Porpoises

John Tapsell · #1 24-03-05, 10:51

I'm currently researching the use of Porpoise ammunition sledges on D-Day. I have a range of information about Porpoises - their purpose (or should that be 'porpoise'?) and their design - but it's technical stuff, not practical stuff.

On D-Day, Porpoises were used by armoured regiments (Shermans), RMASG (Centaurs), SP Artillery regts (M7 Priests and maybe M10s), 1 ABRE (Churchill AVREs).

What I'm looking for are first-hand accounts of their use and/or 'in service' (not training) photos of them. I know I've seen a contemporary photo of a porpoise being towed behind a Priest somewhere, but can't remember where. If anyone out there has come across references to Porpoises when they've been studying regimental records or diaries, I'd be interested in hearing from you.

Many thanks,
John

John McGillivray · #2 26-03-05, 16:05

Here is some information about the Sherbrooke Fusiliers from John Gilbert’s book “Bloody Buron! Canada’s D-Day + 1”

Craft Serials Giving Details of Loads

LCT - Serial 1715
Major E.W.L. Arnold, Capt. B.M. Veilleux 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 1 Humber Scout Car, 2 Cars 5-cwt, 4 porpoises, 35 personnel

LCT - Serial 1716
Major J.C. Cave, Lt LA. MacArthur, Lt LA. Maclean 1 Sherman V(C), 2 Sherman III, 2 Humber Scout Cars, 4 porpoises, 17 personnel

LCT - Serial 1717
Capt. K.Y. Dick 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 2 cars 5-cwt, 1 Humber Scout Car, three 3 ton lorries, 4 porpoises, 46 personnel

LCT - Serial 1718
Lt. A.R. Truax 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry GS, 4 porpoises, 41 personnel

LCT - Serial 1719
Major G.S. Mahon 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 42 personnel

LCT - Serial 1720
Lt. K.L. Steeves 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 4 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 40 personnel

LCT - Serial 1721
Capt. S.V. Radley Walters, Capt. M.H.Bateman 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 42 personnel

LCT - Serial 1722
Major V.O. Walsh 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 41 personnel

LCT - Serial 1723
Capt. N.H. Welsh, Lt-Col M.B.K. Gordon, Capt. G.W. Cote, Lt. H.D. Spielman, Lt. T.C. Stevens, Lt. C.F. Thompson 1 Sherman V(C), 6 Sherman III, 2 Humber Scout Cars, 1-15 cwt, 1 car 5-cwt, 5 porpoises, 41 personnel

LST - Serial 1740
Capt. J.H. Gilbert 3 Sherman III, 4-3ton lorries GS, one 3 ton lorry stores, 4 motorcycles, 31 personnel

LST - Serial 1741
Lt. D.H. Bradley 3 Sherman III, five 3 ton lorries GS, 32 personnel

LST - Serial 1743
one 3 ton stores, 1 motorcycle loaded, 5 men

LST - Serial 1744
one 15-cwt GS, one 15-cwt water, one 15-cwt battery charger, 8 men

From the Sherbrooke War Diary, (also from John Gilbert’s book).

2nd June 44: Troops remained in marshalling area all day.

3rd June 44: In the order of craft serials—move off from Camp 17 at 0200 hrs proceed to G -3 Hard at Gosport. Loading commenced at 0600, porpoises were chained under tanks. On completion of loading LCTs (Landing Craft Tanks) moved out into the Solent and anchored off Calshot at 1300 hrs. Compo rations were loaded and blankets. The men slept and read for most of the day after chaining their vehicles and camouflaging them.

6th June: The regiment landed at 1215 hrs on Nan White Sector, just west of Bernieres sur Mer and moved through town. There was much congestion on the beach and in the town and a long wait resulted while this was cleared. During the short halt on the road the marching infantry of the NNS Highlanders loaded on the tanks and porpoises [ammunition carriers] and rode the remaining distance to the assembly area Elder, arriving at 1800 hrs. All tanks and vehicles on LCTs arrived, those on LSTs did not beach. There were no casualties to personnel up to this point.

maple_leaf_eh · #3 02-02-15, 15:45

John, any objections if I repost this to a Wikipedia page?

