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TheMerderetis a 36.4-kilometre-long (22.6-mile)riverinNormandy,France,which is atributaryto the riverDouve.[1]It runs roughly north-south down the middle of theCotentin peninsulafromValognesto the junction with the Douve atBeuzeville la Bastille.
| Merderet | |
|---|---|
 | |
   | |
| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Normandy |
| Mouth | |
• location | Douve |
• coordinates | 49°21′48″N1°21′16″W/ 49.36333°N 1.35444°W |
| Length | 36 km (22 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Douve→English Channel |
Hydrology
editThe river has relatively highturbidityand its brownish water is somewhat low in velocity due to the slight gradient of the watercourse;pHlevels have been measured at 8.31[2]near theChateau d'Isle Marieandelectrical conductivityof the waters have tested at 61 microsiemens per centimetre. At this reference location, summer flows are typically around 7 m3/s (250 cu ft/s).
Airborne landings on D-Day
editRunning parallel to the shoreline about 8 kilometres (5 miles) fromUtah Beach,the marshes of the Merderet and Douve formed a natural defensive line protecting the western end of theAllied landing zoneand at the same time limiting the Allies' potential to break out of the beachhead. They had been flooded to further impede movement. Thus control of the bridges at Manoir de la Fière and Chef-du-Pont was seen as vital. The Merderet was assigned to the U.S.82nd Airborne DivisionasMission Boston,scheduled for 5 hours before the amphibious landings on D-Day.
Cloud cover and German fire caused the landings to be dispersed; the paratroopers took the strategic town ofSainte-Mère-Églisebut failed in their original mission to clear the west bank of the Merderet on D-Day and blow the bridge over the Douze at Pont l'Abbé (now Étienville). The extent of their control of the bridges over the Merderet is disputed, but it was sufficient to hold off German counterattacks. These included an attack over the causeway at La Fiere by the 1057th Grenadier Regiment and light tanks of the 100th Panzer Replacement Battalion. This appears to have been the inspiration for the climactic battle in the filmSaving Private Ryan,which is set around a bridge over the Merderet in the fictional town of Ramelle.
After theBattle of Carentanon 9 June, Allied forces moved up the Cotentin Peninsula on either side of the Merderet. This advance culminated in theBattle of Cherbourgwhich saw the port captured by the end of the month.
References
edit- ^Sandre."Fiche cours d'eau - Le Merderet (I51-0400)".
- ^Hogan, C. Michael,Water quality of freshwater bodies in France,Lumina Tech Press, Aberdeen (2006)
