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All the United Kingdom England Devon Exercise Tiger Memorial

Exercise Tiger Memorial

A disastrous D-Day rehearsal was relatively unknown until this sunken tank was discovered 40 years later.

Devon, England

Added By
Alan Newman
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Exercise Tiger Memorial   Ian Petticrew/CC BY-SA
Exercise Tiger Memorial   Ian Petticrew/CC BY-SA
Exercise Tiger Memorial   Lewis Clarke/CC BY-SA 2.0
American troops rehearsing just three days before the disastrous exercise   US Army Signals Corps/Public Domain
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
  jooniur / Atlas Obscura User
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About

A disastrous D-Day rehearsal claimed the lives of more U.S. soldiers than Utah Beach would just six weeks later. Kept secret by the government for morale reasons, the tragedy remained relatively unknown until a sunken tank was discovered 40 years later.

In the early morning hours of April 28, 1944, a three-mile convoy of eight tank landing ships with 30,000 U.S. servicemen converged in Lyme Bay just off the coast of Slapton Sands, which had been evacuated in the months before so the troops could practice with live naval and artillery ammunition.

A British Navy destroyer was in Plymouth for repairs, and the fleet’s rear was consequently exposed. A group of German E-Boats, alerted by radio signals, attacked and sunk three of the ships with torpedoes before getting away unharmed. Almost 1,000 soldiers lost their lives in the ensuing chaos, many from hypothermia in the freezing cold waters.

U.S. leaders ordered a complete information blackout to protect morale at the time, and though the story was shared in publications and speeches immediately following the war, official histories were vague and the event remained relatively unknown until Ken Small found a submerged relic of the 70th Tank Battalion.

Small heard stories of fisherman getting their nets snagged about 60 yards off the beach where he’d comb for shrapnel and bullets, and he and a friend took a boat out to investigate. They discovered the sunken Sherman tank, untouched by enemy fire. Small bought the rights to it from the U.S. government for $50 in 1974, and with the help of local divers pulled it from the depths in 1984.

The tank, officially recognized by the U.S. Congress, acknowledged on a bronze plaque, now sits on a seaside plinth, honoring the sacrifices of those who died that day. In 2014 a plaque recognizing Small’s “tireless determination over 30 years” was added to the tank.

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World War Ii Tanks Memorials War History Military

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There is a large car park adjacent to the memorial, and more parking in Torpoint village where there is a pub and a chip shop. 

Cross over the road for panoramic views over the bay. 

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Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

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jooniur, Michael Inscoe, rbenn250, janetbooth1

  • jooniur
  • Michael Inscoe
  • rbenn250
  • janetbooth1

Published

July 14, 2017

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Exercise Tiger Memorial
A379
Devon, England
United Kingdom
50.268452, -3.652346
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Nearby Places

Ruins of Hallsands

Hallsands, England

miles away

Kingswear Wishing Well

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miles away

Burgh Island

Devon, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Devon

Devon

England

Places 14
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Ruins of Hallsands

Hallsands, England

miles away

Kingswear Wishing Well

Kingswear, England

miles away

Burgh Island

Devon, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Devon

Devon

England

Places 14
Stories 2

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