LVT-4 Buffalo recovery in the UK

[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."

crowland-tank-4.jpg crowland-tank-3.jpg

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”

7C5751E6-4634-4B00-BCDB-66DC031BB36B.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

It is a “Water Buffalo”.

D347BE97-1643-4E12-85CD-BF4367D117FA.jpeg

2AB12DDE-E966-42E1-8EA3-6ADE2BC17C9C.jpeg

[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.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Jakko,

I’ve never seen any plates denoting them as Water Buffalo either, that’s why I posted the photo.

Thanks for posting the video link, well worth viewing. Here’s the accompanying web page: https://www.forces.net/news/crowland...rs-underground