The Science of D-Day

Seventy years ago, one of history’s most significant amphibious operations was launched from England’s southern coast. In just a few hours, 7,000 ships had deployed 156,000 soldiers onto the Normandy beaches. This operation altered the war’s trajectory and marked the first use of groundbreaking scientific and engineering innovations. In this program, engineer Rob Bell delves into the mechanics that made this extraordinary invasion feasible, exploring everything from massive troop-carrying gliders to amphibious tanks. It highlights how necessity drove invention, though not all innovations succeeded, sometimes with catastrophic results. We uncover the reasons behind these outcomes. This is the science behind D-Day.