Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

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CommanderChuff
Seaman
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:56 am

Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

Postby CommanderChuff » Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:21 am

Dear CFV members,
This is an introduction to my model railway layout and some models which I have built over the years.

I have a deep and passionate interest in the D-Day project, Dunkirk and the naval forces which operated out of Folkestone harbour over the 1900-1945 period.

For a WW2 scenario on the layout I have researched and outlined the following history of naval forces. I would like to identify the flotilla of HDML's which made up the naval component of Operation Glimmer to be used as models for the harbour. From the excellent websites of CFV, Coastal Forces, Combined Ops, HMS Medusa and others I have determined that there were six HDMLs on each of the ops Taxable and Glimmer, and I am assuming that these were from the 149th ML Flotilla (Special Operations) based at Newhaven. The question is which boats were assigned to Op Glimmer and which sailed from Folkestone in support of the 6 Stirling's from 219 Gold Coast squadron. The Special Task Force B was commanded by Lieutenant Commander W. M. Rankin. The US based Military Naval History website has the Neptune plan and gives the timings of the operation as 03:30 with 6 HDML's, and the website Codenames notes that this force returned to port by 13:00 on the 6th June.

From the HMS Medusa archives the boats in 149th Special Ops flotilla are 12 HDML, namely, ML1295, ML1309, ML1383, ML1387, ML1389, ML1391, ML1392, ML1393, ML1407, ML1409, ML1421, ML1422, but none are identified as being in the Operation Glimmer.

Of these 12 boats there are 8 with other assignments which have been recorded as:
lane markers for American airborne flights - 1295, 1309.
lane markers for Gold beach - 1391, 1392.
lane markers for Juno beach - 1393, 1407.
lane markers for Utah beach - 1421, 1422.
Operation Bigdrum, 1309.

The picture is unclear and any help of guidance to useful sources would be most welcome,

With Thanks, David
RMSQueenMary Model B small.jpg
RMSQueenMary Model B small.jpg (143.28 KiB) Viewed 27694 times
Model Overlord Militarytrain 7a June2016 TN.jpg
Model RailArty 12inHow 10 Oct2012 TN.JPG
Model Railarty 12inHow 3 Oct2012.jpg
Model Railarty 12inHow 3 Oct2012.jpg (211.94 KiB) Viewed 27694 times
Model FHBR SecondTrain FFF P1010126 tn.jpg
Model FHBR SecondTrain FFF P1010126 tn.jpg (157.27 KiB) Viewed 27694 times
Model FHBR SouthQuay Nov2017 P1000885 TN.jpg
Model FHBR SouthQuay Nov2017 P1000885 TN.jpg (227.77 KiB) Viewed 27694 times

David Carter
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 93
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:06 pm

Re: Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

Postby David Carter » Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:27 pm

Hello David

Welcome to our website. I was admiring your model railway layout, I'm also a member of a model engineering society, so have an interest in these things. Unfortunately our best historian passed away last year, but I hope someone with better knowledge than me can help you. When it comes to making models of the ships, you might like to talk to Christian Capurro, who has made many superb models of coastal forces boats. You can find examples of his work, both on here and on his Facebook page.

Regards

David Carter (Secretary)

Peter
Able Seaman Radar
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

Postby Peter » Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:41 pm

Hi David
From a cold and snowy morning in Romford ( as they say just up the line from you at Felixstowe ) , thanks for the showing of your model railway lay out ,it looks very impressive. It was also pleasing to read of your interest in Coastal Forces ML's & HDML's
I attaché with some joy the tribute in Len Reynolds book -" Home Waters MTB's & MGB's " to those who served on ML's . Len was the last President of the CFVA whom I knew well , and can appreciate his sincere comment .
Also attached copy of the painting ML 478 by our CFVA Artist Harold Garland in the Malta surroundings .
Greetings from Peter
The attachment Tribute to ML's.jpg is no longer available
Tribute to ML's.jpg

Peter
Able Seaman Radar
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

Postby Peter » Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:54 pm

Dear David
The attachment ML 470 a painting by Harold garland CFVA Artist
Cheers
Peter
Attachments
ML 478 Leaving Malta.jpg

Chrismc
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:54 am

Re: Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

Postby Chrismc » Tue Apr 10, 2018 2:43 am

I have tried several ways to find more on Glimmer.
Mary Barbier’s book DDay Deception identifies my father’s ML 1412. They were MID as services in patrol and escort. Most other boats were MID for direct involvement with the landings force.

There are other dec 19 1944 MIDs for HDMI 1407, 1392, 1383, 1391, 1415, 1422, 1409, 1416, 1387, 1031, 1049, 1007, 1158, and RML511

Not sure if that helps!

Chrismc
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:54 am

Re: Folkestone Harbour - A Model Railway Adventure

Postby Chrismc » Tue Apr 10, 2018 3:09 am

I have tried several ways to find more on Glimmer.
Mary Barbier’s book DDay Deception identifies my father’s ML 1412. They were MID as services in patrol and escort. Most other boats were MID for direct involvement with the landings force.

There are other dec 19 1944 MIDs for HDMI 1407, 1392, 1383, 1391, 1415, 1422, 1409, 1416, 1387, 1031, 1049, 1007, 1158, and RML511

Not sure if that helps!

In the log at medusa trust 1383, 1391, 1407, 1422 are all Channel markers do the landing, so my sleuthing May mean nothing!


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