Monument record MWX550 - Bombardon

Remains of 1944 wreck of Allied (British or American) bombardon unit, which foundered 5.4 miles, 152 degrees from Redcliffe Point either during trials, or during the D-Day landings and subsequent Normandy invasion. Constructed of steel, these bombardon units were designed to form part of a floating breakwater, in conjunction with the Mulberry harbours used in the landings.

General Depth: 13 metres Bombardons were steel structures designed and built to form part of a floating breakwater for use in conjunction with the Mulberry harbours used during the invasion of France in 1944. Survey History: 19-JAN-1960 Sunken Bombardon. Least depth 15 feet in 50 37.28N 002 24.05W. 03-OCT-1986 Least echo sounder depth 5.5 in general depth 12.5-13M. Scour 0.5-1m deep. Height 6m. Divers describe as tangled network of angle iron and plate. 14-JUN-1991 Examined in 50 37.30.7N 002 24.04.9W. Least echo sounder depth 8.4 in general depth 12.5m. Wreckage of two bombardons lying side by side. One intact and the other extensively destroyed. Recommend retain as charted. (1) [NB: This site lies in close proximity to a similar bombardon unit [SY 78 SW 66]. It is unclear whether both units were lost in the same incident or context; the date quoted for SY 78 SW 66, 26-NOV-1944, is derived from its listing in source (1), but would appear to be at odds with the statement that they were lost during trials, since the D-Day landings were in June 1944. Source (2) below appears to interpret the two sites as sections of the same wreck.] Bombardon Unit at 50 37.63N 002 24.20W…Another section is marked separately 150 yards SE at 50 34.48N 002 24.09W. The wreck consists of large metal tanks with some single metal sheets, averaging 1m high, although it is as high as 3m in places. (2)

Record last edited

Apr 2 2024 2:12PM