Evacuation Near Port of Marseille to Remove 1-ton World War II German Bomb

In November, we posted about how a drought on the Rhine River was exposing unexploded World War II munitions, and then in December about the evacuation of half of the German city of Koblenz, when several large bombs were found buried in … Continue reading

Update: Bombs Along the Rhine – Half of Koblenz to be Evacuated for Bomb Disposal

Recently we posted about how the near record drought in Europe has lowered the levels in the Rhine River, not only limiting vessel traffic, but also exposing World War II munitions.  We wrote that “ bomb disposal experts … are evaluating how to dispose of a … Continue reading

Bombs Along the Rhine – Drought Exposing WWII Unexploded Munitions

A near record drought has lowered the water levels on the Rhine River, Europe’s most important inland maritime waterway, by five feet below average, stopping many ships and barges from trading.  In several locations, river levels have fallen to one hundred year lows.  To … Continue reading

HMT Lancastria Finally Honored – A “Secret Sacrifice” No Longer

The evacuation of British troops and civilians from France in 1940 did not end with Dunkirk.   Several weeks later,   on June 17, 1940, the British Cunard liner Lancastria was loaded to capacity with troops and civilians off the French port of St. Nazaire, when she … Continue reading

Lucky Fluckey

Today is the birthday of Rear Admiral Eugene Bennett Fluckey, known as “Lucky Fluckey,” who died in 2007 at the age of 94.   In addition to having one of the truly great nicknames,  he was one of the greatest submarine skippers of … Continue reading

Operation Dynamo – the Little Ships Return to Ramsgate for 70th anniversary

This Wednesday the surviving “Little Ships” of the Dunkirk evacuation will rendezvous in Ramsgate to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the famous World War II evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo. Little Ships gather in Ramsgate for 70th anniversary of Dunkirk evacuations … Continue reading

The Final Demise of the SS C. W. Pasley

Concrete ships were constructed in both World War I and World War II when steel was in short supply.  They were not wildly successful, as they were limited in deadweight and had a tendency to crack.  (No concrete ships were built after the end … Continue reading