVE THEIR EYES.
690
00:34:01,473 --> 00:34:04,209
{\an7}\h\hWE MOWED THEM DOWN LIKE
THEY WERE CORN ON THE COBS.
691
00:34:05,877 --> 00:34:08,079
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
RACING TOWARDS THE COASTLINE,
692
00:34:08,113 --> 00:34:10,582
{\an7}TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF ALLIED SOLDIERS
693
00:34:10,615 --> 00:34:13,218
{\an7}PREPARED TO STORM THE BEACHES.
694
00:34:16,021 --> 00:34:19,258
{\an7}ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 1944,
695
00:34:19,424 --> 00:34:22,227
{\an7}\h\h\hNEARLY 3,000 VESSELS
WERE GETTING INTO POSITION
696
00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:24,662
{\an7}OFF THE NORMANDY BEACHES.
697
00:34:24,696 --> 00:34:28,533
{\an7}\hTHE D-DAY INVASION
WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
698
00:34:28,567 --> 00:34:30,869
{\an7}AND UNTIL FRENCH SOIL
\h\h\h\h\hWAS REACHED,
699
00:34:30,902 --> 00:34:32,370
{\an7}THE FATE OF THOUSANDS OF MEN
700
00:34:32,404 --> 00:34:35,574
{\an7}RESTED WITH THEIR LANDING CRAFT
VEHICLE AND PERSONNEL--
701
00:34:35,607 --> 00:34:40,979
{\an7}THE HUNDREDS OF BOATS
\h\h\hKNOWN AS LCVPs.
702
00:34:41,012 --> 00:34:43,348
{\an7}\h\hTHE MOST FAMOUS
OF THE D-DAY VESSELS
703
00:34:43,381 --> 00:34:45,984
{\an7}WAS ALSO AMONG THE SMALLEST.
704
00:34:46,017 --> 00:34:49,487
{\an7}\h\h\hAND ITS ORIGINS
LAY 5,000 MILES AWAY,
705
00:34:49,521 --> 00:34:52,157
{\an7}IN THE WETLANDS OF LOUISIANA.
706
00:34:53,725 --> 00:34:57,862
{\an7}THE LCVP WAS DESIGNED
\h\hBY ANDREW HIGGINS.
707
00:34:57,896 --> 00:35:02,134
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBY 1944, IT WAS SAID
HIS SHIPS WERE SO IMPORTANT,
708
00:35:02,167 --> 00:35:06,104
{\an7}ADOLF HITLER CALLED HIM
\h\h\h\h"THE NEW NOAH."
709
00:35:06,137 --> 00:35:08,006
{\an7}HIGGINS SUPPOSEDLY HAD
\h\h\h\hAN ARMED GUARD
710
00:35:08,039 --> 00:35:09,407
{\an7}OUTSIDE HIS NEW ORLEANS HOME
711
00:35:09,441 --> 00:35:12,444
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTO PROTECT HIM
FROM GERMAN ASSASSINS.
712
00:35:12,477 --> 00:35:14,045
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSymonds:
ANDREW JACKSON HIGGINS
713
00:35:14,079 --> 00:35:15,480
{\an7}WAS AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY.
714
00:35:15,513 --> 00:35:18,216
{\an7}\h\h\hHE HAD CREATED
SHALLOW-DRAFT BOATS,
715
00:35:18,249 --> 00:35:19,550
{\an7}WHICH HE CALLED EUREKA BOATS,
716
00:35:19,584 --> 00:35:22,687
{\an7}FOR TRAPPERS WHO WORKED
IN THE LOUISIANA BAYOUS.
717
00:35:22,721 --> 00:35:25,090
{\an7}AND THE U.S. MARINES
SAW THESE AND SAID,
718
00:35:25,123 --> 00:35:26,925
{\an7}OH, THESE WOULD BE INTERESTING,
719
00:35:26,958 --> 00:35:28,393
{\an7}AND ORDERED A BUNCH OF THEM.
