BERTRAND HOME RAMSEY

Admiral Ramsay had to evacuate a British expeditionary corps in 1940, and manage marine Allied landings in Normandy in 1944.

Bertrand Home Ramsay was born in the palace of Hampton Court, in Hampton, 20 January 1883. At Navy, he joined cadets in 1898. During World War II sailor dosluzhilsya to chickling Commander (1916), commanded destroyers in Duvrskom patrol and at the Belgian coast. In 1935 he received the rank of seaman Rear Admiral, was appointed Chief of Staff Navy metropolis. The uncompromising independence has led to his conflict with some senior officers, and in 1938, Ramsey was in the lists of retirees. When the Second World War, he returned to the service. In 1940, Ramsay in command of the naval base in Dover. When German troops invaded the Netherlands, with the destroyers of detachments of troops were sent to England to Holland - incapacitate the ports. British ships evacuated the royal family and values. Shortly require similar operations in Belgium. Destroyers off the coast of Holland and Belgium exported troops fire on shore targets, covered carriage beat attack aviation. The ships landed on 20 May two battalions in the Guard of Boulogne, to delay the German offensive along the coast, threatening to expeditionary corps. Three days later destroyers took on board the remains of those troops, ships had to cross, even with tanks. Ramsay has prepared for evacuation from Calais, but from a sense of union solidarity "garrison was ordered to fight until the end.

When the British army under pressure from the enemy styanulas to Dunkirk, the Admiralty had taken emergency measures. Ramsay has had to implement them. He collected various ships in the hope that it will be possible to remove at least 45 thousand people. Doubt, whether to implement the concept in terms of superiority of enemy forces on land and in air. The evening of May 26, an operation called the "Dynamo" started. Even before the admiralty court order passed in Dunkirk. Since the berths were, had to use the beaches, where people sat in the lifeboat, and the eastern breakwater, where large ships dock.

Before midnight on 27 May was taken out only 7 thousand 669 people. But on the next day managed to get a foothold on the provisions, medicines. Thanks to good organization of the loading forces on ferry boats and destroyers passed quickly. By Ramsey approached numerous fleet minesweeper, drift-net vessels and other small craft, which had people on the beach.

Photo — «Bertrand Home Ramsey»

Last night took 47 thousand soldiers, 310. However, on 29 May from the shelling and attacks the opponent lost 3 destroyers and 7 damaged. Admiralty feared for destroyers and ordered to withdraw all large modern ships. At the request of Ramsey left him 15 destroyers, but soon returned and withdrawn. Using high-speed vessels allowing significantly increase the number of evacuees people.

Minesweeper Ramsey paved three fairway. The shortest is along the French coast, but it had to be abandoned. First, using the longest (87 miles), but on 29 May, Admiral moved the motion to the central route (55 miles). The Germans 3 days did not notice the changes. When May 30, were transported 53 thousand 823 people, inspired by Ramsey ordered "to escape from the limiting power" and intended to remove all troops by 1 June. However, Surf difficult loading, good organization, and only allowed on 31 May when the sea subsided, evacuate 68 thousand 14 people. The success has helped organized a temporary radio contact with the leader of the port and shore parties. Later, this experience is used for landing operations.

June 1, the Germans bombing Dunkirk. Killed four destroyers, steaming. People were rescued by other ships. Losses were high. However, all the same to England brought 64 thousand 429 people. On the shore were the last of the British. However, Ramsey was going to remove the French troops. In order to avoid large losses, he decided to do as much as possible at night and in the evening he sent all of its vessels. The day was evacuated 26 thousand 256 people. By the evening of June 2, all the British troops were evacuated, except for injuries. June 2-3, evacuated to 26 thousand 746 French soldiers, could save more, but part of the approach to load slowly. Despite the fatigue of crews of ships in the night of June 4, Ramsey ordered to take another attempt. 9 destroyers, 5 transports and two dozen small ships came to take the remaining in the ring of 30 thousand people. 26 thousand 175 people managed to pick up with the harbor breakwaters; Dunkirk remained in 3000, kept the defense. This operation "Dynamo" is over. Largely through the commitment and the organizational work of Ramsey has been removed 338 thousand 226 people instead of 45 thousand. Fleet suffered heavy losses. However, dedicated work of seamen rescued from the shameful capitulation of the British expeditionary force and showed that they are able to resist the Nazi war machine.

