How Long Did It Take to Sail From England to Dunkirk?

Sailing from England to Dunkirk was a crucial part of World War II history. During the war, the evacuation of Dunkirk took place, which was a major military operation that involved rescuing British and French troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France.

The operation was successful, but how long did it take to sail from England to Dunkirk? Let’s take a closer look.

The Distance Between England and Dunkirk

Before we can determine how long it took to sail from England to Dunkirk, we need to understand the distance between the two locations. The distance between Dover, England and Dunkirk, France is approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) across the English Channel.

The Evacuation of Dunkirk

The evacuation of Dunkirk was one of the largest military operations in history. It involved a combination of naval vessels and civilian boats that were used to evacuate over 338,000 soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk in just nine days.

Naval Vessels Used in the Evacuation

The Royal Navy played a significant role in the evacuation effort. They used a variety of ships including destroyers, minesweepers, and torpedo boats. These ships were able to transport troops across the English Channel quickly and efficiently.

Civilian Boats Used in the Evacuation

Civilian boats also played an important role in the evacuation effort. The small size and shallow draft of these boats made them ideal for navigating through shallow waters and picking up soldiers who were stranded on the beaches. Over 700 civilian boats participated in the evacuation effort.

How Long Did It Take?

The time it took to sail from England to Dunkirk varied depending on several factors such as weather conditions, boat type, and speed.

On average, naval vessels were able to make the journey in approximately 4-6 hours. Civilian boats, on the other hand, took longer as they were smaller and slower. Some civilian boats took up to 10 hours to make the journey.

In Conclusion

Sailing from England to Dunkirk was a critical part of the evacuation effort during World War II. The distance between the two locations is approximately 30 miles across the English Channel.

Naval vessels were able to make the journey in 4-6 hours, while civilian boats took longer due to their smaller size and slower speed. Despite this, both naval vessels and civilian boats played an integral role in rescuing over 338,000 soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk in just nine days.

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Michael Allen