Inventions That Were Responsible For The Success Of D-Day
On June 6, 1944, the allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in order to liberate France, which was occupied by the Germans during World War II. Although over 10,000 soldiers belonging to the allied troops lost their lives, the operation was considered a success. Many historians believe that this move laid the foundation for the allied forces to eventually win the war.
While the soldiers and generals certainly did their part to make this operation a success, they also had the help of some very advanced (for the time) inventions. Those inventions made D-Day possible. Keep reading for the inventions that might just be responsible for our continued freedom.
The M3 "Grease Gun" Was Highly Effective
This weapon might look crude, but back in 1943, it was one of the most effective battle weapons on the market. The M3 was nicknamed the "Grease Gun" because of it's resemblance to the tool. Mass production helped get this gun in the hands of thousands of soldiers. It was much easier and quicker to make than the Thompson M1.
The gun was fully automatic and could cycle 450 rounds per minute. In total it weighed about eight pounds.
An Essential Ocean Pipeline
Fuel is absolutely necessary for a successful war operation and during D-Day, the Pipeline Under the Ocean (PLUTO) was used to supply petrol from Britain to Europe through a series of underground flexible pipes.
All of this petrol was used for aircraft, tanks, and other vehicles. D-Day wouldn't have been a success without it. The pipeline was only three inches wide and was wound around in spools called conundrums. As the Allies moved forward, the spools would uncoil.
Nylon Became A Very Valuable Material
Nylon was designed by the DuPont company in 1937 to replace silk in women's stockings. This stretchy material was used to make parachutes, flack jackets, glider tow ropes, and aircraft fuel tanks during World War II.
Nylon is cheap to make and it doesn't rip as easily as silk. Pretty soon, all of the Nylon in the U.S. was being redirected to the war effort, and women couldn't find stockings anywhere. They started drawing lines down their legs to make it look like they were wearing stockings.
The A-11 Wristwatch Kept Everything In Sync
Storming the beach in Normandy was a meticulously timed attack. All of the soldiers who fought with the Allied forces needed to know exactly when to execute their assigned functions. Having a reliable watch was very important. The soldiers needed a watch that wouldn't break down when it came into contact with water, dirt, and projectile weaponry.
Without accurate and synchronized timekeeping, soldiers wouldn't be able to log events accurately, or time explosive detonations correctly.
A Machine That Predicted The Tide
Something that's often overlooked about D-Day is how necessary it was for the Allied forces to understand the tides and time their attack accordingly. The operation also required clear skies and a full moon for visibility. The infantry needed to attack during low tide so that German defenses would be exposed.
British mathematician Arthur Thomas Doodson designed a tide-predicting machine. In 1944, he used his machine to determine that the best time for the invasion to be between June 5th and 7th.
Horsa Gliders Weren't Perfect
In 1942, Horsa Gliders were introduced into the military market. The Allied forces used these gliders on D-Day and throughout World War II. Horsa Gliders were used to transport heavier equipment that could not be delivered using a parachute drop. Easy loading and unloading as a feature that was crucial during the D-Day invasion.
These gliders weren't exactly structurally sound, though. They were made out of wood and fabric which made them difficult to operate. Many of the gliders broke apart when landing.
DD Swimming Tanks Made All The Difference
An attack from the water benefitted highly from a tank that could float. DD Swimming Tanks helped to minimalize danger for the Allied forces on D-Day. These vehicles were designed by Hungarian inventor Nicholas Straussler. DD stands for "Duplex Drive." The tanks are equipped with Duplex Drive engines which powered tracks on land and propellers while in the water.
Even though this vehicle had its issues, an amphibious tank was invaluable to the Allied troops on D-Day.
Harbors Made Out Of Sunken Ships
Harbors are essential for Navy operations, and after D-Day, it was crucial that the Allies had a constant resupply of men and equipment into Normandy. The Allies decided to make their own artificial harbors out of old sunken ships and concrete structures. These makeshift harbors were called Mulberries.
Mulberries looked a lot like actual harbors, even though they were put together in a pinch. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Mulberries definitely did their job, though.
