Royal Navy vehicles

[illgato]

Hi Richard,
Sorry I don't know much about where 3&4MLRU operated by my guess would be as follows:

Formed sometime between December 1943 (from 1MLRU) and May 1944, probably based at Portsmouth.

Would have landed D+1 or 2.
Here is the only official mention I have ever found about MLRUs (it refers to ONLY 3&4).

" XVI. Recovery and Repair.
1. Recovery, maintenance and repair in the assault area were under the general control of senior engineer officers on FOBAA (Flag Officer, British Assault Area) Staff. These included base engineer, electrical and construction officers, principal salvage officer, and fuelling officer.
2. Off shore repairs were handled by large repair parties in LSE, Depot Ships and floating docks.
3. In shore repair and recovery was organized on a divisional front basis under the NOIC. His staff included Reserve Assault Group Squadron Engineer Officers and Engineer Officers of the MLRU."

see: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/...mNavEu-10.html

Initial port targets would have been Port-en-Bessin and Oiustreham as well as beach support in the British area.

They would have then leap-frogged ports up the coast through France, Belgium, Holland and possibly to Germany.

The Units would have been disbanded as soon as there were no more ports to assault.

Your compressor truck was used to support divers, air tools, salvage pumps and to provide compressed air to refloat vessels and would have ended up being used by port parties along the coast until surplus to requirements.

I have some other photos of my Grandfathers RN vehicles and will post them shortly with some comments on the photos in this thread.

Regard Stephen

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by illgato

Would have landed D+1 or 2.
Here is the only official mention I have ever found about MLRUs (it refers to ONLY 3&4).

Thanks Stephen,

That is more information than I have found in 30 years, I will pass this on to the new owner.

Once again, thank you.

Richard

[Larry Hayward]

Stephen,

I look forward to seeing your grandfathers photos too!

[illgato]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Thanks Stephen,

That is more information than I have found in 30 years, I will pass this on to the new owner.

Once again, thank you.

Richard

Hi Richard,
4MLRU was Naval Party 1502 and landed at Sword with the initial target of Ouistreham (Caen), then Le Harve, Dieppe, Boulogne, Calais, Ostend, etc..

This is a excert from a book called "Open the Ports, the story of human minesweepers" by J. Grosvenor & L.M. Bates (I have a copy) which can be found at:
http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/Bill%20Bailey%20Tribute.pdf

At last Party 1574 received orders to go to Portsmouth for embarkation. After
the usual infuriating delays and the expected hazards and discomforts of the
crossing, they reached Sword Beach.
They sailed in the same convoy as another naval Party, Nº 1502, whose
business was to get certain captured ports working again. They, too, were
bound for Ouistreham, but were not, of course, going to take any part in
underwater clearance of mines, etc., which was Party 1574’s special care.
Their duties would be salvage and general reorganisation of the port’s facilities.
Party 1502 were well equipped and the ‘P’ Party members looked with envy at
their lorries and so forth. Bailey had only been able to scrounge a box-cart to
carry their gear! But he cared nothing for dignity; he was concerned only with
getting their equipment to Ouistreham in the shortest possible time.
The excitement of going ashore amidst the remains of wreckage of landingcraft,
tanks, etc., desolate relics of the first assault forces, was enhanced by the
sound of firing. Not far away Royal Marine Commandos were still engaged in
mopping up behind the beaches while the armies pressed inland against fierce
enemy resistance.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by illgato

Hi Richard,
4MLRU was Naval Party 1502 and landed at Sword with the initial target of Ouistreham (Caen), then Le Harve, Dieppe, Boulogne, Calais, Ostend, etc..

Thank you. That is stunning info, when I helped the original private owner all those years ago, to start the restoration, he was a bit dissapointed to find it was Navy and probably had not got any real active service.........quite the reverse from what is emerging now.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by illgato

Hi Richard,
4MLRU was Naval Party 1502 and landed at Sword with the initial target of Ouistreham (Caen), then Le Harve, Dieppe, Boulogne, Calais, Ostend, etc..

Hello Stephen,

The owner of the ex-4MLRU Morris truck has asked me to thank you for all the info you have come up with, he has found further information on the unit's work after arriving in France.

[illgato]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hello Stephen,

The owner of the ex-4MLRU Morris truck has asked me to thank you for all the info you have come up with, he has found further information on the unit's work after arriving in France.

Hi Richard,
Glad to be of help, I would be very interested in finding out any further information the new owner has uncovered.

Regards Stephen