egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Share Posted 1 May , 2017 These pictures show the Zeebrügge mole from the attackers point of view. Here is the view as has been witnessed by the men of HMS Vindictive when the attack begun. The Zeebrugge mole today is a part of the inner harbour mole. From the former mole towards todays outer moles vast streches of landfill for a container terminal had been constructed. The point where Vindictive berthed is dry land today. Old Zeebrügge mole is marked by arrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 This is the only remnant from the old mole that streched in form of an arc until reaching the beach. Here you can see the new landfill that is now used for containers. Vindictive berthed right at the container placements, while the white liner seen in this picture berthes on the opposite side where the German torpedoboats berthed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 Coming closer, Vindictive turns to starboard, the other ships that supposed to be scuttled and HMS Thetis sail further straight on and they will turn to starboard after passing the mole head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 The original mole head with lighthouse As can be seen the old mole dissapears today after some 250 meters into the new concrete placements for the container terminal Vindictive berthed approximately where the CMC CGM container can be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 The original mole today ends where the white hut sits on top of the old walkway Left located oil tank is already new landfill as is the right side container terminal. All one can see to the right side of mole head was then high seas. This view from Thetis or Intrepid bridge circumnavigating the mole head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 All you can see behind the mole was high seas then and was Vindictivs place of action Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 Today's end of the original mole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 View from inner harbour towards the open waters. As can be seen the harbour limits have been expanded far beyond old Zeebrügge mole. For orientation a Wikipedia source image Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johntanner Posted 1 May , 2017 Share Posted 1 May , 2017 Another excellent thread, Egbert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 1 May , 2017 Share Posted 1 May , 2017 Thank you Egbert - most interesting! sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 1 May , 2017 Share Posted 1 May , 2017 Thank you, Egbert. Best photo record of the remaining parts of the old Mole that I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 2 May , 2017 Share Posted 2 May , 2017 Egbert Many thanks for the excellent gallery and explanation above These plans from the IWM's collection may also be of interest http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205133255 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205315085 .......................................................................................... Remembering those who died in 1918 and in 1987 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 2 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2017 (edited) Thanx all for the comments. @Michael- excellent finds. From the maps one can clearly see that only the small mole head piece survived the harbour expansions. It is exactly the section with the three 10.5cm and the two 8.8 cm batteries (second link). My correction regarding my pictures 4+5 are- that the concrete platform where the huge white oil tank is situated is also indeed an original remnant of the old mole section, except that the high walled section has been dismantled. Edited 2 May , 2017 by egbert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartH Posted 2 May , 2017 Share Posted 2 May , 2017 Nice photos, I was lucky enough to be there for the 75th Anniversary before the mole was "reduced", and you could still see the damage from the action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 2 May , 2017 Share Posted 2 May , 2017 Thanks for all of these Egbert. I've been familiar with the name Zeebrugge since I was a very small boy and my grandmother used to take me across the Mersey to New Brighton in either the Royal Iris or the Royal Daffodil, the replacements for the original ferries that had distinguished themselves at the mole. I remember going to the Zeebrugge memorial service out in the bay on St Georges day. I'd never seen what the site now looks like either. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 9 May , 2017 Afterburner: THEN NOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 July , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 July , 2017 Some more, showing the place where HMS Vindictive stopped. Now a container terminal then North Sea waters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 July , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 July , 2017 Same place with Vindictive bow view: Then And one more from the mole fighting at HMS Vindictive location. Then: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 23 July , 2018 Author Share Posted 23 July , 2018 Modern Goggle aerial view of where the old mole was situated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 23 July , 2018 Author Share Posted 23 July , 2018 David Isby has posted an aerial in his new article about Special Ops, see here I have modified the aerial by overlaying with today's aerial map. and it looks like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerchantOldSalt Posted 23 July , 2018 Share Posted 23 July , 2018 Different aspect of Zeebrugge mole! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 23 July , 2018 Author Share Posted 23 July , 2018 Holy mole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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