The Ingenuity Behind British Mulberries in World War II

The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel boats, or LCVPs, were designed to carry about 36

troops. They were constructed from plywood and had a 225 horsepower, gasoline-powered

engine. About 1,100 of them were used in the D-Day invasion.

By Ed Martinez

Published in the Fall 2009 issue of MyTekLife Magazine

The invasion of Normandy by Allied forces was the largest focused military operation in history. Over 5,000 ships of every type and over 150,000 troops composed of Americans, British and Canadians crossed over the English Channel on that fateful date of June 6, 1944. Their mission, as stated by Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, “bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”

Among these brave soldiers was Pfc. Alvin ‘Al’ Stevens from the U.S. Army. Al was part of the Omaha Beach invasion force and came up against the worst conditions encountered on D-Day. The strong winds and treacherous sea currents made it extremely difficult for landing crafts (LCVPs) to reach their intended destinations. Some never made it to land, and heavily laden soldiers were forced to swim through long distances of water. A large number of men died before hitting the beach. Those who made it to the shore were seasick and extremely exhausted. They were also met by increasingly heavy fire from German automatic weapons and heavy artillery. “It was quite an experience and hard to describe,” Al said as he began to share his experience with me.

“As soon as that Navy man dropped that gate on the LCVPs you had to get out of there. They were firing right through the middle. Seeing everybody around you falling ... it really takes it out of you,” he added. Al was at the very front of the LCVP. He explained that because of the heavy equipment carried by troops, many drowned, while others had to unload their weapons in order to stay afloat as they continued their desperate attempts to reach the shoreline. “You’ve got about 50 to 75 pounds on your back. Some were lucky and some were not,” he said. The lucky ones who did finally make it to land did not have the weapons needed to deter heavy enemy fire.

As with most in Omaha Beach, Al had to ditch his gear, including his M-1 rifle and clips, but he managed to hold on to his .45-caliber gun. He was without sufficient weaponry for about two days. During those two days, the valiant troops were under fierce and constant attack by the Germans just above the hills over the beach. “The Navy did a heck of a job,” said Al, when he discussed the cover they provided for Allied troops on land. “I don’t think we had any air power for a few days because of the storms. It wasn’t clear enough for the ‘Fly Boys’ ... that would have helped a lot,” he added. During the days ahead, enemy troops began to lose their edge as more troops, heavy machinery and supplies made it to shore.

Al recalls the Mulberry Harbors, code-named Mulberries, during those days. “They towed them all the way from England across the channel. They were the size of a football field, made out of concrete,” he noted. The Mulberries consisted of individual prefabricated concrete blocks that, when assembled and connected, would make up ports. Ships could connect and unload the precious supplies desperately needed by troops.

Pfc. Alvin ‘Al’ Stephens, 1944.

The Mulberries were one of the most colossal and innovative engineering projects of World War II. The proposer of the idea of the Mulberries is disputed according to historical records; nevertheless, the plans were indeed submitted to the British War Office. It took over 20,000 British workers and 865,000 tons of concrete over a period of six months to build these giants. They were composed of three main elements: the breakwater, pierheads and floating roadways. The breakwater consisted of concrete caissons, which were sunk to create a barrier for arriving cargo ships. Once the ships entered the protected area, they could dock at the pierheads and begin unloading their cargo. The cargo was then loaded on vehicles and taken across the floating roadways, which would lead to the shoreline.

The breakwater caissons were placed together in a continuous row. “They had anti-aircraft guns mounted for protection. They even had cooks inside with living quarters,” added Al. The Mulberries had a profound impact on the troops. “If it was not for that—the artificial harbors—we would’ve been done,” concluded Al.

Mulberries towed across the English Channel.

By June 30th, over 850,000 troops, close to 150,000 vehicles and 104,000 tons of supplies had arrived. From Normandy on, Al continued with the rest of the Allied offensive deep into Europe under Lt. Gen. Courtney Hodges. He encountered many battles, and even endured the cold winter in Bastogne, Belgium, a place that became a symbol of American resilience and resolve. He continued on with a courageous fighting spirit, achieving successful counteroffensive battles until ultimately reaching Germany. Al demonstrated remarkable valor, living in extraordinary times.