LVT-4 Buffalo recovery in the UK

[Hanno Spoelstra]

“The amphibious vehicle was one of 16 deployed to protect the town in March 1947 after floods caused the nearby River Welland to burst its banks
However, as the flood waters were pumped back, five of the 26ft-long machines floated away. One was later recovered, two sank in fishing pits and two sank into a hole.”

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-...shire-56944032

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[maple_leaf_eh]

I am curious about the depths of the hole. In my understanding of erosion and deposition, there is a tremendous volume of overburden added between the 1940s and 2020s. Where would all that soil have originated? I don't think of the British Isles having such active geophysical mechanisms. How far is it from shorelines?

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

“The amphibious vehicle was one of 16 deployed to protect the town in March 1947 after floods caused the nearby River Welland to burst its banks
However, as the flood waters were pumped back, five of the 26ft-long machines floated away. One was later recovered, two sank in fishing pits and two sank into a hole.”

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-...shire-56944032

If somebody was about to sink me in floodwater I'd make a run for it and float off too....

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Was Rick W. involved in the recovery? I seem to remember the LVT's and the much rarer Neptunes came up in a thread on HMVF some years ago. At the time we all thought these would never be dug up......but never say never!

Rick was not involved that I know of.

"Daniel Abbott, a farmer from Crowland, has spent the last three years examining records and exploring the area to try and locate the tank."

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Source: https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2021/04/...k-70-years-ago

[Hanno Spoelstra]

One more link - see the videos: https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021...rs-underground

“ Bullet holes can be seen in the side of the vehicle.
Credit: ITV News Anglia”

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

It is a “Water Buffalo”.

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[Jakko Westerbeke]

Nice! Never seen that before, though I had heard the LVT (4) was apparently called “Water Buffalo” (semi?-)officially while the LVT (2) was just “Buffalo”. Now we just need a plate from the latter to prove it

[Jakko Westerbeke]

A closer look at this vehicle on YouTube.