DD Tanks on D-Day
The swimming tanks at Normandy
One little known part of the D-Day landings was the role of DD Tanks. DD stands for Duplex Drive. They had floatation systems and the ability to run a propeller and "swim" the tank to shore. All 5 beaches had a battalion of DD tanks (at least) supporting the landings.
The 714th tank battalion was assigned to Omaha Beach. Unfortunately, the tanks were launched very far off the beach into heavy, rolling seas. This led to 20 of the 28 tanks in the battalion taking on water, capsizing and sinking with the entire crew trapped in the tank.
This video shows how the system works:
How the DD tank works
The DD tanks on a Tank Landing Ship .... when the ramp goes down, they go in the water and swim to the shore in the distance
What it looks like
DD tanks coming onto the beach .... it's the tank with the big snorkels sticking up on the back
One of them on land after getting to the beach
