abandoned U/C carrier

[Gunner]

The LVT three runger in question is in the Swords and Ploughshares Museum near Ottawa. It was instantly recognisable due to the dent in the handrail over the driver's compartment.

As I understand it, it was recovered as an exercise by the local air cadet squadron and flown to Ottawa in a Herc that had delivered supplies to Yellowknife. It went into the CWM but was too big (and had no real Canadian connection) to fit into the the new CWM. It was traded to the S&P Museum as part of a deal that saw two Rams go from the S&P in exchange for a number of bits from the CWM.

We have sand blasted it, painted it, replaced the windows with lexan and are about to weld patches over the various openings so it can become a gate guard for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario. I believe that they used LVT 2 and 3 during their landings at Juno beach and the Rhine Crossing and wanted something 'amphibious' to replace their M113.5 Lynx gate guard that has no connection to fine Highland regiment whatsoever.

The engine bay is one solid lump of rust, unrestorable in my mind unless the pocket book is bottomless... I have tackled some difficult projects but this one made me whimper when I crawled in there! The hull is badly cracked and holed (big holes three feet long!) and it is re-enforced underneath with several 10X10 timbers.

We say it all the time; but if only it could talk!

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gunner

the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario. I believe that they used LVT 2 and 3 during their landings at Juno beach

Mike,

I would love to see some evidence of that as there has been a big discussion over the use of LVTs in Normandy during the past few years.

H.

[Gunner]

Hi Hanno:

I'll contact their regimental historian and ask him to give us a definitive answer with photos if possible. I've never really dug into it in any detail; the SD&G Highlanders are a fine regiment worthy of their hire but I have enough trouble cramming Gunner trivia into my head!

Cheers and UBIQUE!
Mike

[RichardT10829]

i have been looking at this for some time now and the carriers were made to swim by putting extra sheilds etc along the top and using seam sealer on the joints and block off the holes in the transom pannel where the prop shaft had gone through....well about 90% of the weight is gone so if you seal the joints with instant gasket and expanding foam she would float. this and some extra flotation barrels strapped on the side jobs a goodun.... If i lived in Canada this would be whipped away by now, i would pay to have this retrieved for the spring time so i could load it into the container with the other carrier.......i need to stop looking at this thread it brings me down.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

i have been looking at this for some time now and the carriers were made to swim by putting extra sheilds etc along the top and using seam sealer on the joints and block off the holes in the transom pannel where the prop shaft had gone through....

What you describe was what was done to make carriers wade, not swim.

But I agree, I hope this carrier gets recovered sometime soon.

H.

[Gordons]

Hi Gunner

There where two LVT-1's here in YK, the three step went to Swords and Ploughshares and the second is a two step model which I have, is currently on loan to the local YK minning museum, my father brought these into the country for minning in 1947 along with 4 U/C's and 2 Duks, the pic posted are of the last remaining U/C, the remaining Duk is pretty rough also, most of the parts have been used to restore another Duk here in YK.

Originally Posted by Gunner

The LVT three runger in question is in the Swords and Ploughshares Museum near Ottawa. It was instantly recognisable due to the dent in the handrail over the driver's compartment.

As I understand it, it was recovered as an exercise by the local air cadet squadron and flown to Ottawa in a Herc that had delivered supplies to Yellowknife. It went into the CWM but was too big (and had no real Canadian connection) to fit into the the new CWM. It was traded to the S&P Museum as part of a deal that saw two Rams go from the S&P in exchange for a number of bits from the CWM.

We have sand blasted it, painted it, replaced the windows with lexan and are about to weld patches over the various openings so it can become a gate guard for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario. I believe that they used LVT 2 and 3 during their landings at Juno beach and the Rhine Crossing and wanted something 'amphibious' to replace their M113.5 Lynx gate guard that has no connection to fine Highland regiment whatsoever.

The engine bay is one solid lump of rust, unrestorable in my mind unless the pocket book is bottomless... I have tackled some difficult projects but this one made me whimper when I crawled in there! The hull is badly cracked and holed (big holes three feet long!) and it is re-enforced underneath with several 10X10 timbers.

We say it all the time; but if only it could talk!

Mike

[Gordons]

Gunner

The damage on the hull was due to removal in winter using TNT to clear the ice, the model I have here has a large vertical cut from the TNT blast mid section.

Originally Posted by fordchevcmp

Hi Gunner

There where two LVT-1's here in YK, the three step went to Swords and Ploughshares and the second is a two step model which I have, is currently on loan to the local YK minning museum, my father brought these into the country for minning in 1947 along with 4 U/C's and 2 Duks, the pic posted are of the last remaining U/C, the remaining Duk is pretty rough also, most of the parts have been used to restore another Duk here in YK.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gordons

The damage on the hull was due to removal in winter using TNT to clear the ice, the model I have here has a large vertical cut from the TNT blast mid section.

This one needs no TNT to recover, just drag it off the beach! Quick, before the guys looking for sea shells notice it!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I'll contact their regimental historian and ask him to give us a definitive answer with photos if possible.

Mike,

That would be great!

I just read elsewhere the SD&G took part in the amphibious landing across the Savojaards Plaat during the battle for the Scheldt. Albeit of the incorrect type for this theatre of operations, for me that is reason enough to display an LVT at their HQ!

Thanks,
Hanno

[RichardT10829]

Was it the LVT's they used at the Iwo Jima ? landings ? if so the bay will still be littered with them, all be it they will be under water....nevertheless an interesting venue for the would be MV collector / diver.

Richard