My father served on the USS Osprey which was the only ship lost in operation Overlord. Evening of June 5, Osprey was in echelon formation with its squadron, mine cutting cables deployed in the lead of the allied armada, hit a magnetic mine and sunk. A PT boat moved in to rescue survivors and plucked my father from the channel.
My grandfather was a gunners mate on AM-55 Raven, the Osprey’s sister ship. My mother grew up hearing stories about the Osprey’s sinking. I believe that terrified my grandfather for the rest of his life.
My father served aboard HMS Rifleman, and participated in the channel sweep prior to D-Day. Thanks for the great video. Not much said about a very important service in most history accounts. I heard it said recently that "where the fleet now goes, the minesweepers have already been".
Thanks so much for this. My father served aboard HMS Kellet, sweeping the way into Omaha beach, and told me that they were still working close inshore while the big guns were lobbing shells overhead onto the beaches. This is the only video that I've found that really tells the story. Fascinating and highly I formative.
It may have been 11 months ago, but this was a fine presentation by a former minesweeping RN officer turned historian. I never knew of the tremendous work done by such unsung heroes, and have always underestimated the danger and stress they worked under. I wish Nick success with any further undertakings in the future. Fascinating!!
One of the most informative presentations by WW2TV. Everyone thinks the Normandy invasion was on June 6, 1944, "The Longest Day." I learned that gallant seamen with stout hearts opened the door to Normandy days before the actual invasion. Nobody will probably make a movie about sweeping mines in the English Channel, but the mission was a critical prelude to the invasion. The loss of a single transport with a regiment of 2,000 troops or an LST with a full load of tanks would have been a devastating reduction to combat power on the critical first hours in the beaches. The fleet would have been preoccupied with search and rescue, reducing naval gunfire support or protection against U-boats. There was a hard deadline -- H-Hour on D-Day. The only movie we may ever see of this vital effort is this WW2TV episode, with Paul hosting an expert historian on the discussion of the strategy, tactics, techniques and method of sweeping contact, magnetic and pressure mines from the channel -- all without telegraphing the location of the upcoming invasion to the enemy. There ought to be a movie, and this is probably all there will be. We could help preserve history and honor the men who accomplished this unheralded task by learning about them here!
These men are truly unsung heroes. This has been informative, fascinating, and perplexing (how has this critical service not garnered more attention?). I'm embarrassed to say my ignorance was deep on this topic. Thank you, Nick, for bringing this compelling history to us in such an engaging and organized fashion. And thank you, Paul. I wish I'd had the foresight to view this before today's "Halcyons in the Arctic."
Thanks for another superlative talk and one given by Nick Stanley! Not many know more about this subject than he does and he has made a complicated topic, in both technical and management terms, quite approachable! I've done some museum work on Mine warfare at sea in WWI, specifically to do with the Trawlers and Minesweepers of the Dover Patrol, more unsung heroes, and also the little known but absolutely vital work done postwar by the Mine Clearance Service. Thanks again!
Hello folks. Great talk from a historian who knows his stuff. Incredible insights. Learned a lot about an overlooked aspect of the complex Overlord story. Don’t miss it. Thanks.
😂in short like the supply and transport elements... Even the pathfinders, the minesweepers were "quietly" crucial to the success of Operation Neptune... Kind of like, you never know how important your goalkeeper is, until your defense is breached or a penalty shootout takes place... On June 6th 1944, Paratroopers, Bombers and Infantrymen storming the beaches of Normandy, get the focus... Maximum respect for those minesweepers 💪🏽
Thank you for this video, very interesting presentation! I don’t suppose Nick Stanley knows the name of the man pictured top left on the acoustic mine slide? (23:50 mins in).
Yes, some of those mine sweepers look a lot like Corvettes. I suppose they pressed some Corvettes into double duty as both escorts and as mine sweepers.
Hi Todd - the RN did use ‘Flower’ class corvettes as sweepers, but mainly in the earlier phases of the war. I think they were only used once for an assault sweep - Operation IRONCLAD (Diego Suarez) in ‘42. There were none in the minesweeping orbat for NEPTUNE/OVERLORD.
@@nickstanley7028 Thanks for that information Nick! It is the length of some of the minesweepers and the open to the elements bridge that makes them look so similar. Can you imagine crossing the North Atlantic in the middle of the winter in an open bridge? My respect for those tough as nails old navy guys is right through the roof for all the things they suffered with during WW2! 😉👌😳
Is there any definitive list of the minesweepers who participated in Neptune? There is a young lad buried near me in a CWGC grave who died 3 months before DDay at South Queensferry, who was a member of crew on minesweeper BYMS 2054, and I'd like to find out more of the service history of that vessel.
