As a preparation for the D-Day Invasion of Normandy,the allied force conducted a dress rehearsal codename exercise tiger.
In April 1944 they started landing on slapton sands in Devon, England as part of the rehearsal. The place was selected because of its similarity to the beaches Normandy .excercise tiger aimed to provide the American force with a realistic experience of the battle.
The operation included large tank landing ships,fully loading equipment along with british escort vessels. To familiarize the troops to naval bombardment, live ammunition from cruisers and destroyers was included in the excercise.
However, due to delays and communication problems, the rehearsal resulted in 749 deaths and hundreds of injured soldiers.other sources counted 946 American servicemen were killed from the exercise.
While some of the soldiers were killed from friendly fire, many died from the german e-boats attack in the lyme bay. Others who jumped from wrecked landing ships either drowned or died of hypothermia. Many of those who did not survive were not trained on the use of life vest and drowned still wearing their heavy combat gear.
Over the concerns of potentialleaks prior to D-day, the incident was covered up and was only reported afterward.
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