Hello Hanno,

The photos are from “The Pictorial History of Canada’s Army Overseas 1939 – 1945” which was published in 1947. In the captions for the two photos posted above, they are referred to as Assault Boats.

Here is another photo showing Royal Canadian Engineers ferrying members of the US 101st Airborne over a river near Nijmegen.

Another photo from the same book, with the caption “Storm boats powered with outboard motors carry infantry across and return with wounded.” These appear to be smaller boats with pointed bows.

Here's a surprise: "One of the real boats that was used during the Waal crossing. The boat consists of canvas and wood, and could carry about 12 men. It stood in a farmer's shed for over 50 years before it was donated to the museum."

http://www.warmuseums.nl/fotos/13006.jpg

Source: Nationaal Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945 - Groesbeek - The Netherlands

Carrier With Boat
 

I managed to locate a picture of a Carrier hauling a boat. Looks dreary enough to be Holland late war, or Charlie Fitton going to the beach - hard to say.

Stewart

Re: Carrier With Boat
 

Excellent pic!
Now, could these guys in Italy have a Carrier slung under their British Assault Boat? :confused:
http://www.alliedspecialforces.org/rsr110.gif
RSR negotiating the River Po at Lake Commachio April 1945.
Source: http://www.alliedspecialforces.org/r...entgallery.htm

Shallow Water "Fording"
 

Hanno,

This is indeed quite a feat for a Carrier - to hump 4 men and a wooden boat on it's back across a stream in Italy.

If it had been a Chev this would not have been possible. :eek:


Stewart

PS - is that guy paddling with a shovel?

Re: Carrier With Boat
 

Seeing as how the boat's on the wrong side of the carrier, it's gotta be Charlie.

Re: Shallow Water "Fording"
 

He probably stole it from Charlie.

Practice makes perfect!

http://www.desertrats.org.btinternet...atPractice.jpg
Source: http://www.desertrats.org.btinternet...artefacts3.htm

Nice stack of U.S. Plyboat Boats at the National War and Resistance Museum / Marshall Museum at Overloon, The Netherlands:

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data.../imm024_25.jpg

See the rest here!

H.

Here's a British Official photo I came across (no credit) showing R.E.'s unloading "1 ton" storm boats from lorries onto the banks of the Rhine river.

Re: Re: Storm Boats 1
 

Here's a precarious load! Good detail showing how two boats could be lashed together.

Re: Re: Storm Boats 4
 

Photo of same:

If Your Still Looking
 

If your still looking you might try the following, It would
most likely lead to plans for the american army assault
boats. It might also lead to other searches.
Search for The Center For Military History or
US Army Corps of Engineers
Patrick

Here is another photo of assault (or storm?) boats being used to cross the Seine River. Note the perforated steel ramps used to load small vehicles or guns. You can also the bottom of one boat leaning up against the retaining wall on the right.

Personnel of the Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, pushing a storm boat into the Ems River south of Emden, Germany, 28 April 1945

Credit: Lieut. Donald I. Grant / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-138285

Canadian soldiers in a storm boat at the 5th Canadian Armoured Division Other Ranks Club, Groningen, Netherlands, 10 August 1945

(Clockwise, L-R): Lance-Corporal D.F. Perry, Bandsmen Jack Traill and E.D. Warrington, Troopers C.F. Petipas and F.L. Arbour, Sapper R. Simoneau, Troopers G. Coyle and W. Nickel, Craftsmen L.P. Marion and E. Blaszynski, Sergeant W.A. Robinson.

Credit: Capt. Jack H. Smith / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-137883

Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, aboard a storm boat operated by the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 27 November 1944

Credit: Lieut. Michael M. Dean / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-167034

Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière using a rubber raft to cross the Ijssel River, Zutphen, Netherlands, 7 April 1945

Credit: Lieut. Donald I. Grant / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-133331

Mustn't forget Der Heere
 

Judging by the scant freeboard, they must be crossing with something quite heavy.

Re: Mustn't forget Der Heere
 

Or is it Das Heere? Anyway, could this be the same bunch loading/unloading their cargo?

The originator of this thread, John Sliz, completed his research and the results can be read in "Engineer Assault Boats in Canadian Service" released just before Christmas.
John is working on two additrional titles in the Weapons of War series

http://www.servicepub.com/images/stormboat%20cover2.jpg

Good to see his research put to good use!

H.

Sappers Charles Dickson and Norval Poisson of the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), beside a submerged Sherman tank while building the Spider Webb bridge across the Waal River near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 29 November 1944

Credit: Lieut. Michael M. Dean / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-167033

Does anyone else have any photos/information of the assault boats? I'm considering making a replica of the collapsible canvas side British assault boats, the mk iii version with the pointed end at both ends. Have the Canadian engineer assault boats book but doesn't have a plan/specifications of the Mk III, only the earlier Mk II with a transom stern.

Many thanks, Rob

Hi,

I should mention that there is a slight error in `Engineer Assault Boats'. Where it reads 1fi", it should read, 1 1/2".
Regarding your queston, I only have an isometric view of the mark III. I'm not sure if that will help you. However, I do have the PAM on it so if have any questions I will try to figure them out.

John

A couple of Australian photos of boats the second would scare the s--t out of me, its OK to a degree in a river but being towed along on the high seas no thanks

Les, that is because those are F.B.E. (Folding Boat Equipment) and were not really meant for carrying troops, especially out in rough water. Great photos!

John

Hi all,

Just found this thread while searching the net for these boats. For a display in a local museum, I'm looking for two British Folding Assault Boats of WW2 vintage or look.

Anyway, either WW2 vintage, postwar manufacture or replica is OK, as long as they have the correct WW2 look.

All offers will be considered...

Also is the book shown above available somewhere....

Thanks,

Johan

Johan
The book is avaiable on-line here