Command from headquarters. 28th May 1940.
You are responsible for a fleet of small ships involved in the Dunkirk evacuation. This mission is called Operation Dynamo.
You need to rescue 4000 men from the beaches of Dunkirk.
You have 3 missions to complete.
Mission 1: Decide which ships and boats to take from Ramsgate. I have supplied you with details of recommended vessels and a list of additional vessels for you to use. Calculate carefully, otherwise men may have to be left behind. You only have one of each vessel. 
Mission 2: Calculate what time each of your ships and boats will need to leave Ramsgate in order to arrive in Dunkirk at the same time for the rescue mission. Calculate carefully, otherwise your ships may be at risk of attack. (Hint: Night time movement in Dunkirk is safer than a daytime movement).
Mission 3: Choose a plane to protect your vessels for the entire journey, there and back. Using the times you have worked out and add in time for boarding passengers (remember some will be injured), how long do you estimate you will need the planes for?

Tamzine

Passengers: 
20
Time taken to cross British Channel:
9 hours and 10 minutes

Challenger

Passengers: 
220
Time taken to cross British Channel:
4 hours and 40 minutes

The Royal Daffodil

Passengers: 
1,500
Time taken to cross British Channel:
4 hours and 20 minutes

Medway Queen

Passengers: 
1,000
Time taken to cross British Channel:
5 hours and 40 minutes

Bluebird of Chelsea

Passengers: 
95
Time taken to cross British Channel:
6 hours and 30 minutes

Sundowner

Passengers: 
130
Time taken to cross British Channel:
7 hours and 10 minutes

Royal Air Force

Spitfire crossing – 20 minutes

Lancaster Bomber crossing – 30 minutes

Hurricane Bomber crossing – 25 minutes

Other Vessels
The following vessels are also available. How many of each do you need to use?
Motor Yachts (15 available): 
25 passengers.
 6 hour 30 minute crossing.

Fishing boats (20 available): 
100 passengers.
 4 hour 15 minute crossing.

Steam Tugs (30 available)
150 passengers
4 hours 10 minute crossing.

Ferry (12 available)
200 passengers
3 hours 45 minutes

	

Operation Dynamo was a real mission during WW2 

The original evacuation took place between 26 May and 4 June 1940, and involved 900 naval and civilian craft which were sent across the Channel under RAF protection.
Among them were a number of smaller vessels including fishing boats, pleasure crafts, paddle steamers and lifeboats.
About 338,000 troops, including French, Canadian and Belgian soldiers as well as British service personnel, were rescued after they had been driven back to the coast of northern France by the German army.
Historians say the evacuation boosted British morale at a crucial point of the war.

See the PowerPoint in the maths folder for further information.