Driving instructions
 

The attached picture is from the DME Waterproofing instructions and as you can see covers how to drive a waterproofed CMP from the landing barge to shore.

I like the bit about not being put off by the vehicle floating.

Interesting read. Thanks for posting.

I like the bit about the brakes.

Firm driving
 

I also like the bit about driving firmly. Is there any other way to drive a CMP? :D

Driving instructions
 

I have a vague memory of a Pacific vet telling me about a setup of extending the steering column through the roof hatch with the driver being dragged along hanging on to the wheel for grim death through the surf. May have been a story after too many beers. Has anyone else heard of such exploits?

Re: Driving instructions
 

I reckon! :drunk: :cheers: The hatch is on the wrong side for one thing. :doh:

Accelerator will be pushed hard down
 

I like the bit “From the moment the vehicle touches the surface of the water, the accelerator will be pushed hard down and kept hard down until the shore is reached.” Now I would read this as floor it, my question is how long will a FORD or CHEVY hold together at full unloaded throttle in first gear? Or with all of the deepwater wading extensions on the intake is it like an old VW that just could not get enough air to blow up?

Keith, is there nothing about the clutch?

Clutch
 

I'd have to see if I can find the photos I took of the book all those years ago.

Sorry Keith, I forgot about it being an old thread. It just seamed odd that they gave no advice about drying the clutch out, or a warning that it could stick.

By the time they had cleared the beach to a safe area, I reckon the heat would have dried it all out. So long as they did not park up, switch off and walk away!

They said "on no account will the clutch be used". If it is, while submerged, that is the end of the story.

The clutch will never slip if it is left alone in the water, even if entirely submerged, and it will not get wet once clear of the water because centrifugal force prevents any residual water in the bell housing getting on the face of the flywheel. The flooring the throttle instruction would help.

I think the screaming engine is designed to keep the vehicle going if a couple of plugs get wet. If you just idle out and lose a plug or two the engine will not have sufficient power to keep going.

The fan belts were loosened to stop water being thrown over the engine or the fan blades being dragged forward into the radiator.

Lang

No reference to Corporal Jones shouting "Don't panic, don't panic"

I couldn't imagine a CMP floating for a moment, even unladen there would be too much iron and no flotation.

David

CMP Floating would it?
 

Hi Dave

Agree the image of a CMP floating just doesn't make sense. Which made me do a little thinking.

Lets say we are talking about a C60L with the steel cargo body Curb weight 9,700 pounds. The rear body is approximately 90" wide 144" long and has 30" sides. Now my math says that would be about 225 cubic feet of space. Water weighs 62.30 pounds per cubic foot so that would work out to the rear body initially displacing 14,000 lbs of water. Would of course depend on did it float relatively level. But it would seem it would try and float until it leaked enough to sink or the water just poured over the side because of angle.

So if you drove/dropped a reasonably well sealed radio box truck into the water it would float.

Cheers Phil
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Another factor not discussed is the effect of waves or surge.
Even without having enough displacement the surge may be enough to lift a vehicle. (beach landings)

I have put up a lot of stuff on fording on Phil's Deepwater Fording thread.

Lang