Photo — «Bertrand Home Ramsey»

Ramsey became the Commander of the Order of Bath.

In summer 1942, when preparations began to disembark on the mainland of Europe, Ramsey as chief of the English naval forces participated in the preparation of the plan the invasion of Normandy, who was appointed to lead D. Eisenhower, but the implementation of this plan was postponed to the future.

At a conference in Casablanca in January 1943, the Allies, despite the U. S. offer to boost English Channel, have decided due to lack of vehicles and troops prepared to limit landings in Sicily in order to use the island as a springboard for the invasion of Italy. May 13, Joint Chiefs of Staff approved a plan under which the British 8 th Army was to land at 5 sites on the outskirts of Syracuse to Cape Passer, while the U. S. 7 th Army landed at 30 miles in 3 parts of southern coast of the island. Overall command of the marine part of the operation carried out Admiral E. Cunningham, East connection exercising disembark British commander, Admiral Ramsay, West, U. S. - Vice-Admiral C. Hewitt.

Ramsey inherited a difficult task to coordinate the actions of 5 British connections that reach from the ports of the Middle East, from Malta, and even from England. Should deliver, plant and ensure that all required 115 thousand British soldiers. During "Operation Husky was first used to speed up boarding the transport of troops by sea, directly on the landing ships.

In early July, Ramsay, with its headquarters arrived in Malta. July 4, followed by an order to begin "Operation Husky", and 9 July convoys moved. Due to misinformation, the losses on the shift were small. South of the island in the control point Ramsey took command of disembarking. Because of the unrest of the sea was not expecting an enemy invasion, which began at dawn on July 10. Despite inconsistencies in the landing, the British army was strengthened by the evening on the beach. Minesweeper cleared passages to the ports of Syracuse and made Augusta, which allowed the first day to establish the supply. Despite the activity of enemy aircraft and submarines, the losses in the courts were relatively small. For a successful landing was the flagship of Commander Cross of the British Empire.

In October 1943, the Allies chose Ramsey Chief of Marine forces at landing in Europe. He was promoted to admirals. The flagship of all the forces and was able to experience the preparation to give the "Neptune", the so-called September 7, the marine part of "Operation Overlord" on the landing in Normandy.

Photo — «Bertrand Home Ramsey»

The main features of "Operation Overlord" was made at a conference in Quebec City (August 1943), but only on 6 December, U. S. President D. Eisenhower appointed Supreme Commander. Immediately he and Marshal Montgomery favored the expansion of boarding. In early 1944, it was decided to increase the number of land forces, which required to make significant adjustments to the plans developed by the Admiralty and Ramsey. Due to lack of crews for the additional ships had a month to postpone sending troops to Southern France, is also scheduled for May. In addition, some U. S. warships identified.

In mid-February 1944 Ramsay published the first order with the general outline of the plan. The final volume of 700 pages was completed on April 10. To capture a bridgehead on the continent were established in Western and Eastern operational connection. The first of the British ships, was to plant 3 of Division 2 and the British Army at the 3 sites; west in the two paragraphs of the plant 1 st U. S. Army American West speedy connection. For shock compounds had to go 2 more connections, and then followed to a steady stream of cargo transportation. All involved in the operation of ships of all classes of 1213 and 4126 various landing ships, mobilized hundreds of vessels, mainly from British and Canadian crews.

To cover landings from possible attack surface ships and submarines at sea ordered numerous light force, over 300 trawler were designed to deal with mines on roads and move ships out of their parking. To protect items from the sea landings, it was decided to build two artificial harbors and 5 shelters for small vessels of large reinforced concrete caissons and flood in shallow vessels to dock and gangway on the pontoons.

To deal with the German heavy batteries and troops on shore for every connection established a group of striking ship artillery support, which were assigned to the ground and air spotter.

