List of Allied warships in the Normandy landings facts for kids

On June 6, 1944, a huge fleet of warships played a vital role in the Normandy landings, also known as D-Day. This was a massive operation where Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, to begin freeing Europe from Nazi control during World War II. These ships provided crucial support, from firing their powerful guns at enemy defenses to carrying soldiers and clearing dangerous mines from the water.

Battleships: The Big Guns

Battleships were the largest and most powerful warships of their time. They had very thick armor and carried enormous guns that could fire shells many miles. Seven battleships took part in the Normandy landings: four from Britain and three from the United States. Their main job was to bombard German defenses on the coast, clearing the way for the soldiers landing on the beaches.

• USS Arkansas: This US battleship helped support American soldiers landing on Omaha Beach. It had twelve 12-inch guns.
• USS Nevada: Another US battleship, it supported troops at Utah Beach with its ten 14-inch guns.
• HMS Ramillies: A British battleship with eight 15-inch guns.
• HMS Rodney: This British battleship was known for its nine 16-inch guns.
• USS Texas: A US battleship that supported American soldiers on Omaha Beach. It had ten 14-inch guns.
• HMS Warspite: A British battleship with eight 15-inch guns, though only six were working during the landings.

Another British battleship, HMS Nelson, with its nine 16-inch guns, was kept in reserve and joined the action a few days later.

Cruisers: Fast and Powerful

Cruisers were smaller and faster than battleships but still carried powerful guns. They were important for providing gunfire support and protecting other ships.

Heavy Cruisers

Five heavy cruisers took part in D-Day. These ships usually had main guns around 8 inches in size. Three were from the United States and two from Britain.

• USS Augusta
• HMS Frobisher
• HMS Hawkins
• USS Quincy
• USS Tuscaloosa

Light Cruisers

Light cruisers were generally smaller than heavy cruisers and carried guns around 5 to 6 inches. They were often used for scouting, escorting convoys, and providing quick fire support. A total of 17 British light cruisers, two from the Free French navy, and one from the Polish navy participated.

Destroyers and Escort Ships

Destroyers were fast, agile ships used for many tasks, including protecting larger ships from submarines and aircraft, and providing close-range gunfire support. Escort ships, like frigates and corvettes, were smaller and primarily focused on protecting convoys and hunting submarines.

A huge number of these ships, 139 in total, were involved. This included 85 British and Dominion (like Canadian) ships, 40 US ships, 10 Free French ships, and 7 from other Allied nations (like Norway and Poland). Some of these ships were sadly lost during the invasion, either sunk by torpedoes or mines.

Some examples of destroyers and escort ships:

• HMCS Alberni (Canadian)
• USS Baldwin
• HMS Beagle
• ORP Błyskawica (Polish)
• HMS Boadicea (Sunk on June 13)
• USS Corry (Sunk during the invasion)
• HMS Fury (Damaged by a mine)
• USS Glennon (Sunk by a mine and German artillery)
• HNoMS Glaisdale (Norwegian)
• La Combattante (Free French)
• USS Rich (Sunk by mines)
• HNoMS Svenner (Norwegian, sunk by a German torpedo on D-Day morning)
• HMS Swift (Sunk by a mine)
• HMS Wrestler (Damaged by a mine)
• RHN Kriezis (Greek)
• Frigate La Surprise (Free French)
• Corvette Aconit (Free French)

Monitors: Floating Gun Platforms

Monitors were special warships with a shallow draft (meaning they didn't sit deep in the water) and very large guns. They were designed to bombard coastal targets.

• HMS Erebus: A monitor with two 15-inch guns.
• HMS Roberts: Another monitor, also with two 15-inch guns.

Troop Transports: Carrying the Soldiers

These ships were essential for carrying thousands of Allied soldiers across the English Channel and getting them to the beaches of Normandy.

• USS Joseph T. Dickman
• USS Samuel Chase
• USS Charles Carroll
• USS Bayfield
• USS Henrico

Other Important Warships

Many other types of ships played crucial roles in the D-Day landings. There were 508 other ships, including 352 British, 154 US, and 2 from other Allied nations.

• Headquarters Ships: These ships served as floating command centers for the invasion, coordinating the different forces. Examples include HMS Bulolo, HMS Hilary, and HMS Largs.
• Blockships: Older ships, like the battleship HMS Centurion and the French battleship Courbet, were deliberately sunk to create artificial harbors called "Gooseberry" breakwaters. These breakwaters protected the landing areas from strong waves, making it easier for supply ships to unload.
• Minesweepers: These brave ships cleared dangerous underwater mines, making safe paths for the invasion fleet. Canadian minesweepers like HMCS Cowichan were part of this effort.
• Gunboats: Smaller ships like the Dutch gunboats HNLMS Flores and HNLMS Soemba provided close-range fire support.
• Fighter Direction Ships: Ships like HMS Boxer and HMS Bruiser helped direct Allied fighter planes, protecting the fleet from enemy aircraft.

The combined effort of all these different warships was vital for the success of the Normandy landings, helping to turn the tide of World War II.

See also

• List of Allied vessels involved in Operation Neptune
• List of ships of Force U Bombardment Group