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Author POV – A Coverup in Exercise Tiger?Richard T. Bass | October 15, 2008 | 8 comments | Print | E-mail
The focal point of dispute is the number of casualties sustained. Officially, 749 were killed and missing in action. This figure is based upon a hasty assessment made only hours after a seaborne convoy was attacked in the English Channel by German E-Boats, and it is a number that even today U.S. military sources rigidly maintain is correct. But there is evidence to the contrary that not only is the death toll much higher, but documents have been altered or rewritten to maintain that official figure. This includes the records of burials for casualties that simply doesn’t equate with testimony from witnesses who carried bodies from an English seaport to the cemetery. It isn’t just slipshod or careless record keeping: examination of service numbers and names reveal that some service numbers weren’t even issued. Names don’t match numbers. Some listed as not being buried in England are later shown to have been buried in the United States, some with dates of death on D-Day, June 6, 1944. British witnesses recall seeing bodies of American servicemen on railroad freight cars in August 1944 close to the exercise area, some two years before any deceased soldiers were repatriated to the United States. Another contentious issue is the number of Allied ships sunk that night. Official reports state that two Tank Landing Ships were torpedoed and sunk, but this is contested by the German E-Boat operational logs which claim three large ships, one smaller craft and a destroyer, claims corroborated by individual craft of the attacking formations. The mystery of why the Americans’ convoy’s lone escort ship failed initially to react positively to the attack may be answered in the U.S. Navy’s own Operation Order. Here the threat of just such an attack is over-emphasized, leading to the conclusion that it was expected. Planners of Exercise Tiger were aware of an identical situation scheduled for a later D-Day rehearsal when an Allied shipping convoy would be attacked by “enemy” small craft to test their reaction and defence efficiency, utilizing high speed gunboats of the Free French Navy based close to the exercise area. The head of British national security had secret meetings with high level Navy planners of Exercise Tiger, and at that time he was tasked with ensuring that German agents under British control in England were believed by their masters in Nazi Germany. This was essential as they would feed false reports prior to D-Day as part of the great deception plan, and their intelligence had to appear trustworthy and truthful. It was a short step to pass true information about Exercise Tiger to convince Germany their future transmissions would also be truthful. My questions: Was the cover-up that followed to distort the true loss of life? Was the man in charge of Exercise Tiger, Rear Admiral Don P. Moon, aware of the cover-up and about to tell the truth? He died August 5, 1944, in what was termed a suicide due to battle fatigue. Post a comment below to offer your answers to these questions. After two weeks, we’ll post the author’s own POV on the answers. Help Armchair General by bookmarking to
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For decades debate, argument and allegations of an official military cover-up have revolved around the most infamous and disastrous D-Day rehearsal for American troops in World War II – Exercise Tiger, held at the end of April 1944. Richard T. Bass explores the controversy in a 
8 Comments to “Author POV – A Coverup in Exercise Tiger?”
This is always a very sad,disappointing incident to go over,akin to
the Indianappolis in 1945..I have known the accepted basic facts
for many years & hope that the possible much larger loss of life is
not true…I think that the Germans might be mistaken on the
number of ships sunk(i.e the inflated scores claimed by
fighter/bomber crews in both theaters)because of the heat of
battle. The other points are open to speculation.
By kevin cummins on Oct 22, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Why would such great lengths be taken to cover up the actual
number of casualties? I suppose that officials were afraid of
exposing the vulnerability of the landing troops, but the incident,
as reported, certainly did that…even with understated casualties.
By Peter Culos on Oct 31, 2008 at 8:52 am
My father in law was a Sgt and tank commander on Exercise Tiger and
it was common knowledge among his battalion that the debacle at
Slapton
Sands was indeed so painful that all to this day have always thought
that the supreme command chose to keep the issue close hold to avoid
damage to the war effort. Only unlike today these men did not dwell on
whether there was a so called cover up but felt it made tragic but good
sense not to make it public for the sake of not damaging the war effort.
Today there is a wave of revisionist muckraking to rewrite history when
NOT one of the writers ever served a day in combat. Small wonder we
cannot win wars anymore. Bill McDonald Colonel USAF ret
By Bill McDonald on Oct 31, 2008 at 10:35 pm
As the author of “Exercise Tiger” I would respond to my own
question concerning Admiral Moon. I believe it is highly likely
that he did commit suicide, as do his surviving family members,
not as a result of stress of command but for the simple reason he
could bear the guilt of the failed rehearsal no longer. I am
probably more aware of cover-ups than most having worked in
that shadowy world connected with armed combat and feel well
qualified to state there is still a continuing cloak of secrecy drawn
over this tragic event.
Richard T. Bass
By Richard T Bass on Nov 5, 2008 at 2:44 pm
This sad incident received quite a lot or press coverage here in
the UK some few years ago. This might have been either as a
result of the anniversary of the event, or the fact that a Sherman
tank thought to have been off one of the vessels sunk was
recovered from the sea( I believe it has been restored as a fixed
monument to the event). I seem to recall that a Royal Navy
warship was also ordered to provide an escort but had
mechanical problems and could not set leave harbour.
More than that I cannot add, I am afraid.
By shagbat on Nov 7, 2008 at 7:34 am
I am currently researching and writing a novel about the
debacle at Slapton Sands, on 27/28 April 1944. Any information
about that event, or the six months leading up to it, and the sub-
sequent landings at Normandy on 6 June, that anyone would
care to share would be appreciated. Everything will be held in
the strictest of confidence.
R/Glenn M. Isaacs
By Glenn M. Isaacs on Nov 13, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Would like to make contact with one of your commenters – Glenn M. Isaacs who responded on November 13th 2008 to the article on Exercise Tiger.
Would be happy for you to pass him my email address please.
Thankyou,
Richard
By Richard T. Bass on Dec 7, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Mr. Bass,
Extremely pleased to see your response, and I would like to
pursue this event even further. I just ordered you book and I
am looking forward to receiving it.
You may contact me at by e:mail ike1937@bellsouth.net.
Best Regards,
Glenn M. Isaacs
By Glenn M. Isaacs on Jan 8, 2009 at 9:22 pm