Chapters 27-30 Summary and Analysis

"'Fairly Stuffed with Gadgets': The British Opening Moves" begins the story of the British/ Canadian invasions. Two midget submarines, X20 and X23, cross the Channel two days early to be on target off Sword and Juno beaches to guide ashore tanks modified to clear mines, fill ditches, bridge larger gaps, blast holes in blockhouses, hurl pressurized flaming jets, provide traction in sand, and drag obstacles aside. Collectively, they are "Hobart's Funnies," named for the imaginative Maj. Gen. Percy Hobart. The British count heavily on these specialized tanks and are put off when Americans refuse to use them. Operating under the menacing code name "Gambit" ("throwing away the opening pawns"), the subs sit on the bottom except to check for coded word that the invasion is on. Crews grumble at the June 5 delay and at surfacing at 0500 in miserable weather...