The Portland Mulberry Harbour Phoenix Units are two reinforced concrete caissons, built as part of the artificial

Mulberry harbour The Mulberry harbours were two temporary portable harbours developed by the Admiralty (United Kingdom), British Admiralty and War Office during the Second World War to facilitate the rapid offloading of cargo onto beaches during the Allies of ...

s that were assembled as part of the follow-up to the Normandy landings during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Out of a total of 213 (212 floated) produced units, two units still remain at the

Isle of Portland The Isle of Portland is a tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. The southern tip, Portland Bill, lies south of the resort of Weymouth, Dorset, Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A barrier ...

, in

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

, southern

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. They are located at

Portland Harbour Portland Harbour is beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its surface area made it the largest human-made harbour in the world, and it remains ...

, close to Queen's Pier. The two units became Grade II Listed in 1993.

History

When planning the invasion of France the allies knew they needed to supply the troops who were ashore. The only reliable method of landing resources was through a major port. As the German army held all of France's harbours, the solution was the Mulberry harbours. A building program followed, creating two operational harbours within two weeks. The Mulberry harbours were considered a success in their supporting role of Allied troops. Following the war, ten units were towed to Portland Harbour. Eight of these were later sent to the Netherlands to block breaches in the dykes after the great storm of 31 January 1953. The two units left behind are now used as a wind break, helping ships berth at Queen's Pier. In 2017, six statues were installed on the tops of the units, representing two British Sailors, two American GIs and two Dock workers.

References

{{Isle of Portland Isle of Portland Jurassic Coast Military installations established in 1944 Grade II listed buildings in Dorset 1944 establishments in England World War II sites in England