Storm and Assault Boats

[John McGillivray]

Hello Hanno,

The photos are from “The Pictorial History of Canada’s Army Overseas 1939 – 1945” which was published in 1947. In the captions for the two photos posted above, they are referred to as Assault Boats.

Here is another photo showing Royal Canadian Engineers ferrying members of the US 101st Airborne over a river near Nijmegen.

[John McGillivray]

Another photo from the same book, with the caption “Storm boats powered with outboard motors carry infantry across and return with wounded.” These appear to be smaller boats with pointed bows.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by John McGillivray
Here is another photo showing Royal Canadian Engineers ferrying members of the US 101st Airborne over a river near Nijmegen.

Here's a surprise: "One of the real boats that was used during the Waal crossing. The boat consists of canvas and wood, and could carry about 12 men. It stood in a farmer's shed for over 50 years before it was donated to the museum."



Source: Nationaal Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945 - Groesbeek - The Netherlands

[Stewart Loy]

I managed to locate a picture of a Carrier hauling a boat. Looks dreary enough to be Holland late war, or Charlie Fitton going to the beach - hard to say.

Stewart

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Stewart Loy
I managed to locate a picture of a Carrier hauling a boat. Looks dreary enough to be Holland late war, or Charlie Fitton going to the beach - hard to say.

Excellent pic!
Now, could these guys in Italy have a Carrier slung under their British Assault Boat? :

RSR negotiating the River Po at Lake Commachio April 1945.
Source: http://www.alliedspecialforces.org/r...entgallery.htm

[Stewart Loy]

Hanno,

This is indeed quite a feat for a Carrier - to hump 4 men and a wooden boat on it's back across a stream in Italy.

If it had been a Chev this would not have been possible.


Stewart

PS - is that guy paddling with a shovel?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Stewart Loy
I managed to locate a picture of a Carrier hauling a boat. Looks dreary enough to be Holland late war, or Charlie Fitton going to the beach - hard to say.

Stewart

Seeing as how the boat's on the wrong side of the carrier, it's gotta be Charlie.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Stewart Loy
PS - is that guy paddling with a shovel?

He probably stole it from Charlie.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Practice makes perfect!


Source: http://www.desertrats.org.btinternet...artefacts3.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
b. U.S. Plywood Boat, M-2.
(1) Not so easily portable.
(2) Easily maneuvered in the water, loaded or empty.
(3) Not so easily damaged in transit (boats "nest").
(4) More easily repaired.
(5) Served dual purpose (i.e. making infantry support rafts and expedient assault boat bridge).
(6) Much noisier in use with non-rubber shod personnel.

Nice stack of U.S. Plyboat Boats at the National War and Resistance Museum / Marshall Museum at Overloon, The Netherlands:



See the rest here!

H.

[sapper740]

Here's a British Official photo I came across (no credit) showing R.E.'s unloading "1 ton" storm boats from lorries onto the banks of the Rhine river.

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Mark W. Tonner
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

Here's a precarious load! Good detail showing how two boats could be lashed together.

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Mark W. Tonner
John, the only boat that comes close to your description is the Folding Boat Equipment Mk III (part of which appears in the attached image).

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:

Photo of same:

[Ponysoldier]

If your still looking you might try the following, It would
most likely lead to plans for the american army assault
boats. It might also lead to other searches.
Search for The Center For Military History or
US Army Corps of Engineers
Patrick

[John McGillivray]

Here is another photo of assault (or storm?) boats being used to cross the Seine River. Note the perforated steel ramps used to load small vehicles or guns. You can also the bottom of one boat leaning up against the retaining wall on the right.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Personnel of the Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, pushing a storm boat into the Ems River south of Emden, Germany, 28 April 1945

Credit: Lieut. Donald I. Grant / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-138285

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Canadian soldiers in a storm boat at the 5th Canadian Armoured Division Other Ranks Club, Groningen, Netherlands, 10 August 1945

(Clockwise, L-R): Lance-Corporal D.F. Perry, Bandsmen Jack Traill and E.D. Warrington, Troopers C.F. Petipas and F.L. Arbour, Sapper R. Simoneau, Troopers G. Coyle and W. Nickel, Craftsmen L.P. Marion and E. Blaszynski, Sergeant W.A. Robinson.

Credit: Capt. Jack H. Smith / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-137883

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, aboard a storm boat operated by the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 27 November 1944

Credit: Lieut. Michael M. Dean / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-167034

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière using a rubber raft to cross the Ijssel River, Zutphen, Netherlands, 7 April 1945

Credit: Lieut. Donald I. Grant / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-133331

[sapper740]

Judging by the scant freeboard, they must be crossing with something quite heavy.

[sapper740]

Originally posted by sapper740
Judging by the scant freeboard, they must be crossing with something quite heavy.

Or is it Das Heere? Anyway, could this be the same bunch loading/unloading their cargo?

[servicepub (RIP)]

The originator of this thread, John Sliz, completed his research and the results can be read in "Engineer Assault Boats in Canadian Service" released just before Christmas.
John is working on two additrional titles in the Weapons of War series

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by servicepub
The originator of this thread, John Sliz, completed his research and the results can be read in "Engineer Assault Boats in Canadian Service" released just before Christmas.

Good to see his research put to good use!

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Sappers Charles Dickson and Norval Poisson of the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), beside a submerged Sherman tank while building the Spider Webb bridge across the Waal River near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 29 November 1944

Credit: Lieut. Michael M. Dean / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-167033

[Rlangham]

Does anyone else have any photos/information of the assault boats? I'm considering making a replica of the collapsible canvas side British assault boats, the mk iii version with the pointed end at both ends. Have the Canadian engineer assault boats book but doesn't have a plan/specifications of the Mk III, only the earlier Mk II with a transom stern.

Many thanks, Rob

[John Sliz]

Hi,

I should mention that there is a slight error in `Engineer Assault Boats'. Where it reads 1fi", it should read, 1 1/2".
Regarding your queston, I only have an isometric view of the mark III. I'm not sure if that will help you. However, I do have the PAM on it so if have any questions I will try to figure them out.

John

[Les Freathy]

A couple of Australian photos of boats the second would scare the s--t out of me, its OK to a degree in a river but being towed along on the high seas no thanks

[John Sliz]

Les, that is because those are F.B.E. (Folding Boat Equipment) and were not really meant for carrying troops, especially out in rough water. Great photos!

John

[Johan WILLAERT]

Hi all,

Just found this thread while searching the net for these boats. For a display in a local museum, I'm looking for two British Folding Assault Boats of WW2 vintage or look.

Anyway, either WW2 vintage, postwar manufacture or replica is OK, as long as they have the correct WW2 look.

All offers will be considered...

Also is the book shown above available somewhere....

Thanks,

Johan

[servicepub (RIP)]

Johan
The book is avaiable on-line here