Knouterer wrote:Before the Germans could have made any use of Folkestone, they would first have to take it, which would be a job in itself. The garrison of Sub-area A.4 (Folkestone, Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Hythe) was at least 6,000 strong - apart from troops of the 1st (London) Division in the vicinity - mostly consisting of Royal Engineer (training) units, who had had plenty of time to work on the defences. Up on the cliffs, there were three coast defence batteries with in total eight 6 inch and 5.5 inch guns (see modern picture for positions).
Quite useless duing the hours of darkness (of which there are around nine hours at that time of year, and vulnerable to being attacked by landed troops from the rear. Both troops and guns are also vulnerable to night bombing (HE + Incendiary - guided by Knickebein); serving both as a distraction and as sound-cover.
Blockship SS Umvoti (Details and larger picture on link)
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?118524
Just how much of SS Umvoti would be high and dry at low tide?
Low tide outside the harbour entrance - looks like sand/mud to me!
Ships of that period used built-in equipment (called derricks) lo load/unload where the harbour didn't possess proper cranes - also when transferring cargo into barges - known as 'lighters'.steverodgers801 wrote:To unload that kind of equipment if it is not available seems a catch 22.