720
00:35:28,426 --> 00:35:32,030
{\an7}ORIGINALLY, THEY WERE
\hSIMPLY PLYWOOD BOXES
721
00:35:32,063 --> 00:35:34,265
{\an7}WITH AN EXTERNAL MOTOR,
\h\h\h\h\h36-FEET LONG,
722
00:35:34,299 --> 00:35:37,035
{\an7}\h\h\hTHEY COULD HOLD
36 SOLDIERS AT A TIME,
723
00:35:37,068 --> 00:35:40,204
{\an7}WHO WOULD CLIMB OUT
\h\hOVER THE THWARTS
724
00:35:40,238 --> 00:35:42,006
{\an7}AND THEN RUN ASHORE.
725
00:35:43,274 --> 00:35:45,843
{\an7}Narrator: BY 1943,
726
00:35:45,877 --> 00:35:49,414
{\an7}\hTHE DESIGN FEATURED A MORE
SOPHISTICATED EXIT STRATEGY.
727
00:35:49,447 --> 00:35:53,851
{\an7}FOR THE GIs, THEY WERE KNOWN
\h\hSIMPLY AS HIGGINS BOATS.
728
00:35:53,885 --> 00:36:04,095
{\an7}♪
729
00:36:04,129 --> 00:36:08,467
{\an7}\hTHE LCVP WAS DESIGNED
TO PUSH UP ONTO BEACHES,
730
00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:11,603
{\an7}PROTECTING ITS OCCUPANTS WITH
\hITS BULLET-PROOF FRONT RAMP,
731
00:36:11,636 --> 00:36:14,706
{\an7}UNTIL THE TIME CAME
\h\hFOR IT TO DROP.
732
00:36:14,739 --> 00:36:16,808
{\an7}[THUD]
733
00:36:16,841 --> 00:36:18,343
{\an7}BUT IT WASN’T DESIGNED
734
00:36:18,376 --> 00:36:21,212
{\an7}\h\h\hFOR THE ROUGH SEAS
OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
735
00:36:21,246 --> 00:36:24,216
{\an7}MOST OF THE INVASION TROOPS
\h\h\h\h\hWERE IN BAD SHAPE
736
00:36:24,249 --> 00:36:26,718
{\an7}AS THEY APPROACHED THE SHORE.
737
00:36:26,751 --> 00:36:30,688
{\an7}\h\h\hGordon: SOME OF THESE BOYS
HAD BEEN IN THEIR LANDING CRAFT
738
00:36:30,722 --> 00:36:34,793
{\an7}FOR MANY, MANY, MANY HOURS.
739
00:36:34,826 --> 00:36:38,129
{\an7}SOME OF THEM WOULD NOW BE
\h\h\h\h\hBEYOND SEASICK--
740
00:36:38,163 --> 00:36:39,765
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSOME OF THEM
PROBABLY TO THE POINT,
741
00:36:39,798 --> 00:36:44,069
{\an7}\hTHEY WERE SO SICK, ACTUALLY,
THEY’D ALMOST GIVEN UP CARING.
742
00:36:44,102 --> 00:36:46,204
{\an7}Man: LOADED DOWN
LIKE PACK MULES,
743
00:36:46,237 --> 00:36:47,638
{\an7}WE WERE BOUNCED AROUND
\h\h\hAND THROWN ABOUT
744
00:36:47,672 --> 00:36:50,308
{\an7}WHILE THROWING UP EVERYTHING
\h\h\h\hWE’D EATEN FOR DAYS.
745
00:36:50,341 --> 00:36:53,311
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hSCARED AS HELL
AND SICKER THAN THE DEVIL,
746
00:36:53,344 --> 00:36:55,179
{\an7}WE WERE DRENCHED WITH SALTWATER
747
00:36:55,213 --> 00:36:57,582
{\an7}WITH EVERY DIP AND BOB
\hOF THE LANDING BOAT.
748
00:36:57,615 --> 00:37:02,386
{\an7}Narrator: THE LCVP WASN’T THE
ONLY HIGGINS DESIGN AT D-DAY.
749
00:37:02,420 --> 00:37:06,324
{\an7}THE U.S. NAVY HAD ASKED HIM
TO PRODUCE A SIMILAR VESSEL,
750
00:37:06,357 --> 00:37:08,159
{\an7}\h\hWHICH WOULD GIVE
DIRECT BEACH ACCESS
751
00:37:08,193 --> 00:37:11,163
{\an7}TO A STANDARD TANK.