TW

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

Here is some information about the Sherbrooke Fusiliers from John Gilbert’s book “Bloody Buron! Canada’s D-Day + 1”

Craft Serials Giving Details of Loads

LCT - Serial 1715
Major E.W.L. Arnold, Capt. B.M. Veilleux 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 1 Humber Scout Car, 2 Cars 5-cwt, 4 porpoises, 35 personnel

LCT - Serial 1716
Major J.C. Cave, Lt LA. MacArthur, Lt LA. Maclean 1 Sherman V(C), 2 Sherman III, 2 Humber Scout Cars, 4 porpoises, 17 personnel

LCT - Serial 1717
Capt. K.Y. Dick 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 2 cars 5-cwt, 1 Humber Scout Car, three 3 ton lorries, 4 porpoises, 46 personnel

LCT - Serial 1718
Lt. A.R. Truax 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry GS, 4 porpoises, 41 personnel

LCT - Serial 1719
Major G.S. Mahon 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 42 personnel

LCT - Serial 1720
Lt. K.L. Steeves 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 4 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 40 personnel

LCT - Serial 1721
Capt. S.V. Radley Walters, Capt. M.H.Bateman 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 42 personnel

LCT - Serial 1722
Major V.O. Walsh 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 41 personnel

LCT - Serial 1723
Capt. N.H. Welsh, Lt-Col M.B.K. Gordon, Capt. G.W. Cote, Lt. H.D. Spielman, Lt. T.C. Stevens, Lt. C.F. Thompson 1 Sherman V(C), 6 Sherman III, 2 Humber Scout Cars, 1-15 cwt, 1 car 5-cwt, 5 porpoises, 41 personnel

LST - Serial 1740
Capt. J.H. Gilbert 3 Sherman III, 4-3ton lorries GS, one 3 ton lorry stores, 4 motorcycles, 31 personnel

LST - Serial 1741
Lt. D.H. Bradley 3 Sherman III, five 3 ton lorries GS, 32 personnel

LST - Serial 1743
one 3 ton stores, 1 motorcycle loaded, 5 men

LST - Serial 1744
one 15-cwt GS, one 15-cwt water, one 15-cwt battery charger, 8 men

...

John McGillivray · #4 02-02-15, 22:17

I have no objection but I got the info is from John Gilbert's book. Note that his father Tpr. L.J. Gilbert was the gunner in Sgt T.C. Reid's tank, No 2 troop of C Squadron of SFR.

Hanno Spoelstra · #5 06-10-21, 12:53

"Small Cog in a Big Wheel: Porpoise Ammunition Sledges"

http://smallcoginabigwheel.blogspot....n-sledges.html

nominal porpoise loads.jpg

John McGillivray · #6 26-03-05, 22:17

Here is a photo of a Centaur towing a porpoise.

GeoffLeese · #7 14-09-11, 21:29

Sorry to resurrect a six year old thread, but we've found a porpoise a mile away from Gold Beach.

It's been recovered and is now under restoration.

When completed it will be displayed behind the museum's Sexton.

We need help - an earlier post talked about "a range of information" - we have none and need lots!

Plans, photos, accounts of their use, manufacturers info - all would help.

We've also found some covers in a different field, but when measured they're a different size to the porpoise. Does this imply that there are at least two varieties?

George Moore · #8 15-09-11, 00:00

I'm not sure if this is any help, and may have appeared before.

The book "The Funnies" by G W Futter has a section on the porpoise, some photo's and a drawing.

It states there were two sizes.

The book is way out of print, my copy is 1974 (?).

George.

GeoffLeese · #9 20-09-11, 11:06

Thanks for that George, it's a start.

Looks as though we may have to fabricate smaller covers from the ones that we found - shouldn't be too difficult as at least we have a pattern to work to now.

Alex van de Wetering · #10 20-09-11, 13:28

Geoff,

Excellent to hear a genuine Porpoise was found! I am looking forward to seeing it behind the Sexton at Ver-sur-Mer.
The publication that George scanned is also the only printed info I can remember of the Porpoise that has any specific info...furthermore there are some beach pictures that show discarded Porpoises (run over?) and there is a Pathe movie that shows an ammo depot started with Porpoises.

Alex