As the result of a number of requests from researchers and to mark the unveiling of the Arromanches monument to Allan Beckett on the 65th Anniversary of D Day, various items from the Beckett Rankine archives are made available here for private research and educational purposes. The material is copyright and is not to be used for any commercial use without prior written consent from Beckett Rankine Ltd. 

1) Development of the Kite Anchor for Mulberry Harbour – Lecture Notes
By Allan Harry Beckett:

The notes below were prepared by Allan Beckett for use in a presentation of his design for the Kite anchor. The note explains the design process whereby he developed the exceptional holding power of the Kite anchor.

"To moor the Whale bridges and keep them straight in any weather required a mooring to each pontoon capable of withstanding a pull of 20 tons. To give a reasonable margin of safety some form of anchor with a holding power of 30 tons was necessary. To lay these anchors quickly over the beaches dictated that they should be light weight and fairly easily handled in small craft capable of operating in...

Click here for the rest of the article.  

2) Allan Beckett, the Kite Anchor and Mulberry Harbour (PDF, 0.5MB)

This information leaflet was produced by Beckett Rankine for the 6th June 2009  when the monument to Allan Beckett in Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy was unveiled. The leaflet is in both English and French. 

Click here to download. 

3) Some Aspects of the Design of Flexible Bridging, Including 'Whale' Floating Roadways". (PDF, 1.6MB)

A paper by Allan Beckett forming part of a series called "The Engineer at War".  Originally published by the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1948.

In this paper Allan discusses the design of the flexible bridging and pontoons forming the 'Whale' piers at Mulberry.  

4) A harbour called Mulberry. (PDF, 6MB)

Click here to download. 

5) The NCE 50th anniversary Mulberry Harbour special issue

6) Allan Beckett's record of wartime service. (PDF, 2MB)

Written in 1991 this document includes Allan's first hand recollections of the design and construction of Mulberry Harbour.

7) A Mulberry Harbour CDROM is available from:

www.mulberryharbour.com

This CD contains a wealth of information on the engineering aspects of the Mulberry Harbours and includes CAD annimations of the principal equipment together with contemporary video clips and technical drawings. The CD was produced with Beckett Rankine's assistance for the 60th anniversary of D Day.