Looking for Deepwater Fording and Wadeproofing CMPs

[Wayne Hingley]

I remember my uncle telling me that during the war, in preparation for D-day, he was assigned for many days to waterproof CMP's and Jeeps. He landed himself, I believe driving a CMP on the day after D-day. I recall him describing how disturbing it was to see all of the "debris" in the water as he went to shore.

I will see him in early October, and Ill ask if he remembers any of the details of the waterproofing procedures. He might remember some details, but the stories tend to move quickly through many memories once he starts, so I may not get a complete picture of the waterproofing steps.

[Lang]

I have a full stack of manuals, photos and instructions on preparing vehicles for fording. From the photos it seems to be all done in UK in preparation for D-Day. Keith Webb photographed a bit of my material a few years back but I will scan some originals for the forum.

I will pull them out and put some stuff up.

Seem to remember it involved bucket loads of linseed putty wrapped around everything that could get wet such as electrical, fuel vents etc.

Will follow up.

Lang

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

Started with Pat 12 because of these photo
079821.jpg
Shows the fairly steep launch down the ramp not something you would be doing with the same truck every day
094303.jpg
Probably fairly common operation driving through streams wading for the Pat 12 Fording for the Jeep.

0900009.jpg
Pat 13 the guys on the roof you got to wonder may have done this a time or two.

I suspect the first and last trucks pictured would get attention after landing, the truck crossing the stream oh just another stream and on with the job.

Cheers Phil

[Wayne Hingley]

The guy standing in the water giving directions, in the last photo seems to be quite "comfortable" with things too!

[motto (RIP)]

He doesn't seem to be wearing any rank insgnia. I wonder how his authority was indicated, size perhaps?

David

[Lang]

Phil

I have the D.M.E Waterproofing instruction books for the following vehicles. They are about 30 pages each and of course very similar in many respects. Pick the one you want and I will scan the whole thing and put it on this thread.

Tractor, 30-CWT LAA Ford
Canadian Chevrolet C.H.U -441-M-WIRE-1
Lorry, 3-Ton Chevrolet (Long Immersion for driving in Water)
Ambulance, 3-Ton Ford
17 pounder Anti-Tank Equipment
Lorry 3-ton Ford (Long Immersion)
3.7" QF Howitzer
Notes for Officers on waterproofing for Amphibious OPerations
Instructions for wading Field Artillety Equipment
101 Ga;llion Grader
Excavator Ruston-Bucyrus 10RB
Allis Chalmer Crawler HD10
" " " HD14
HD7
International TD18
Caterpillar D2
" D8
6 Pounder Antitank
4.2" Mortar Mobile
4.5/5.5 Gun Howitzer
25 Pounder
Cat D4
Inter TD9
Inter TD14
Cat D6
Cat D7
Chev 3 ton 4X4 GS
Ford F15
Transporter Diamond T 980
Chev 15cwt Wireless
Trailer 7 1/2 ton recovery
Lorry Chev 4X4 GS, Tipper,Slave Battery,LAA, Personnerl c.h.u
Truck 6X6 Wrecker M.1
Lorry 3 Ton Bofors Ford
Trailer Rogers, Crane, Freuhauf
Lorry 3 ton Machinery 4x4
Canadian Chev Compressor/Winch/FAT
Car 4X2 Canadian Ford
Lorry 4 ton Diamond T
Lorry 6x6 Machinery GMC Type A- Interesting "Right Hand Drive"
Lorry 3 ton 6X6 GMC GS
DME Waterproofing Instructions For Contents of Machinery Lorries
Truck 6x6 Wrecking Ward-La-France
Landrover waterproofing 1953

Also dozens of type written pages for the kits for Morris 4x4, Scammell,Windsor Carrier

Lang

[Lang]

Here is a sample

[Lang]

Here is a selection of photos. Most I have are close up shots of various bits of equipment waterproofed in some manner.