First Minesweeping Flotilla Eight of the Halcyons operated as a single flotilla (First Minesweeping Flotilla) on D Day clearing one of the easternmost channels into Sword Beach. Three ML's (37, 41 and 295) preceded the lead minesweeper (Harrier) which was followed in turn by Jason, Britomart, Speedwell, Hussar and Halcyon. Two 'spare' Halcyons, Seagull and Salamander followed on, ready to take the place of any minesweeper that had to drop out. Four dan laying trawlers marked the channel (HM Trawlers Colsay, Lord Ashfield, Craftsman and Alexander Scott) and, providing defensive cover for the flotilla, was the destroyer HMS Scorpion. The Orders of the Senior Officer in Harrier to the rest of the flotilla left no doubt as to the grim determination with which their task was to be carried out: '(a) The clearance of Channel 9 is to be continued to the Lowering position regardless of enemy interference and casualties.'      '(b) In the event of enemy attack the sweeping formation MUST be preserved and the attack fought off with the best available means.'      '(c) No ship must be allowed to sink in the swept channel.' On completion of the initial task the swept area was extended to the lowering positions, outer transport anchorages, the fire support area and the boat lanes to the beaches. Following the initial mine clearance, one of the 'survey' Halcyons, HMS Scott, was soon in the area laying marker buoys in the approaches to the invasion beaches and charting obstructions and natural dangers off the Normandy Coast. Scott also assisted with the construction of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches by fixing the positions of the Blockships and Phoenix Piers. Only a few days after this harbour was complete, Scott's chart of Arromanches' wartime harbour was available to the fleet. Scott was later relieved by the other 'survey' Halcyon, HMS Franklin. It was intended that the flotillas subsequently work to a fortnightly schedule, with 9 days in the assault area, three days replenishing in the Solent or at Portland and the other two on passage. Sweeping operations continued through June to counter the laying of new mines, often at night, from the air. About 550 mines were accounted for during June in the Eastern Force Area alone.

 

The presence of a German minefield running along the English Channel presented a significant challenge to the chances of the Naval assault forces reaching the beaches in good order. 255 minesweepers were to cut ten channels through the minefield for the initial assault forces. The sweepers then had to widen the channels and clear areas offshore for ships to collect. For a detailed account see 'D Day Minesweeping'. Ramsay was in little doubt as to how important this task was.   Source: 'Engage the Enemy More Closely', Corelli Barnett. Penguin. ISBN 0-141-39008-5  'On 24th March 1944 after a long discussion with Vian about the problems of minesweeping, Ramsay wrote in his diary:' 'It is a most complicated operation and however we looked at it we could find no satisfactory solution of how to sweep the channels of the faster groups and bombarding ships. In the end I decided that the only way out was to find two more flotillas made up from existing flotillas and to employ them to sweep the cruisers through to their bombarding positions. There is no doubt that the mine is our greatest obstacle to success, and if we manage to reach the enemy coast without becoming disorganised and suffering serious loss we shall be fortunate.'  ____________________ ...'In ON6 Ramsay gave orders for overcoming the German minefields, and especially the barrier known to have been laid from about latitude 50ºN to within seven to ten miles of the Normandy coast. Although to the south of it lay a coastal channel left clear by the enemy for his own use, and which the 'Neptune' plan counted on for the final deployment of the assault and bombarding forces, even this might be mined at the last moment. Inshore mining also had to be taken into account. After much thought and long discussion with Vian and Kirk, Ramsay formulated a minesweeping plan in four main phases, of which the first would amount to the single largest minesweeping operation of the war.  Under his direct control two channels, each two miles wide, were to be swept simultaneously through the main German barrier for each of the five assault forces. One fleet minesweeping flotilla would be employed for each channel, giving a total of 255 vessels. The swept channels were to be marked by Dan buoys (small buoys bearing a flag or a light on a pole) at one-mile intervals along both of their sides.  In phase two, which would be carried out under the command of the task force commanders, a British inshore minesweeping flotilla would precede each bombardment group on D-Day in order to locate or, if necessary, sweep clear areas and anchorages close inshore.  In phase three, the approach channels were to be widened to give more sea room, while phase four provided for the sweeping of any mines laid after the Allied landings had taken place.  Ramsay's orders emphasised that 'good navigation on the part of the Fleet minesweepers is of the utmost importance', and laid it down that they must keep to their sweeping courses even if 'heavily engaged', because the assault forces following the minesweepers relied 'solely on them for their safety'.

 

Sources: Stand by to Beach, Gordon Holman. 'Engage the Enemy More Closely', Corelli Barnett. Penguin. ISBN 0-141-39008-5   Having carried out their duties with a devotion that was recognised as being of the highest possible standard even by the Navy - that service where the accepted standard is the best a man can do - the minesweepers modestly tucked themselves away where they would not interfere with the mass of shipping coming in behind them. 'We went and had a good sleep on top of a minefield which we were not required to sweep' was the way an officer put it to me when I went on board one of the sweepers a few days later. ________________ ..."It can be said without fear of contradiction that minesweeping was the keystone in the arch of this operation. All of the waters were suitable for mining, and plans of unprecedented complexity were required. The performance of the minesweepers can only be described as magnificent..."  Admiral Kirk. ____________________ ...'The minesweepers did valiant work in all weathers sweeping conventional mines, their total bag off the invasion coast in the three months after D-Day amounting to one tenth of all the mines swept in all theatres from the beginning of the war to 6th June 1944'. ________________  '... the War Cabinet fully appreciates that, but for the courage, skill and devotion of HM Minesweeping forces, the success of the recent amphibious operations, and especially of the landings in Normandy, could not have been achieved...'          Winston Churchill.

This site was last updated 17 Januar 2012