8 May, 1944 Eisenhower appointed the day of disembarkation - June 5. May 23, a provisional order received all naval headquarters in the UK, then began carefully prepared by the concentration of ships and vessels in the initial paragraphs. May 25, Supreme Commander has approved the date of planting, and Ramsey told captain revealed packets with instructions. After that, to preserve the secrecy of the message was terminated by the courts of the shore.

Photo — «Bertrand Home Ramsey»

June 1, admiral took command of all forces of "Operation Neptune" War of the headquarters near Portsmouth. By the morning of June 4, vessels were either at sea or in readiness. Bad weather forced Eisenhower to postpone the landing at night. The system was so well-established that all convoys returned signals by radio, only one had to send a ship. Predicted improvement in weather forecasting weather has prompted the decision to take action, because otherwise it would have to move for several weeks.

Ramsey in the debate over the decision whether to cancel landing, took a neutral position. He said that in bad weather you can deal with the management of courts, but it would be difficult to keep the fire from the shells with tilting ship.

Bad weather, like in Sicily, has enabled boarding surprise, because the enemy did not expect the invasion, and even a German patrol aircraft has been withdrawn.

Despite the high level of water is not allowed to destroy all the underwater obstacles, landing troops, supported by a large fire of artillery, including a gun ship, with full domination of the sea and air have been planted with a relatively small losses. First, a strategic coastal batteries attacked, and then - tactical aircraft, then hit the fire on the shore line of ships and other vessels artillery support. Troops repelled attempts to cover the German submarines, torpedo boats and destroyers to attack the convoys. More storm damage occurred in mid-June, which brought one of the artificial harbor, and delayed until July 19, the construction of another. However, unloading at the Bank continued. It was decided to keep low landing craft to shore to unload them directly on land.

Since the end of June the situation had stabilized in the boarding area, the headquarters of Ramsey has been transferred from the ship to shore - to Kursel. Naval battle of the operation was completed. However, ships of the fleet participated in the shelling of the coast. The fleet was destroyed by the restoration of the French ports, which provide for the needs of the Army in Georgia. July 5, landed on the beachhead of millions of soldiers. Much of the ships involved in Operation Neptune, was sent to the Mediterranean Sea to transport troops to the south of France. In the Ramsay report noted that the planting was carried out in accordance with the plan. This does not only work on the planning documents, but hard training, training of sailors and troops.

Photo — «Bertrand Home Ramsey»

Important role played by himself, Admiral Ramsay, because the victory ensured the rule of the fleet at sea and aircraft in the air.

As the German command began maritime transport attacks torpedo boats and other military vessels, Ramsay has created a squadron of small artillery ships that day at the Bank has supported the army, and in the evenings patrolling anchorage, discouraging attack an enemy fleet. The German Navy has lost in the English Channel from 1 July to 4 August 9 submarines. Uspekhi enemy were small.

September 4, the Allies took Antwerp. Port did not hurt, and Ramsay felt that it was necessary to clear the Germans from the Scheldt estuary and to the island Valhern that Antwerp became a major point of supply troops, already suffering from a lack of ammunition. September 10, Joint Chiefs of Staff convinced Eisenhower of the need to port, but only in October, Ramsey was able to lead Montgomery to take steps to open it. In late October, Ramsay has prepared an operation to take Valherna. November 1, specially prepared by a team of marines were on the landing ships off the island, and on November 8, fascists Valherne surrendered. November 26, after clearing the channel the first transport arrived in Antwerp, which became the main base of supply armies.

Ramsey died in a plane crash near Paris on Jan. 2, 1945. Allies appreciates the merits of the admiral in the landing operations, while recognizing its superiority in this kind of action. Eisenhower wrote about naval: "Ramsay was a knowledgeable commander - brave, resourceful, have an inexhaustible reserve of energy. Moreover, we all knew him as a useful and sociable person, but sometimes laughed with each other over his pedantry with which he complied with the tradition of English navy as the main type of armed forces. "

In 1945, Seaman posthumously awarded the American Order of Merit. " Ramsey did not live to see victory, but played a significant role in its achievement.