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Storm and Assault Boats
Hello, I'm new to this forum.
I am researching the 23rd, R.C.E. during Operation Berlin and looking for information on the Stormboats that they used. All I know is that they were about 20' long and weighed about 600 pounds. Thanks! |
#2
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Storm Boats
If they are the same boats that we trained on they were collapsable with wooden bottoms and canvas sides. there was a wooden gunnell I think it was called around the top. Wooden stays were inserted between the gunnell and the bottom to form the sides and rear of the boat. They were very heavy and awkward to handle.
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Re: Storm Boats
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support |
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20' Stormboats
According to Lt Col Mike.l.Tucker of Montreal,Officer Commanding of this 250 man RCE 23rd Field Company unit,the boats were collapsible 20' with 50HP outboard motors.Their only claim to fame was the rescue of the British Airborne during Operation Market Garden.At the time of the rescue they had the reputation of being"the hottest engineering unit in the Allied armies".The rescue consisted of less than 2500 troopers..At the end of the engagement there were only two boats servicable.Mike Tucker's argument was reinforcement for the beleaguered troopers across the river.But by the time they were called upon,the paras had been almost surrounded.A thank you note was the only reward received from British Military leaders after this courageous acheivement.Afterwards they went back to Belgium chopping trees for courdoroy roads .this info taken from an interview with Charles Lynch,a distinguished wartime journalist from Ottawa,on the 30th Anniversary of the action.
Unsung heros all. |
#5
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Re: Re: Storm Boats
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Being Canadians,another example of our quiet attitude after courageous deeds.No accolades or medals,just a thank you note OH well,war is hell! |
#6
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Storm boats.
Jiff they look the same to me and we also received them out of the back of 60cwt. Those bastards are heavy, it was pitch dark and then you have to put them together then carry them down to the river bank and launch them.
I had a further river crossing in Korea where they used rubber boats and the RCE handled the operation. What a difference, they had me into a lifejacket and in the boat in nothing flat. Being done in daylight probably helped too. |
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Re: Storm Boats 1
John;
Storm Boats(Assault Boat): Construction: - Wood and Canvas folding boat Dimensions: - 12 feet 1½ inches by 4 feet 1 inch Weight: - 174 pounds Capacity: 1x Infantry Section (10 men) plus 2x Sappers Mobility: - by paddle (4x paddles plus 1x steering oar), or by hauling across, or by outboard motor Diagram:
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Mark Last edited by Mark W. Tonner; 19-04-03 at 03:39. |
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Re: Storm Boats 2
John:
Storm Boat (Assault Boat) Picture:
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Mark |
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Re: Storm Boats 3
John;
Canadian Sappers launching a Storm Boat on the Ems, Apr 45:
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Mark |
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Re: Re: Re: Storm Boats
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I hadn't mentioned the boats used in BoB, but since you did, I can answer your question... Easy Coy was involved much after the fact of the main rescue (by Canadian sappers), picking up 'strays' who had been smuggled down to the river much later by friendly Dutch (at quite some cost). That operation is well-documented in Leo Heaps' book THE GREY GOOSE OF ARNHEM. Well worth the read.
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support |
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Re: Mark
Thanks for the info and pics... although it looks like you've shown us three different boats! I presume there were variants... anyone have a screen capture of the ABTF boats? It would be nice to compare...
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support |
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Re: Storm Boats 4
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This folding boat equipment consists of folding boats, superstructure for both bridge use and rafting, trestles, anchors and anchor stores, auxiliary rafting gear. The equipment may be made up into rafts for class 5 or class 9 loads, or used as single boats to carry 16x fully equipped men and 5x boat crew. Construction: - Wood and Canvas Dimensions: - 21 feet 10 inches by 6 feet 8 inches Weight: - 870 pounds Hope all of this helps. Cheers Folding Boat Equipment Mk III in bridging configuration:
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Mark |
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Re: Re: Mark
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Cheers
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Mark |
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Re: Storm Boat Variants 1
An example of a Storm Boat variant (Aug 1944):
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Mark |
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Re: Storm Boat Variants 2
Another example of a Storm Boat variant (Aug 1944):
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Mark |
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the million dollar question: Stormboats
Here is a challenge! If anyone can solve this mystery, I'll be amazed - and extremely grateful!
Stormboats in WW2 were made by both the U.S. and the U.K. The American boats were smaller, while the British boats were 20' long and could take loads such as a 6 pdr AT gun. Where were the British boats made and how many were made during the war? Any idea if the plans of these boats still exist? I would love to get a hold of the plans!!! I know someone who wants to reproduce a Storm boat. |
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Bridge too far...
...the movie supposedly used British storm boats. The Americans needed boats to assault a bridge from both ends at once and whne the British boats showed up they were quite miffed that they were canvas with wood bottom. They were too flimsy in their opinion. However they worked well in practice.
Soooo, if these are the boats, rent the movie to get a good idea as they show the boats being assembled, stowed on trucks , beng put in water, loaded , etc. I got bought it on DVD for $4.88 at Walmart Sean
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1944 Allis Chalmers M7 Snow Tractor 1944 Universal Carrier MKII M9A1 International Halftrack M38CDN 1952 Other stuff |
#18
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Storm boats
Did you not ask this same question last year at this time?
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Stormboats
It appears that the Canadians and British used different types of stormboats. Here is a link to an article by Terry Copp.
http://www.legionmagazine.ca/feature...9.asp?id=print "The 20th and 23rd field companies had been attached to 43 Wessex Div. in an attempt to bolster the division’s river crossing capacity. The Canadians were equipped with stormboats powered by Evinrude motors. Each boat could carry 36 men. The British made do with smaller assault boats that had to be paddled." |
#20
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Now, I'm talking Storm Boats here, not Assault boats, which were quite different. At Arnhem the British used British made Assault boats and the Canadians used British made Storm Boats. I know that this question is a long shot, but I'm hoping that someone somewhere knows the origins of these boats. Even the RE museum in the UK doesn't have an idea. |
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Re: Storm boats
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Interesting subject which could do with a little more attention. I searched ArchiviaNet for storm boat and storm boats but could not find any pictures online. H. |
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Here's a site with some pictures showing some details of storm boats.
http://www.40thengineers.org/storm_boats.htm |
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Re: Re: Storm Boats 1
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Re: Storm Boats
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"Where were the Canadians? Finally we heard their lorries coming and they pulled up beside us. We all pitched in to unload the boats, which were in the collapsed state for easy transport. We were shown how to open the canvas covered frames and snap them into the locked position to form an assault boat shape. They proved to be deceptively heavy, almost the same as the all wood American model. Twelve paddles were placed in each boat which helped increase the weight. Their job done, the Canadians wished us good luck and took off in their lorries." |
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American Storm Boats
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HTH, Hanno |
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Re: 20' Stormboats
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Also, a memorial reminds the inhabitants of Driel and people passing by of Operation Berlin (location). H. |
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Assault boats
Crossing the Seine River with assault boats. A jeep has already being loaded on the one on the right, while a 6pdr A/T gun is being man handled onto the next.
Last edited by John McGillivray; 18-09-05 at 15:30. |
#29
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Assault boats
Highland Light Infantry crossing the Ems River near Leer in Assault boats.
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#30
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Re: Assault boats
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However, judging by the description in the Engineer chapter of A Military Encyclopedia Based on Operations in the Italian Campaigns, 1943-1945, I'd say this is a British Storm Boat since this "Would carry heavier load (6 pounder or jeep though latter a top heavy load)". H. |
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