BYMS 2054 was built in the USA for the RN. On arrival in the U.K. she was crewed by personnel from the Royal Navy Patrol Service. Records show that she survived the war, spent some time serving in the Greek Navy and was then returned to the US. I imagine she was operating in the Southern North Sea or English Channel during her service; there’s a reference to her having taken some mining specialists to Germany in July 45 (ie post-war) to investigate German records and kit so she’d probably been based on the SE Coast somewhere. The crew member you refer to is - I imagine - Engine-man McKay. He’s listed as having died of wounds; I haven’t located any record of action that’s relevant, but it could have been sustained from an air attack or even a nearby mine explosion. That’s all I have for now. Info on this type of vessel at www.wildfire3.com/byms-2048.html
When the subject is Mine Sweepers , then the Flotillas at Sheerness ,Wildfire 1 and Queenborough Wildfire 111, must be mentioned. Through the whole duration of the war those two bases lost the following. 320 Personnel. 27 Mine Sweepers, Trawlers and Drifters. 5 Motor Mine Sweepers 1 Destroyer I Large Convoy Destroyer 1 Gun Boat , and a further six vessels from a Tug to a Paddle Steamer . Compare that to Lowestoft and Harwich which lost 17 and 19 vessels respectively.
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HiCxoDeo0hc/mqdefault.jpg)
My father served on the USS Osprey which was the only ship lost in operation Overlord. Evening of June 5, Osprey was in echelon formation with its squadron, mine cutting cables deployed in the lead of the allied armada, hit a magnetic mine and sunk. A PT boat moved in to rescue survivors and plucked my father from the channel.
Thanks for sharing. I assume you mean the FIRST ship lost in Overlord not the only. Quite a few went down during the operation
My grandfather was a gunners mate on AM-55 Raven, the Osprey’s sister ship. My mother grew up hearing stories about the Osprey’s sinking. I believe that terrified my grandfather for the rest of his life.
My father served aboard HMS Rifleman, and participated in the channel sweep prior to D-Day. Thanks for the great video. Not much said about a very important service in most history accounts. I heard it said recently that "where the fleet now goes, the minesweepers have already been".
Thanks so much for this. My father served aboard HMS Kellet, sweeping the way into Omaha beach, and told me that they were still working close inshore while the big guns were lobbing shells overhead onto the beaches. This is the only video that I've found that really tells the story.
Fascinating and highly I formative.
Great show! Did not know much about minesweeping, I did know it whas important, finally some recognition :)
It may have been 11 months ago, but this was a fine presentation by a former minesweeping RN officer turned historian. I never knew of the tremendous work done by such unsung heroes, and have always underestimated the danger and stress they worked under. I wish Nick success with any further undertakings in the future. Fascinating!!
Great work to see an important subject getting the attention it deserves, wherever the fleet went, the minesweepers had been there before.
One of the most informative presentations by WW2TV. Everyone thinks the Normandy invasion was on June 6, 1944, "The Longest Day." I learned that gallant seamen with stout hearts opened the door to Normandy days before the actual invasion. Nobody will probably make a movie about sweeping mines in the English Channel, but the mission was a critical prelude to the invasion.
The loss of a single transport with a regiment of 2,000 troops or an LST with a full load of tanks would have been a devastating reduction to combat power on the critical first hours in the beaches. The fleet would have been preoccupied with search and rescue, reducing naval gunfire support or protection against U-boats. There was a hard deadline -- H-Hour on D-Day. The only movie we may ever see of this vital effort is this WW2TV episode, with Paul hosting an expert historian on the discussion of the strategy, tactics, techniques and method of sweeping contact, magnetic and pressure mines from the channel -- all without telegraphing the location of the upcoming invasion to the enemy.
There ought to be a movie, and this is probably all there will be. We could help preserve history and honor the men who accomplished this unheralded task by learning about them here!
What a marvellous guest and presenter Nick is.
Thanks for the excellent presentation.
These men are truly unsung heroes. This has been informative, fascinating, and perplexing (how has this critical service not garnered more attention?). I'm embarrassed to say my ignorance was deep on this topic. Thank you, Nick, for bringing this compelling history to us in such an engaging and organized fashion. And thank you, Paul. I wish I'd had the foresight to view this before today's "Halcyons in the Arctic."
Great presentation done with such pride! Excellent and well done.
My father in law was on HMS Halcyon, sweeping ch9 to Sword beach, before that he was on russian convoy duties.
