Environmental Impact - Sunken Wrecks

Valentine Tanks

Valentine Tank with flotation skirt raised

The Moray Firth has some very unusual sunken wrecks - Valentine Tanks which were lost during practices and rehearsals for the D-Day Landings in Normandy.

At the time the “amphibious tank” was a closely guarded secret and secret trials were carried out on beaches that resembled the ones Normandy at Findhorn in Moray.

The Valentine’s ability to cross rivers and to land on beaches from landing craft positioned offshore to take the enemy by surprise was appealing to the Army so the trials were undertaken.

Valentine tanks landing on a beach
with flotation skirts lowered

Needless to say there were casualties; some didn’t float and sank immediately, some didn’t drive the propeller and foundered in rough seas.

Losses totalled around eight at Findhorn. Due to secrecy at the time of their loss the positions of them all have never been recorded and only two have been found at Findhorn.

One life was lost at Findhorn and the tank off Findhorn Bay estuary is considered a war grave.

The other tank lies in Burghead Bay.