Exercise Tiger was conceived as part of the rehearsals for the invasion of Europe by the allied forces in 1944. The plan was for the invasion to take place on the Normandy beaches, and it was going to be important to make sure that all of the troops, the cross-channel transport, naval support and logistical strategies were tested and practiced before committing to such an ambitious strategy.
In the night of 27/28th April, 1944, a large convoy of ships assembled in Lyme Bay to practice landing on the beach at Slapton sands, on the western side of the bay. This village had been cleared of civilians some time before and secrecy surrounded all activities there.
As a part of this convoy, nine LST's (Landing Ships - Tank) were present. These large ships would land on secured beaches and allow vehicles like tanks, trucks and jeeps to offload to support an advancing army. They were a vital part of supporting any invasion force.
They were discovered early in the morning of 28th April by a flotilla of German "schnellboots" or motorised torpedo boats. These fast attack craft fired their torpedoes into the convoy and very quickly sank LST 531. LST 501 broke in two pieces, the stern sinking quickly and the bow remaining afloat.
Over 630 servicemen lost their lives that night, and the true number is most likely in excess of 700. The ships today lie on the seabed in Lyme Bay in a depth of 50m.