How The Germans Prepared For D-Day
There were plenty of military inventions on the German side that definitely contributed to mass casualties for the Allies. The Germans were prepared for an attack like the one that occurred on D-Day. Even though they lost the battle, they certainly put up a fight. German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel was put in charge of the defense of Normandy. He thought an attack would probably happen during high tide.
Rommel designed underwater defenses called "hedgehogs" that couldn't be seen during high tide. These Hedgehogs would rip through the bottoms of incoming ships and deliver some deadly explosives. The Allied forces found out about Rommel's plan and attacked during low tide instead.
The Reinvention Of Tanks
Hobart's Funnies were specialized vehicles that were designed to perform specific tasks. The Allies knew that in order to invade a beach, they were going to need armored vehicles that did more than just shoot bullets and rockets on land. Named after their inventor Major-General Sir Percy Hobart, they were heavily armored vehicles designed to reinforce the infantry on D-Day both in the water and the beach.
They ranged from swimming tanks known as "Crocodiles" with flamethrowers attached to AVRES (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers), which were tanks with specialized devices. One particular AVRE laid matting down on the beaches so other tanks could drive across with ease.
Higgins Boats Carried Men, Supplies, And Weapons
With a sea-to-land invasion of such scale, getting troops, supplies, weapons, and vehicles onto the beach quickly was of utmost importance. So, thousands of landing craft were designed to carry the thousands of soldiers and all necessary equipment across the English Channel and directly onto the beach. These ranged from craft carrying groups of infantry to entire ships full of tanks and other vehicles.
Developed by inventor Andrew Higgins, the craft were designed to pull up directly onto the beach which other watercraft would not have been capable of doing. Eisenhower credited these craft with winning the war. Although these kinds of craft were being developed and used at the beginning of the war, they had never been used in such force as they were on D-Day.
Paratroopers Communicated With The Cricket
Although initially made as a childrens toy, the United States Army took the concept and tweaked it. They discovered that it could be a useful tool as a form of communication for the 101st US Airborne after dropping into France on D-Day. Paratroopers would be spread out far distances from one another, so communication was vital.
When you squeeze the two pieces of metal together, it makes a click-clack noise, so the airborne wouldn't have to talk to communicate or find each other's positions. Only the 101st Airborne Division was given this piece of equipment, and the crickets were only used after their first jump on June 6, 1944.
The Helicopter Made A Huge Difference
The worlds first series production of a helicopter was the Flettner FI 282 Kolibri or Hummingbird. It was a single-seat open cockpit Anton Flettner of Germany invented during WWII as a means to carry items between ships and for aerial reconnaissance.
Soon, they wanted to use the carrier for other purposes. Mainly, the Luftwaffe wanted it to be used on the battlefield. A seat was added to the rear and was called the B-2 version.
Bangalore Torpedos Cut Through Barbed Wire
Invented by the British Army in 1912, Bangalore torpedos saw their most extensive use by the United States Army during D Day. The idea behind the torpedos are simple; a soldier fills a metal pipe with explosives. The pipe can then be attached to multiple sections to navigate its way through barbed wire and minefields.
Without taking advantage of this surprisingly simple weapons technology, American soldiers would have been sitting ducks waiting for death to come on the beach at Normandy. Bangalore torpedoes proved so successful during the invasion, that they're even still used by the military today!
Heavy Duty Trucks Made The American Invasion Possible
During DD, the troops needed some way to run supplies from the beach to the troops. With that in mind, the two and a half ton truck was mass produced. Over half a million of these heavy metal trucks were made, and many historians consider them the most important piece of equipment used during DD.
Amazingly, while these trucks were rated to carry cargo up to two and a half tons, they routinely transported loads double that. They became so vital to the war effort that an amphibious version was invented for use at Normandy.
The Sherman Flail Tank Detonated Mines
The Sherman flail tank or "Crab" definitely looks effective. This standard Sherman tank came equipped with a giant spinning drum that was attached to several chains. The chains would slam into the ground as the tank moved, detonating mines in the vehicle's path.
Other vehicles would drive behind the flail tank as the heavy-duty chains on the "Crab" cut through barbed wire and other obstacles that got in their way. This invention was essential for the Allies' success.
