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Royal Naval ships aid the Allied liberation of Europe

At 0600 on the 6 June 1944 the largest armada of naval and merchant vessels ever assembled left the shores of Britain. The vast exodus was Operation Neptune. With 5000 vessels, from tugs to battleships, the Royal Navy was to transport and protect thousands of allied troops for Operation Overlord. This was the beginning of the Allied liberation of Europe.

Originally planned for the 5 June, bad weather had caused a 24-hour postponement. The Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, overall commander of Operation Neptune, decided no further delay was possible. So began the largest naval operation ever mounted.

General Montgomery with Rear Admiral McGregor addressing ships company of HMS Kent at Scapa prior to Operation Overlord in 1944 (RNM)

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Planning

• Previous Allied advances

• Hampshire's involvement

• Southwick House

• Delays and final embarkment

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The Battle of River Plate

The Battle of the Atlantic

Arctic Convoys

Mediterranean Campaigns

Dunkirk

D-Day

Other invasions

Forgotten fleet