History of Exercise Tiger
Subsequent investigations revealed two main reasons for the tragedy, firstly lack of naval escort vessels and secondly an error in radio frequencies. The convoy was supposed to be accompanied by a Royal Navy Corvette and a World War I destroyer. The destroyer having suffered damages was in port for repair, a replacement not available. The carefully prepared radio frequencies were issued with serious typographical errors which resulted in the LST’s being on different radio frequencies to the Corvette and the commanding officers on shore.
When the news reached the allied commanders it greatly worried them that so many lives were lost, particularly the missing officers who had plans that if in German hands would reveal the Allied intentions for the D-Day landings. So serious was this the Allied commanders even considered changing details of Operation Overlord presuming that the enemy must have discovered the details.
Miraculously, the bodies of every one of those bigoted officers were found. The Tactics of D-day were secure. Meanwhile the tragedy was kept a top secret. The survivors were strictly ordered not to talk about it.
After the Normandy invasion the incident was not revealed until 40 years later, through the efforts of an Englishman, Ken Small, the US and British Army acknowledged the tragedy and the incident was unfolded to the world.
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