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Exercise Tiger by Ivan Berryman. (PC)
As part of a rehearsal for the impending D-Day landings on 6th June 1944, eight tank landing ships (LSTs), together with two destroyers, embarked most of their American troops on a British beach and began making their way to Slapton Sands. This was the night of 27th / 28th April and, unseen in the darkness of the night, a hunting party of German Schnellboots (S-Boats) were soon upon them. The painting depicts the awful demise of LST 507 who fell victim to the torpedoes of S-150 and S-130, the huge ship's cargo of trucks, jeeps and gasoline quickly bursting into an uncontrollable fire before she slipped beneath the waves. LST 531 was also sunk while LST 289 managed to struggle back to port. 197 American seamen and 441 GIs lost their lives on that fateful night, while all the Schnellboots returned safely, undamaged. S150, commanded by Oblt. z.S. Behr is nearest with S130, commanded by Oblt. z.S. Rabe is speeding past in the middle distance. |
