Assault sweeping repeatedly preceded amphibious operations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, and southern France. Each landing needed channels opened before vulnerable transports and landing craft could approach. Motor torpedo boats were also tried as high-speed paravane towboats during the Dunkirk evacuation. The experiment appears to have damaged at least one boat, showing the physical penalties of forcing a fast attack craft into a specialist sweeping role. Sustained amphibious campaigning required dedicated mine-warfare capacity.
Notable Point · 57:26-57:54
Assault minesweeping followed every major landing
Sweeping ahead of landings continued from North Africa through Normandy and southern France, while a Dunkirk experiment showed the danger of towing paravanes from fast MTBs.