Not for Fishers project but....
Their Finest Hour Volume 2 (Winston Churchill)
I have always been fascinated by amphibious warfare, and the idea of using tanks to run ashore from specially- constructed landing craft on beaches where they were not expected had long been in my mind. Ten days before I joined Mr. Lloyd George’s Government as Minister of Munitions on July 17, 1917, I had prepared without expert assistance, a scheme for the capture of the two Frisian islands of Borkum and Sylt. The object was to secure an overseas base for flotillas and cruisers and for such air forces as were available in those days, in order to force the naval fighting, in which we had a great numerical superiority, and establishing close blockade relieve the pressure of the U-boat war, then at its height, against our Atlantic supply-line and the movement of the American armies to France. Mr Lloyd George was impressed with the plan, and had it specially printed for the Admiralty and the War Cabinet.
It contained the following paragraph, 22C, which has never yet seen the light of day.
The landing of the troops upon the island (of Borkum or Sylt) under cover of the guns of the Fleet (should be) aided by gas and smoke from torpedo-proof transports by means of bullet-proof lighters. Approximately one hundred should be provided for landing a division. In addition a number – say fifty- tank landing lighters should be provided, each carrying a tank or tanks (and) fitted for wire cutting in its bow. By means of a drawbridge of shelving bow (the tanks) would land under (their) own power, and prevent the infantry from being held up by wire when attacking the gorges of the forts and batteries. This is a new feature, and removes one of the very great previous difficulties, namely, the rapid landing of (our) field artillery to cut wire.
And further, paragraph 27:
There is always the danger of the enemy getting wind of our intentions and reinforcing his garrison with good troops beforehand, at any rate so far at Borkum, about which he must always be very sensitive, is concerned. On the other hand, the landing could be affected under the shields of lighters, proof against machine gun bullets, and too numerous to be seriously affected by heavy gunfire (i.e. the fire of heavy guns); and tanks employed in even larger numbers than are here suggested, especially the quick moving tank and lighter varieties, would operate in an area where no preparations could have been made to receive them. These may be thought new and important favourable considerations.
In this paper also I had an alternative plan for making an artificial island in the shallow waters of the Horn Reef (to the northward).
Para 30. One of the methods suggested for investigation is as follows: A number of flat bottomed barges of caissons, made not of steel but of concrete, should be prepared in the Humber, at Harwich, and in the Wash, the Medway, and in Thames. These structures would be adapted to the depths in which they were to be sunk, according to a general plan. They would float when empty of water, and thus could be towed across to the site of the artificial island. On arrival at the boys marking the island seacocks would be opened and they would settle down on the bottom. They would subsequently be gradually filled with sand, as opportunity served, by suction dredgers. These structures would range in size from 50’ x 40’ x 20’ to 120’ x 80’ x 40’. By this means a torpedo and weatherproof harbour, like an atoll, would be created in the open sea, with regular pens for the destroyers and submarines and alighting platforms for aeroplanes.
This project, if feasible, is capable of great elaboration, and it might be applied in various places. Concrete vessels can perhaps be made to carry a complete heavy gun turret, and these, on the admission of water to their outer chambers, would sit on the sea floor, like the Solent Forts, at the desired points. Other sinkable structures could be made to contain stores rooms, oil tanks or living chambers. It is not possible, without an expert enquiry, to do ore here than indicate the possibilities, which embrace nothing less than the creation, transportation in pieces, assemblement and posing of an artificial island and destroyer base.
Such a scheme, if found mechanically sound, avoids the need of employing troops and all the risks of storming a fortified island. It could be applied as a surprise, for although the construction of these concrete vessels would probably be known in Germany, the natural conclusion would be that they were intended for an attempt to block yup the river mouths, which indeed is an idea not to be excluded. Thus until the island or system of breakwaters actually begins to grow the enemy would not penetrate the design.
A year’s preparation would however be required.