752
00:37:11,196 --> 00:37:12,597
{\an7}THIS TIME,
753
00:37:12,630 --> 00:37:15,666
{\an7}HIGGINS TOOK HIS INSPIRATION
\h\h\h\hFROM A RIVER BARGE.
754
00:37:17,302 --> 00:37:19,871
{\an7}HIS MEN PULLED IT APART,
755
00:37:19,904 --> 00:37:21,906
{\an7}GAVE IT A RAMP,
756
00:37:21,940 --> 00:37:23,675
{\an7}AND ONLY THREE DAYS LATER,
757
00:37:23,708 --> 00:37:26,344
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDEMONSTRATED
ITS PROTOTYPE TO THE NAVY.
758
00:37:27,579 --> 00:37:31,183
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE RESULT WAS
THE LANDING CRAFT TANK.
759
00:37:32,517 --> 00:37:35,620
{\an7}THE NAVY WAS SO IMPRESSED
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE LCT
760
00:37:35,653 --> 00:37:37,688
{\an7}THAT MORE AND MORE
\h\hWERE DEMANDED.
761
00:37:37,722 --> 00:37:41,292
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hSO HIGGINS TOOK OVER
THE STREETS AROUND HIS FACTORY.
762
00:37:41,326 --> 00:37:44,462
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hLANDING CRAFT WERE
EVEN BUILT ON THE PAVEMENT.
763
00:37:48,900 --> 00:37:51,936
{\an7}BUT HIGGINS’ RELATIONSHIP
\h\h\h\hWITH THE U.S. NAVY
764
00:37:51,970 --> 00:37:53,572
{\an7}COULD BE FICKLE.
765
00:37:53,605 --> 00:37:57,142
{\an7}HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS USED TO
\h\hGETTING WHAT HE WANTED.
766
00:37:57,175 --> 00:37:59,010
{\an7}\h\hSymonds: HE OFTEN
FEUDED WITH THE NAVY,
767
00:37:59,043 --> 00:38:02,980
{\an7}WHICH HE THOUGHT CLOSED-MINDED
AND NOT, NOT VERY INNOVATIVE.
768
00:38:03,014 --> 00:38:05,149
{\an7}IT WOULDN’T ACCEPT
MANY OF HIS IDEAS.
769
00:38:05,183 --> 00:38:07,519
{\an7}BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THEY MANAGED
TO GET ALONG ENOUGH
770
00:38:07,552 --> 00:38:10,588
{\an7}SO THAT HE COULD PRODUCE
\h\h\h\h5,000 OR 10,000
771
00:38:10,622 --> 00:38:12,958
{\an7}\h\hOF THESE HIGGINS BOATS
FOR THE VARIOUS INVASIONS,
772
00:38:12,991 --> 00:38:14,993
{\an7}NOT ONLY AT NORMANDY AND D-DAY,
773
00:38:15,026 --> 00:38:19,030
{\an7}\hBUT THE MANY INVASIONS ON THE
ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC AS WELL.
774
00:38:19,063 --> 00:38:23,234
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
ALONGSIDE THE LCVPs AND LCTs
775
00:38:23,268 --> 00:38:26,438
{\an7}WERE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES
\h\h\h\hOF LANDING CRAFT.
776
00:38:26,471 --> 00:38:30,241
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSOME CARRIED
120,000 TONS OF CARGO,
777
00:38:30,275 --> 00:38:33,211
{\an7}SOME CARRIED MORE THAN ONE TANK,
778
00:38:33,244 --> 00:38:36,681
{\an7}AND SOME, OVER 200 SOLDIERS.
779
00:38:39,083 --> 00:38:43,654
{\an7}AND FOR TWO DAYS, THESE VESSELS
WAITED FOR THE X-CRAFT CREWS
780
00:38:43,688 --> 00:38:44,722
{\an7}TO GUIDE THEM SAFELY
781
00:38:44,756 --> 00:38:49,060
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTO THE BRITISH
AND CANADIAN BEACHES.