Thanks for another superlative talk and one given by Nick Stanley! Not many know more about this subject than he does and he has made a complicated topic, in both technical and management terms, quite approachable!
I've done some museum work on Mine warfare at sea in WWI, specifically to do with the Trawlers and Minesweepers of the Dover Patrol, more unsung heroes, and also the little known but absolutely vital work done postwar by the Mine Clearance Service.
Thanks again!
Mines, mine laying and sweeping etc., really interesting. Thank you both. Glad to have listened
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent presentation
That was such an excellent show. Filled in some big gaps in my knowledge base and understanding of D Day
BZ
Hello folks. Great talk from a historian who knows his stuff. Incredible insights. Learned a lot about an overlooked aspect of the complex Overlord story. Don’t miss it. Thanks.
Superb talk. Operational management, planning and preparation trump leadership every time :)
😂in short like the supply and transport elements...
Even the pathfinders, the minesweepers were "quietly" crucial to the success of Operation Neptune...
Kind of like, you never know how important your goalkeeper is, until your defense is breached or a penalty shootout takes place...
On June 6th 1944, Paratroopers, Bombers and Infantrymen storming the beaches of Normandy, get the focus...
Maximum respect for those minesweepers 💪🏽
As a former sapper, ‘minesweeping’ has a very different meaning to soldiers… :)
…if you know, you know… :)
Thank you for this video, very interesting presentation! I don’t suppose Nick Stanley knows the name of the man pictured top left on the acoustic mine slide? (23:50 mins in).
Yes, some of those mine sweepers look a lot like Corvettes. I suppose they pressed some Corvettes into double duty as both escorts and as mine sweepers.
Hi Todd - the RN did use ‘Flower’ class corvettes as sweepers, but mainly in the earlier phases of the war. I think they were only used once for an assault sweep - Operation IRONCLAD (Diego Suarez) in ‘42. There were none in the minesweeping orbat for NEPTUNE/OVERLORD.
@@nickstanley7028 Thanks for that information Nick! It is the length of some of the minesweepers and the open to the elements bridge that makes them look so similar. Can you imagine crossing the North Atlantic in the middle of the winter in an open bridge? My respect for those tough as nails old navy guys is right through the roof for all the things they suffered with during WW2! 😉👌😳
Is there any definitive list of the minesweepers who participated in Neptune? There is a young lad buried near me in a CWGC grave who died 3 months before DDay at South Queensferry, who was a member of crew on minesweeper BYMS 2054, and I'd like to find out more of the service history of that vessel.
Gary - I’ll get back to you if I find something. Unfortunately,the auxiliary minesweepers’ unit histories are very thin - where they exist! Nick
BYMS 2054 was built in the USA for the RN. On arrival in the U.K. she was crewed by personnel from the Royal Navy Patrol Service. Records show that she survived the war, spent some time serving in the Greek Navy and was then returned to the US. I imagine she was operating in the Southern North Sea or English Channel during her service; there’s a reference to her having taken some mining specialists to Germany in July 45 (ie post-war) to investigate German records and kit so she’d probably been based on the SE Coast somewhere. The crew member you refer to is - I imagine - Engine-man McKay. He’s listed as having died of wounds; I haven’t located any record of action that’s relevant, but it could have been sustained from an air attack or even a nearby mine explosion. That’s all I have for now. Info on this type of vessel at www.wildfire3.com/byms-2048.html
Thanks Nick, appreciate it. The sailor died of accidental drowning at the base as I have a copy of the extract of death certificate.
A book about minesweeping in the Pacific is "Steaming As Before" by Richard V. Bovbjerg. He commanded YMS 353 from May 1944 to the end of the war.
When the subject is Mine Sweepers , then the Flotillas at Sheerness ,Wildfire 1 and Queenborough Wildfire 111, must be mentioned.
Through the whole duration of the war those two bases lost the following.
320 Personnel.
27 Mine Sweepers, Trawlers and Drifters.
5 Motor Mine Sweepers
1 Destroyer
I Large Convoy Destroyer
1 Gun Boat , and a further six vessels from a Tug to a Paddle Steamer .
Compare that to Lowestoft and Harwich which lost 17 and 19 vessels respectively.
Weak presentation! Best of luck!
If that was weak, I'm not sure what would impress you. As a Normandy scholar, just about everything Nick explained was new to me
Quite the contrary. It was very strong in both content and delivery.
My father in law was an officer on hms pelorus i still have the telegraph wishing them god speed and also his uniform...