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A DD Valentine tank was lost in this area during rehearsals for the Normandy D-day landings, possibly due to failure of the flotation skirt or the propeller. The site was surveyed in 1985, at a general depth of 8 to 9 metres at low water, at NGR NJ 06511 67739. The tank stood approximately 2 metres high and was full of silt. It was recorded in 2004 at NGR NJ 06538 68171. In searching for a location to rehearse the Normandy landings, it was found that the coastline of the Moray Firth, around Forres and Nairn on the South, and the Dornoch Firth at Inver were very similar to the Normandy coastline where the landings were to take place. During the latter part of 1943, sections of these two coastlines were cleared of their civilian population, and the areas taken over by the men of the 3rd Assault Division. Assault landings and live firing practices were carried out, including the use of DD Valentine amphibious tanks. The last full scale exercise for the 3rd Division was held on the night of 17th March 1944 when the Division began to move south for the real thing. The DD Valentine was created by Valentine Mk V, IX and Mk XI tanks being made 'amphibious' by the use of Nicholas Straussler's 'Duplex Drive'. 625 Valentines were converted by Metro-Cammell, delivered in 1943-1944. Although a number of tanks were lost, only one man is known to have died during the exercises. It is thought that up to 8 tanks may have been lost, however exact figures have never been made public due to the secrecy that the surround the exercises. To date, 3 tanks have been located in the Moray Firth area, two off the coast of Burghead (NJ06NE0002 and NJ06NE0003) and one off the coast of Culbin (NJ06NW0002). The DD Valentine was replaced by the more suitable DD Sherman in the D-Day landings of June 1944. On D-Day, the 3rd Assault Division and the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), who had also practiced on the Moray Firth, landed on Sword Beach under the banner of the 27th Armoured Brigade.
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Moray
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NJ06NE0002 - DD VALENTINE TANK, BURGHEAD BAY