782
00:38:49,093 --> 00:38:51,929
{\an7}\hBooth: WE REALIZED
THAT IT WAS SO EASY
783
00:38:51,963 --> 00:38:55,233
{\an7}FOR ALL THOSE TANK LANDING CRAFT
TO HAVE HIT THE WRONG BEACH,
784
00:38:55,266 --> 00:38:57,168
{\an7}HAVING COME ACROSS THE CHANNEL.
785
00:38:57,202 --> 00:38:59,805
{\an7}\h\hIT’S A VERY STRONG TIDE
UP AND DOWN, EAST AND WEST,
786
00:38:59,838 --> 00:39:02,708
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY HAD TO CROSS
NORTH AND SOUTH, OF ALL THINGS,
787
00:39:02,740 --> 00:39:05,876
{\an7}AND THEY HAD NO NAVIGATION
\h\hEQUIPMENT TO SPEAK OF.
788
00:39:05,910 --> 00:39:08,780
{\an7}JUST HIT THE WRONG BEACH,
AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN...
789
00:39:08,813 --> 00:39:11,482
{\an7}I MEAN, THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE
WON IN THE END, GOT ASHORE,
790
00:39:11,516 --> 00:39:14,185
{\an7}BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CERTAINLY
A LOT MORE CASUALTIES.
791
00:39:15,753 --> 00:39:17,755
{\an7}Narrator: THE HIGGINS BOATS
\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE SUCCESSFUL
792
00:39:17,789 --> 00:39:20,191
{\an7}IN BRINGING TROOPS TO THE BEACH.
793
00:39:20,225 --> 00:39:24,329
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT THEY OFFERED
ONLY LIMITED PROTECTION.
794
00:39:24,362 --> 00:39:26,364
{\an7}THE MEN WHO LANDED
\h\hAT OMAHA BEACH
795
00:39:26,397 --> 00:39:28,432
{\an7}AT 6:30 A.M. ON D-DAY
796
00:39:28,466 --> 00:39:32,804
{\an7}FACED DANGER ON ALL SIDES.
797
00:39:32,837 --> 00:39:37,342
{\an7}Gordon: ONCE THE RAMP GOES DOWN,
YOU’RE FACED WITH SURF,
798
00:39:37,375 --> 00:39:40,211
{\an7}\hAND THE LANDING CRAFT
IS STILL MOVING FORWARD.
799
00:39:40,245 --> 00:39:42,781
{\an7}\hUM, ONE MISSED STEP,
IT COULD RUN OVER YOU.
800
00:39:42,814 --> 00:39:47,419
{\an7}\h\hTHERE’S WATER SPOUTING
WITH MACHINE-GUN BULLETS.
801
00:39:47,452 --> 00:39:52,190
{\an7}\h\h\h\hYOU HAVE A BACKPACK
WHICH IS WEIGHING YOU DOWN.
802
00:39:53,224 --> 00:39:56,294
{\an7}YOU STAGGER INTO THE SURF,
803
00:39:56,327 --> 00:39:58,496
{\an7}YOU’VE GOT TO GET ACROSS
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT BEACH,
804
00:39:58,529 --> 00:40:01,799
{\an7}AND YOU’VE GOT TO DO IT
IN THE MACHINE-GUN FIRE.
805
00:40:01,833 --> 00:40:05,003
{\an7}[GUNFIRE]
806
00:40:05,036 --> 00:40:08,039
{\an7}BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE
\h\h\hTHE CASUALTIES
807
00:40:08,072 --> 00:40:09,840
{\an7}AND THE DROWNINGS.
808
00:40:09,874 --> 00:40:13,544
{\an7}\hAND EVEN SOME OF THOSE
WHO WERE THERE, I GUESS,
809
00:40:13,578 --> 00:40:15,613
{\an7}SPENT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES
810
00:40:15,647 --> 00:40:20,619
{\an7}JUST AMAZED THAT THEY DID IT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SURVIVED.
811
00:40:20,652 --> 00:40:23,021
{\an7}I THINK IT’S QUITE
\h\hEXTRAORDINARY.