The P-47 Thunderbolt Was Heavily Armored
Developed in 1939 by Georgian immigrant Alexander Kartveli, the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft quickly became one of the Allies most important weapons during the war. Flying above German troops and mounted with bombs and machine gun turrets, the heavy aircraft made life a nightmare for German reinforcements on the beach.
Making matters worse for the German army, the Thunderbolt was heavily armored. It could take a massive beating and still complete its mission and fly back home. After the war was over, the Thunderbolt continued to be used by the military and several are still in pristine condition today.
The M1 Steel Helmet Protected Delicate Skulls
Designed to be worn with a helmet liner, the M1 most closely resembled a steel pot that soldiers would put on the head. There was a suspension system inside the "pot" that could be adjusted for individual head size and the outer steel shell could be easily covered with extra material.
At the time of its introduction, the helmet was considered relatively heavy but was also extremely effective. After D Day ended, the M1 Steel helmet continued to be used by the military for the next 40 years!
A Battle Rifle For The Ages
Having an advantage in your choice of weapons can be pivotal in winning a war. The American forces were triumphant as far as that goes because they had the only semi-automatic rifle used at Normandy. It was called the M-1 Garand. British forces had the Lee-Enfield (SMLE).
The SMLE was similar to the bolt action rifle the Germans used called the Mauser K-98, but it had 10 rounds opposed to the Mauser's five. These weapons provided the allied men with a great edge over the Nazis.
Shooting From The Sea
It's a tricky game when you're switching between sea and land during wartime. Going between the two can and will leave you vulnerable with or without your permission, but thankfully, There was a way to help with that.
During the Normandy landings, there were five battleships, 20 cruisers, and 65 destroyers. Their missions were simple; provide covering fire as the troops landed on solid ground. In many scenarios, the destroyers would pull up as close to the beach as possible to destroy machine gun nests.
Radar Was Invented In The '30s
Radar technology first surfaced in the '30s thanks to Arnold Wilkins and Robert Watson. They needed it for threats in the air that were becoming more and more pressing. During WWII, this invention would prove to be pivotal.
Historians say that the defense radar provided to the British ultimately helped them win the battle. The Germans focus was on bombing cities and should have been on taking out the stations along the coast. This allowed the British to spot bombers up to 100 miles away.
Night Vision
Night vision made its first appearance as early as 1939. By the end of World War II, German forces had given 50 Mark V Panther tanks the gift of night vision. The gear was used for the first time in battle back in 1945.
Around 310 pieces were delivered to the Wehrmacht when the war was in its final stages. War veteran reports consisted of snipers who were shooting at night. The snipers had support from non-shining torches along with huge optical sights mounted on top.
How Fuel Was Transported
At the request of Hitler, the Germans created an easier way to transport fuel by hand. The jerrycan was invented with a clever design that was reverse engineered by the allies to replace their existing canisters because the ones they had were easy to puncture.
This new design with three handles made it easier for it to be carried by one or two people. The whole point of it was to make it easier and that is what they accomplished after reverse engineering the design.
How Rubber Was Used In The Military
When one group pretty much monopolizes a resource that you need, you're forced to come up with alternatives. That's what the allies did thanks to the Axis having control over most of the world's supply of natural rubber.
The Allies were in desperation mode and decided to increase their production of synthetic rubber. Waldo Semon made Ameripol in 1940. What that is exactly is a cheaper way to produce the synthetic rubber and it quickly helped meet the needs of the Allies.
The Power Of Meth
Photo credit: Paul Howell/Liaison
The early invention of crystal meth was a secret weapon for German soldiers. They would soon become addicted to it after drugmaker Temmler Werke brought it to the market.
It wasn't long until the powers of meth were discovered. German army physiologist Otto Ranke figured the substance could help keep pilots and fighters alert off of little sleep. It also gave an entire force a feeling of euphoria. They called it "the ideal war drug."
The Very Powerful M1917
This machine was designed for the first World War but didn't much action. It did, however, have immense durability and accuracy so American forces used it during the second world war and in Korea.
This machine was pretty heavy as well. It weighed 32.6 pounds while it was empty. That jumped up to 41 after you added eight pints of water into the cooling jacket. And the tripod you hooked it up to weighed 53 pounds. This wasn't something you would lug around with ease.
