Lighthouses
 

In HW5 , it is claimed that Mosquitoes destroyed 6 or 5 Lighthouses in Norway on March 45, is there any good reason to target theses Towers at that time ???

Rémi

Re: Lighthouses
 

They assisted German coastal convoys and U-boats with navigation, so that would be a possible reason for the Allies to destroy them.

Re: Lighthouses
 

A very good reason indeed , but why so late , war is raging for almost 5 years already did they dont noticed the lighthouses before ??,

It sounds a bit like
"but not it seems many Americans. Perhaps they were frustrated at the lack of targets?"

Or sinking of Cap-arcona in April 45

Rémi

Re: Lighthouses
 

Nick,

I dont remember to hv seen any action, from one side or the other, against lighthouses , hv you ??

Rémi

Re: Lighthouses
 

Yes, the Germans attacked British light ships in the Battle of Britain, I think.

Re: Lighthouses
 

You are right for the light-ships nd the beacons , but the fixed lights ?? A bit like poisonning the wells..

Anyone-else ??

Rémi

Re: Lighthouses
 

Rémi,

Info from A separate Little War by Andrew D. Bird.

The introduction of attacks on lighthouses was only agreed by the Admiralty and the exiled Norwegian government in February 1945, so we have a political aspect here. Attacks were carried out from 11 to 31 March with the destruction of 15 lighthouses. These attacks did help in keeping seom ships conatained in fjords but overall the effects of these attacks however was difficult to detect as the lengthening daylight made it easier for German coastal convoys to sail along the coast and the attacks were cancelled after 31 March.

Regards,

Mark

Re: Lighthouses
 

Many thks Mark,

Rémi

Re: Lighthouses
 

The lighthouse of Vlieland, one of the Dutch Frisian islands, was attacked at June 2nd, 1944. See http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirk_br...57603975636228

Jaap

Re: Lighthouses
 

An old thread, but what the hell.

Mark McShane writes: "Attacks were carried out from 11 to 31 March with the destruction of 15 lighthouses." Do you by any chance have the names of these lighthouses, or maybe geographic locations?

By the way I know that Bell Rock lighthouse, just east of the Firth of Tay in Scotland, was attacked many times.

Other lighthouses in the UK that also got attacked are: Kinnaird Head, Pentland Skerries, Stroma, Out Skerries, Auskerry and Fair Isle North and South

http://www.bellrock.org.uk/lighthous..._accidents.htm

Re: Lighthouses
 

Likewise the lighthouse on the Needles, Isle of Wight by IV/SKG 10

Re: Lighthouses
 

That is some brilliant military planning. Not to mention the Norwegian government in exile agreeing to blow them up just before the end of the war.

Re: Lighthouses
 

I don't think the source states when the request was first made to attack the lighthouses. It could well have been earlier in the winter and simply taken a long time to get political clearance.

Earlier in the war the RAF did not have the means to close down German supply lines from Norway: only once they achieved this capability would it be worth even considering attacking secondary targets that could fairly easily be repaired. As the number of ships shrank, the Germans put more effort into protecting what remained, and travelling only at night. Only then would it be worth closing down the lighthouses - which may after have had a small secondary purpose of assisting RAF navigation.