World War Two, D-Day Mulberry Harbour, Langstone By Drone 4K

Langstone Harbour lie the remains of a large Phoenix Caisson that was abandoned here in 1944. This caisson developed a crack during construction and would not have survived the journey to France. Instead, it was towed to its present location and abandoned.
Hayling Island and Langstone Harbour were used as a site for the construction of components of the Mulberry Harbours. These artificial harbours were created by the Allies to enable them to land their forces in Normandy more rapidly than could be done directly onto the beaches.
A key part of the Mulberry Harbours was the outer breakwater. To create the breakwater, old ships and concrete Phoenix caissons were sunk in lines to create the breakwater. The Phoenixes were large concrete structures, with hollow chambers inside. They could be floated in order to move them, but when water was let into the internal chambers they would sink onto the sea bottom.
Phoenixes were constructed on the coast of Hayling Island, on the stretch of beach at the harbour entrance. Once built, the Phoenixes were sunk nearby until they were needed. One of the Phoenixes developed a fault and could not be used: it remains there to this day, on a sandbank in Langstone Harbour.
Langstone Harbour was also used as a base for many landing craft and barges before D-Day.