The British Secret Beaches: The 'Hobart's Funnies'

Major General Percy Hobart designed specialized tanks for D-Day that were unlike anything the Germans had ever seen. There were 'Duplex Drive' (DD) swimming tanks with inflatable canvas screens, 'Crab' flail tanks that cleared minefields with chains that detonated mines ahead of them, 'Bobbin' tanks that unrolled a canvas mat over soft ground or seawalls, 'ARK' (Armoured Ramp Carrier) tanks that drove up to obstacles and extended a bridge, and 'Crocodile' flame-throwing tanks. These tanks were so unique that Churchill demanded they be included in the invasion plan. The Flail tanks cleared a combined 90% of their assigned mines on Sword Beach.