The Shipping Behind D-Day | Battle of the Atlantic | Europe vs Pacific | Liberty Ships & LSTs

My father in law was an 18 year old sailor aboard LST-510 which shuttled troops and supplies to Normandy. Then returned to the UK with the wounded. He is with us at age 98. His ship was converted into a ferry (Cape Henlopen) which still provides service between Orient Point and New London.

My Dad was at Normandy in the Liberty Ship SS Lyman Hall (he was 4F for military service due to asthma). He was wounded when a German artillery shell exploded nearby and carried a piece of shrapnel in his head for the rest of his life (it wasn't worth the risk of surgery to remove). What many don't realize is the Merchant Marines had the highest per capita casualty rate of any service with 1 in 26 dead. The US Marines were in 2nd place with 1 in 34 dead, Army was 1 in 48. And as is typical Dad never talked about any of it. I had to learn about it from my Uncle.

I’m here for it when you said history of WW2 and Normandy specifically. May we never forget!

My dad was on the bridge of (US made) HMS Essington on the night before the landing. Bristling with everything that could track submarines and also throw things at them, they were plodding back and forth along the English Channel. Nobody really knows what's going on because that's the way it is meant to be. Staring out over the bow and trying hard to avoid the many ships that were passing from right to left on their way to Normandy, he suddenly became aware of a complete blackout of any flickers of lighting immediately ahead of their destroyer escort. It was getting larger and consisted of nothing but pure darkness. He realised that it wasn't a ship. However, it was massive and only displayed one tiny red light as they headed directly towards its centre. My dad flashed "...Who are you...?" on his Aldiss lamp as a variety of expletives were expressed on the bridge and very specific orders were passed to the engine room to make everything go backwards and no longer go forwards. After a short pause, a small torch high up on the top of the blackness replied. "...I am a Mulberry..."

Just buried my 97 year old dad Memorial Day weekend. He was an oiler in the Merchant Marine crewing on tankers. He told stories of running up the Rohn and seeing sub pens after VE Day.

Dad was in the Pacific… Chief MM on an LST (Large Stationary Target) as he called them. Shipped from Hawaii in 43 and “Island hopped” for 2 years. Was a diesel wiz and invented a use for all the extra corn starch to inject into the diesel engines cooling pipes to extend the tear down schedule from sea water, I still have his sketches he made on rice paper. Never received (or asked for) recognition. Just did his duty like everyone in “The Greatest Generation” did.🙏🙏🇺🇸

Awesome video Sal. I’m a 65-year-old history buff I think from the day I was born and this is one of the best videos I’ve seen recently in my life. Thank you very much for making it.

Thank you for this story, my 99 year old Dad was an engineering officer on Liberty Ships. He volunteered for the crew of one of the ships sunk as a break water and when returned to his ship delivered jeeps to the port. He has Congressional Gold Medal that I applied for after I heard one of your stories.

General John J. Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I, is credited with saying, “Infantry wins battles, logistics wins wars”. You clearly understand the decisiveness of logistics. Great episode!

Of all the thousands of ships of size that partook in Operation Overlord, there is only one that is still fully functional and available to the public for tours. That is the Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien that did 5 Atlantic crossings and 11 shuttle trips between Southhampton UK and both Omaha and Utah beaches. She is open to the public for tours seven days a week and berthed at Pier 35 in San Francisco. Cargo and supply ships may not be glamorous like battleships and aircraft carriers, but it was these humble ships and their civilian merchant seamen crews that made winning WWII possible. Thank you for this video!

Great shows, Capt !! I’m 71 yrs old, merchant mariner since I was 17. My uncle Henry was tug skipper. Murmansk (lend lease) then Normandy. He pulled the LSTs off the beach. Two bronze stars. We never knew till he passed.

At the bottom of my road, we have an LST (just went and had a look - at it and it is, in fact, a landing craft tank) - the ship is the last surviving one that took part in D-Day - if you want I can send you some photos Sal

Symonds is a great naval historian. I just completed his World War II at Sea: A Global History. A comprehensive overview of the naval war and the logistics of WWII. He brings home how the availability of shipping and LSTs shaped campaigns in Europe and the Pacific. Excellent book.

Not too long ago I helped care for someone who was a sailor in the arctic convoys to Russia. He was still with it mentally and had some great stories to tell. I kinda wish I was in a position to put him in touch with someone who could document his story.

Here in England in the Thames Estuary off the Isle of Sheppey and right next to the shipping lanes lies the wreck of the Liberty ship SS Montgomery. She dragged her anchor and broke her back on the sand bank. The most interesting part of this is she was and still is fully laden with munitions, far too dangerous to remove as the possible resulting explosion could fatten the island, nearby shipping and break windows in the counties of Kent and Essex. Her masts are still visible from land and an eerie sight for passing vessels. Worth a Google if anyone is interested. Loved this video Sal.

This is probably my favorite video of all you have produced these past couple of years. Thank you for this.

You are the Best. My Dad was at the Battle of the Bulge and the battle at the Ramageon Bridge. His Dad was in WWI. Both of these men suffered from war. The only way I have found interest is through you. Honestly, you have brought me peace and understanding that had not found through books. Great books, but you put logic into these events. Thank you, Sal. ❤❤❤

Your content is really valuable. I've come to really look forward to all the videos you are putting out. They are very enjoyable and easy to understand as someone who doesn't have much knowledge of shipping in general. Super interesting stuff, keep it up Sal!

My father went from the hell of a couple Murmansk convoys on dry cargo ships to an elderly T2 supporting the Allied forces out on the Pacific "island hopping". It took him nearly two years to get back to Europe, Antwerpen was where he paid off, after hostilities finished out there. He never spoke much about it even when we were sharing the watch at sea together. And you know how sailors like to yarn. 🙂

Sal, you’re THE BEST! That episode was superb. I’m proud to be made aware of all the heroic work behind the scenes by the unsung mariners (and shipbuilders and untold millions) of WW2. I REALLY think they’d say you did them justice. Thanks! Thanks!