East Yorkshire Regiment and Sherman DD Land at Queen Red Sector, Sword Beach D-Day
In the early hours of D-Day, the Duplex Drive (DD) Sherman tanks of the 13th/18th Queen Mary’s Own Hussars faced challenging conditions as they prepared to launch from their Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels. The tanks were crucial to providing armored support during the amphibious invasion, but the rough seas, Force 5 winds from the west, and the hazardous nature of launching these amphibious vehicles tested both men and machines.
Tank Launch Preparation:
Throughout the night, as the LCTs advanced through choppy seas, the crews of the DD Shermans worked to ready their tanks. The DD tanks had unique capabilities—inflatable rubber flotation devices allowed them to “swim” to shore. Before dawn, the crews activated compressed air bottles to inflate these flotation devices, erecting canvas screens that surrounded the upper hull and turret of each tank. They then secured the supporting struts to stabilize the flotation gear, waiting for the order to launch.
Each LCT, which typically carried nine standard Shermans, only carried five DD tanks due to the bulkiness of the flotation gear. At 10,000 yards (9,144m) from the shore, the LCTs, guided by a midget submarine marker, spread out into a line abreast formation. At H-Hour minus 110 minutes, Major Wormald, commanding A Squadron, received the launch order code “FLOATER.” Captain Lyon, the second-in-command, gave a tot of rum to his crews for courage before they prepared to launch the tanks.
Launching the DD Tanks:
At 5,000 yards (4,572m) from shore, about 2,000 yards closer than initially planned due to the rough sea conditions, the LCTs stopped engines and dropped anchor. The crew lowered the ramps, and one by one, the DD tanks carefully maneuvered forward to the bow. The launching process required precision—touching the sides of the narrow bow would tear the fragile canvas screens. Wormald and Lyon agreed to descend the ramps slowly, using first gear for better control, though standard procedure called for second gear to ensure clearance from the ramp.
As the tanks launched into the sea, drivers lowered the propellers, and the now-amphibious tanks began to move. Major Wormald, in his tank, noted the church tower at Lion-sur-Mer, estimating that his landing beach was about 45 degrees off the port bow. As the tanks pushed forward, the shoreline soon disappeared in the chaos of war—shells from warships, bombs, artillery, and rockets from other landing craft filled the air with noise and smoke.
Struggles in Rough Seas:
The sea was rougher than any of the training exercises the crews had experienced, and Captain Lyon adopted a zigzag course to mitigate the risk of waves striking the tanks broadside and potentially swamping them. Despite the conditions, Lyon was impressed with how the DD tanks handled the waves, crediting a modification to the rear struts that prevented them from collapsing under the pressure.
However, not all launches went smoothly. The first tank on LCT 467 tore its canvas screen, blocking the path for the others. As a result, the entire troop had to be taken ashore to land dry. Similarly, the ramp of LCT 465 broke after the second-to-last tank launched, forcing the vessel to return to port with its last tank still aboard.
Approaching the Sword Beach:
As the flotilla pressed on, Captain Lyon counted 19 tanks successfully making their way through the waves, but progress was slower than anticipated due to the weather. As they neared the shore—about 1,200 yards (1,097m) away—they were overtaken by other LCTs, described by Lyon as “apparently steered by maniacs.” The reckless maneuvering resulted in Captain Denny’s tank, from LCT 103, being struck and rolled over in the water, with Denny as the only survivor.
Soon after, LCT(R) rocket craft began firing in support of the landings. According to Major Wormald, 10 percent of the rockets fell short, dangerously close to the swimming tanks. Despite these hazards, the DD tanks pushed forward. At 300 yards (274m) from the beach, their tracks bit into the sand—they had made it to the shore, ready to provide critical support for the infantry assault.