812
00:40:23,054 --> 00:40:25,256
{\an7}QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.
813
00:40:26,691 --> 00:40:28,893
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
DESPITE THE CASUALTIES,
814
00:40:28,927 --> 00:40:31,096
{\an7}D-DAY WAS A SUCCESS.
815
00:40:31,129 --> 00:40:34,432
{\an7}BEACHHEADS WERE SECURED
ALONG THE 50-MILE FRONT.
816
00:40:37,669 --> 00:40:38,737
{\an7}BY MIDNIGHT,
817
00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:43,742
{\an7}\h\h\hOPERATION NEPTUNE
HAD BROUGHT 150,000 MEN,
818
00:40:43,775 --> 00:40:46,311
{\an7}9,000 VEHICLES,
819
00:40:46,344 --> 00:40:50,515
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND 2,000 TONS
OF SUPPLIES TO FRANCE.
820
00:40:50,548 --> 00:40:52,617
{\an7}IT WAS THE CRITICAL START NEEDED
821
00:40:52,650 --> 00:40:54,952
{\an7}THAT WOULD SET UP
OPERATION OVERLORD
822
00:40:54,986 --> 00:40:58,022
{\an7}AND THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE.
823
00:40:58,056 --> 00:41:03,061
{\an7}\hSymonds: THE KEY TO HAVING
MARITIME POWER, NAVAL POWER,
824
00:41:03,094 --> 00:41:08,099
{\an7}IS NOT THAT YOU CAN DEPOSIT
\h100, 150,000, 200,000 MEN
825
00:41:08,132 --> 00:41:09,133
{\an7}ON A DEFENDED BEACH
826
00:41:09,167 --> 00:41:10,535
{\an7}AND SEIZE THAT BEACH.
827
00:41:10,568 --> 00:41:12,503
{\an7}YOU THEN HAVE TO SUPPLY THEM.
828
00:41:12,537 --> 00:41:14,472
{\an7}YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM
\hAMMUNITION AND FOOD
829
00:41:14,505 --> 00:41:15,506
{\an7}AND WATER AND SUSTENANCE,
830
00:41:15,540 --> 00:41:16,775
{\an7}AND YOU HAVE TO REINFORCE THEM
831
00:41:16,808 --> 00:41:19,411
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BRING IN
ANOTHER 100,000, 200,000,
832
00:41:19,444 --> 00:41:21,680
{\an7}\h500,000, A MILLION,
A MILLION AND A HALF,
833
00:41:21,713 --> 00:41:23,548
{\an7}AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT
\hON A CONSTANT BASIS,
834
00:41:23,581 --> 00:41:25,383
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBACK AND FORTH
ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,
835
00:41:25,416 --> 00:41:28,286
{\an7}DAY AFTER DAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK,
MONTH AFTER MONTH,
836
00:41:28,319 --> 00:41:31,756
{\an7}AND IT’S THAT CAPABILITY
THAT IS REALLY STUNNING.
837
00:41:31,789 --> 00:41:34,025
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
D-DAY IS RIGHTLY REMEMBERED
838
00:41:34,058 --> 00:41:35,493
{\an7}FOR THE BRAVE TROOPS
839
00:41:35,526 --> 00:41:38,396
{\an7}WHO BATTLED FOR A FOOTHOLD
\hON THE NORMANDY BEACHES.
840
00:41:38,429 --> 00:41:41,432
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEIR HEROISM
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
841
00:41:41,466 --> 00:41:43,902
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT THE YEARS
OF PLANNING AND PREPARATION
842
00:41:43,935 --> 00:41:46,104
{\an7}THAT BROUGHT THEM THERE.
843
00:41:46,137 --> 00:41:48,373
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE DIVERSE
AND INGENIOUS VESSELS
844
00:41:48,406 --> 00:41:51,175
{\an7}\h\hTHAT BRAVELY CROSSED
THE CHANNEL ON JUNE 6th
845
00:41:51,209 --> 00:41:53,745
{\an7}CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE WAR.
846
00:41:53,778 --> 00:41:58,349
{\an7}\hD-DAY REMAINS AN EVENT
UNPARALLELED IN HISTORY.
99535
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