| This Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
tank stands on Slapton Sands, South Devon, as a memorial to the United
States soldiers and sailors who tragically lost their lives in the early hours of April
28th 1944 when their Tank Landing Ships (LST's) were attacked by German
E-boats as the LST's were manoeuvring to approach Slapton Sands, in Start
Bay, for a beach landing exercise in the build-up to D-day. [Map ref. SX 82320 42306] |
| The Sherman DD tank was
originally equipped with a flotation screen which enabled it to
'swim', powered by the DD twin propellers fitted to the rear of the tank.
In the initial phase of any landing the LST's would be vulnerable to fire
from the enemy shore defences if they came right into the beaches to offload
their tanks but the Sherman DD's could be launched a relatively
safe distance offshore, sea conditions permitting, and allowed to proceed
under their 'own steam' toward their landing areas. The tank pictured above lay on the seabed for forty years until being recovered on the 19th May 1984. The recovery was researched, organised and financed by a local man, Mr. Ken Small, who wanted to display the tank as a memorial to those United States servicemen who had lost their lives in the 1944 Slapton beach landing exercises. |
|
Memorial plaque. |
|
Slapton Sands and Start Bay in February 2007. |