Quote:
Originally Posted by Legbreaker
Given the English channel is a bit of a tight area to begin with, I'm guessing that the Allies probably couldn't have fit more vessels in there even if they'd wanted to.
Okinawa on the other hand, being an island and not opposite another entire country, allowed the fleet to spread out a bit more, and slot in a few more ships here and there too. It's probably also worth noting that nearly EVERYTHING had to be carried in the fleet where as on D-Day, vessels could ferry several loads from the UK in a day (all going well).
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In fact D-day is only part of the much bigger operation overlord and had involved more than 1.4 million men by mid-july and 2 million by the end of the battle on august 21 (land troops only). On the first day 160.000 men had landed, on the next day they were more than 300.000. At Okinawa, they were 60.000 and a little over 180.000 when the battle ended.
The invasion fleet on D-day was just under 7000 ships and no aircraft carriers. Why would you risk them when the biggest and only unsinkable aircraft carrier was just at hand (UK)?
Both incredible military achievements which can hardly be compared except by the bravery common to these men and to those facing them.