The Carbines Made It Possible
This small, and short rifle fired a reduced-power cartridge. This weapon was partially designed in prison by David Williams, it was a gas-operated gun with a 15 round detachable magazine. The catrridge size was smaller than rifles and machine guns so that made its range and penetration lack a little.
This was the main reason why they weren't used to replace rifles but pistols instead, especially among officers and crews with a lot of vehicles. Some questioned equipping people with these weapons, but the officers liked how lightweight they were.
Browning Automatic Rifles
BAR is short for Browning Automatic Rifle. It had portable firepower but was rarely used during WWI. It wasn't until the second world war that it would see a great improvement. The WII version of the gun was full auto with slow and fast cycles.
The BAR gave Americans a base of fire for their infantry squad. This allowed the riflemen to move around while the BAR suppressed enemy fire.
A Less Heavy Machine Gun
In the days of WWI, it was evident that the need for a light machine gun wasn't going anywhere soon. That's when the M1919 stepped up to the plate. It was almost the exact same as the M1917 that we mentioned earlier.
The advantage of this machine gun was that it was way lighter due to the removal of the water jacket and water. This led to only needing two soldiers as opposed to the three needed for other light machine guns. This was a popular gun all way to the Vietnam War that helicopters would use often.
The First Guided Weapons
Ever heard of in-flight guidance onto a moving target? This was an innovation that arrived during WWII. One of the earliest examples of this was the Fritz X anti-ship bomb. The operator of the launch guided the Fritz to a target using radio control.
The Fritz sank an Italian Battleship as a result. This was first used by the Germans, but the American Navy developed a far more advanced version called the Bat. IT used radar to eliminate the need for human operation.
Giant Inflatable Tanks
The US Army’s 603rd Camouflage Battalion was composed of creative talents such as writers, theater technicians, admen, and other artists. Fashion designer Bill Blass was part of this Battalion, whose mission was to develop ways to trick the German Army into thinking that the invasion would take place somewhere other than Normandy.
This operation took place with the use of artistic props such as fake airplanes, costumes, and inflatable tanks that were positioned in strategic locations to give the impression that an invasion was about to take place. The clever inflatable tanks also made it look like the Allies had more troops than they did.
Throwing Radar Off Its Game
By WWII, radar equipment was commonly used to detect enemy forces. In 1942, a telecommunications expert came up with the idea to drop slats of aluminum from aircraft, which would cause a “cloud of false echoes” to anyone monitoring with radar.
These pieces of metal were called “Window” or “chaff” and they worked by cutting a radar signal’s wavelength in half. Enemy forces could not tell the difference between the echoes caused by chaff and an actual aircraft. Windows are still in use by modern armed forces today.
Lights Without Batteries
The use of dynamo-powered torches during WWII helped overcome the lack of electricity or other power sources. These flashlights used a person’s muscle power to generate electricity, by either winding a crank or squeezing a lever. The most common versions used in the war used a squeeze handle mechanism, which was attached to a dynamo and a lightbulb.
Dynamo-powered torches and flashlights are commonly used today as essential items in emergency kits. The technology is also popular in AM/FM radios, flashing lights, and emergency sirens.
Penicillin Saved Countless Soldiers
First discovered in 1928, penicillin was first mass-distributed during WWII. The United States produced more than 2 million doses of the antibiotic in time for the Normandy invasion. Penicillin is estimated to have prevented death or amputation for between 12 to 15 percent of wounded troops during the war.
This photo depicts a soldier, British Pvt. F. Harris, after he’s been wounded during the Normandy invasion. The medic is about to inject him with a dose of potentially life-saving penicillin.
Jet Propulsion Engines Helped Planes Outfly Their Enemies
A Royal Air Force air officer named Frank Whittle filed a patent for a jet engine in 1930. When WWII threatened, the government stepped in to support further development of the technology. The first jet powered by a Whittle gas turbine was the Gloster E28/39 (pictured above). It first flew in 1941.
In jet propulsion, air enters a front chamber of the plane and enters a combustion chamber where it is mixed with fuel. This creates gases which are then expelled through the rear of the aircraft. Whittle's technology gave credence to the fact that planes could be powered by means other than propellers.