Under escort by HMCS TRENTONIAN, PHOENIX 194 has broken her tow line and is drifting uncontrollably in the convoy channel in the Irish Sea on 19 October 1944. Several attempts were made by the tug crews and the sailors manning the caisson to get another tow line onto Phoenix 194. Eventually the Phoenix crew had […]
Mulberry Caisson -Phoenix 194 and Tug Hisperia
Concrete caisson, Phoenix 194 and tug Hisperia, underway to Normandy under the escort of HMCS TRENTONIAN in October 1944. The giant caisson will be sunk as part of the Mulberry Harbour off Normandy. The size of the caisson is deceiving in this photo as Hisperia is closer to TRENTONIAN, a second tug, Saucy, is visible behind Hisperia. […]
HMS DURBAN
HMS DURBAN, a “D” class light cruiser built in 1921 is the convoy commodore for the CornCob Convoy that HMCS TRENTONIAN escorted to Normandy on 7 July 1944. The cruiser has been stripped of her fittings and primary weapons and is destined to be sunk and become part of the Gooseberry breakwater, protecting the beaches […]
Mulberry Caisson PHOENIX 194 Sinking
Mulberry Caisson PHOENIX 194 sinking after developing a hole in the concrete caisson. She rolled over and sank off the coast of Wales about 45 minutes after the picture was taken. The caisson was under tow to Normandy, escorted by HMCS TRENTONIAN, when she encountered a severe storm and began to sink. Great photo of […]
Mulberry Pierhead
Part of the Mulberry Harbour known as a Spud Pierhead is being towed to Normandy, under the close escort of HMCS TRENTONIAN, in June 1944. The four pilings were secured to the sea bed allowing the deck to rise and fall with the tides, the merchant ships and LST’s could then discharge their cargo onto […]
Mulberry Tow -Normandy
The Mulberry Harbours were reinforced with large floating cement caissons code-named Phoenix’s. Prefabricated in the UK, each had to be towed to Normandy and then sunk in place. Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen E. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK171) This photo and collection have been gathered from the crew of HMCS TRENTONIAN and […]
Mulberry Harbour -Arromanches
Photo of Mulberry B at Arromanches taken from HMCS TRENTONIAN. The line of block ships are visible to the left side of the photo and the Phoenix caissons can be seen on both sides of the entrance to the artificial harbour with the picturesque coast of France in the background. The Mulberry Harbours were designed […]
Hospital Ship -Normandy
A Hospital Ship anchored off the beaches of Normandy, July 1944. The sunken block ships can be seen outside the Mulberry Harbour in the background. Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen E. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK125)
Mulberry Tow
A tug tows a Phoenix caisson past HMCS MAYFLOWER off Normady, part of the Mulberry harbour. Roger Litwiller Collection -Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL-ROB056)
HMCS TRENTONIAN’s Invasion Convoy
Labelled by Bruce Keir as Milford Haven, Whales, other members of TRENTONIAN state this was a photo of the Convoy they escorted from Oban, Scotland to Normandy for the Invasion in May/June 1944. Â The convoy is made up of worn-out merchant ships and old warships stripped of their weapons and fittings, they are to be […]