The Rhino Ferry and the Mulberry Harbors — The Floating Lifeline of D-Day

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in history. While images of troops storming the beaches and tanks rolling through the surf dominate our memories of D-Day, many of the machines that made this invasion successful operated quietly offshore. One of the most crucial but often overlooked among them was the Rhino Ferry—a floating steel platform that played a vital role in sustaining the invasion and paving the way to victory.

Rhino Ferries were constructed from modular steel pontoons, powered by outboard engines or small tugs, and used to transport tanks, trucks, artillery, ammunition, fuel, and other vital cargo from transport ships directly onto the Normandy beaches. Unlike traditional landing craft, these barges could be easily assembled, scaled to size, and modified in the field. Their flat, stable decks and low drafts made them ideal for operating in shallow, surf-heavy waters, even while under enemy fire.

But the Rhino Ferry didn’t operate in isolation. It was an integral part of a much larger innovation: the Mulberry Harbors. These were prefabricated, portable harbors towed across the English Channel and assembled off the coast of Normandy to create fully operational ports in areas where the Allies had no access to established harbors. The Mulberries consisted of massive concrete breakwaters, sunken blockships to form protective walls, floating roadways, and pierheads—and at the heart of the system were the Rhino Ferries, constantly ferrying equipment and supplies from ship to shore.

Two Mulberry Harbors were constructed: Mulberry A at Omaha Beach in the American sector and Mulberry B at Gold Beach in the British sector. A severe storm on June 19 destroyed Mulberry A, but Mulberry B continued operating for over ten months. Through it, the Allies offloaded over 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles, and 4 million tons of supplies—an astounding logistical achievement that was only possible with the steady, unglamorous service of the Rhino Ferries.

Crews operating these ferries faced incredible challenges. They navigated choppy, dangerous waters filled with wreckage, braved enemy fire, and performed their duties with little recognition. Many worked long, exhausting shifts with limited protection, knowing that their cargo—be it ammunition, fuel, or fresh troops—was essential to the Allied advance. Their task lacked the drama of front-line combat, but it was no less vital to the war effort.

In the end, D-Day was won not only by the men who fought their way up the beaches but also by those who kept the lifelines open. The Rhino Ferry exemplifies the unsung heroes of the invasion—the engineers, sailors, and logisticians whose quiet contributions enabled the spectacular success of Operation Overlord. These humble platforms delivered more than just cargo—they delivered the tools of victory.

Though few Rhino Ferries survive today, their legacy remains a powerful reminder that logistics wins wars. In every photograph of a Sherman tank rolling onto French soil or a jeep driving off a barge, there's an untold story of a steel raft bobbing in the surf, a crew working tirelessly, and history being made one load at a time.