Sea Lion

a novel by Steve Barrett

	Newhaven Fort Under Attack

Junkers Ju. 87 dive-bombers of Klaus Lunden's Stukageschwader 2 attack Newhaven Fort prior to the S-Day assault. This remarkable photograph captures the leading "Stuka" just after releasing the bomb which knocked out the gun just visible through the smoke pall.

Many raids such as this were aimed at coastal fortifications. Newhaven was a prime target for the Sea Lion assault forces and the fort had to be neutralised if the troops attacking the harbour and the adjacent beach at Cuckmere Haven were to have any chance of success.

The crew of this "Stuka" were a little too daring in their low-level attack though - the blast from their bomb caused them to crash into the harbour waters next to the fort and both pilot and gunner were killed. Another casualty of the same bomb was the photographer, who was severely wounded by the blast. Miraculously, his camera and film survived intact.

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Operation Sea Lion Virtual Museum.

[Photograph by the author using contemporary picture of Newhaven Fort, Airfix 1/48 scale Ju. 87 model and ArcSoft PhotoStudio 2.0]
Web site, photograph and novel all copyright 2001 Steve Barrett