BMMHS Evening Zoom Talk: 79th Armoured Division - Hobart's Funnies

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These unusual vehicles played an important role in the D-Day landings, the Battle of Normandy and the campaign in north-west Europe. The failed Allied raid at Dieppe in August 1942 exposed how difficult it was to land vehicles and men during an amphibious invasion and to break through German coastal defences – specialised armour was needed to get across soft sand and shingle and through beach obstacles.
 
The Allies made very few efforts to develop this armoured equipment until preparations began for D-Day. In early 1943, the 79th Armoured Division under the command of Major-General Sir Percy Hobart was given responsibility for developing equipment and tactics to perform specialised tasks in support of ground troops on and after D-Day. Not only did Hobart improve on existing designs, he created entirely new technologies. The armoured vehicles of the 79th became widely known as ‘Hobart’s Funnies’. Source IWM
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
PREPARATIONS FOR OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS): D-DAY 6 JUNE 1944 (H 38079) Sherman Crab Mark II minesweeping flail tank, one of Hobart's 'funnies', used to clear already identified minefields. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205193107
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 (H 35181) Valentine DD tank with screen erected, in the water alongside a landing craft, 79th Armoured Division School, Gosport, 14 January 1944. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205201618
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
D-DAY - BRITISH FORCES DURING THE INVASION OF NORMANDY 6 JUNE 1944 (B 5071) Commandos of No. 4 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, move inland from Queen Red beach, Sword area, 6 June 1944. The man in the centre of the picture, with Thompson SMG, is believed to be Sgt Douglas Raymond Miles MM. A Churchill AVRE, equipped with a small box girder bridge, can be seen in the background. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205817
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
PREPARATIONS FOR OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS): D-DAY 6 JUNE 1944 (MH 3660) Sherman DD (Duplex Drive) amphibious tank with waterproof float screens. When in the water the float screen was raised and the rear propellers came into operation. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124984
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 (H 38001) The 29cm Petard spigot mortar on a Churchill AVRE of 79th Squadron, 5th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers, under command of 3rd Infantry Division, 29 April 1944. A 40lb bomb can be seen on the right. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205201750
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 (H 41966) Grant CDL (Canal Defence Light) with searchlight and dummy gun mounted in turret. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205201873
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
PREPARATIONS FOR OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS): D-DAY 6 JUNE 1944 (H 37859) Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) Type C Mark II carpetlayer for laying tracks across soft beaches. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124983
79th Armoured Division - Hobarts Funnies
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 (H 29043) Churchill AVRE of 163rd Brigade, 54th Division, with fascine during ditch crossing exercises near Dunwich, 14 April 1943. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205199031

About the Speaker - Gareth Davies

BMMHS Is delighted to welcome back Gareth following his excellent talk on The Battle of Kursk in January 2020.

Gareth has been a keen student of twentieth century warfare for many years. He served in the Royal Tank Regiment for over 25 years and his military career included tours teaching at Sandhurst, the Land Warfare School, and the Joint Services Command and Staff College, as well as two tours in the Ministry of Defence. He has an MA in Defence Studies from Kings College London.

Gareth now works as a Warfare Analyst, looking at current military challenges as well as helping people learn from the past. He regularly leads group tours for schools and military units as well as highly bespoke tours for individuals and families. His interests include command, learning, and technology; the Great War in France & Flanders, Italy, and Palestine; Second World War combined arms actions of 1944 and 1945; and tanks – because a day without a tank is a day wasted. His first book, on tanks in 1917, will be published by Helion in 2021. 

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