Looking for Deepwater Fording and Wadeproofing CMPs

[Lang]

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

[Lang]

It was not just a case of squirt some WD40 on the plugs, put a bag over the radiator and leap into the water.

These instructions for CMP proofing indicate a hell of a lot of time and work.

From the Officers Notes Manual preparation times in man hours:

AEC 4x4 Matador 33
Bedford QL 32
CMP 26-32 Depending on model
Ward La France 44
Jeep 20
Radar AA 350
Bedford Printing Lorry 100
Searchlight Trailer 130
Most Crawlers 60-100
AA and Field Guns 20-65
Carriers 70-90
Tanks 160-286
Scout/armoured cars 87-195



Lang

[Jordan Baker]

Awesome collection of reference material. My personal favorite would be the Chevy Wireless truck stuff. But Im sure when I say this that others would agree..... we would love to see them all.

[Lang]

Here is a photo of one of the testing officers in the collection.

I am taken by how happy and warm he looks after bathing in the balmy waters of the North Sea.

Who in their right mind would choose to live in a cold climate?

Lang

[Lang]

Once you start looking you find more.

It appears most British built vehicles could not be used in amphibious landings. All 4x2 and 6X4 (Except Scammell) were only suitable for dock landings or waiting with the barge stuck like a beached whale until the tide went out to drive across the dry sand.

To show there are military morons throughout the ages we have the wave heights for various vessels. It must have been very disconcerting for barge skippers to be told to go back out to sea by surveyors standing up to their necks in water with their theodolites. "You can't land an LCT (4) as your wave height limit is 2' 11" and we just measured the seventh wave at
3' 1 5/8" "


Lang

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Lang

What a treasure trove information. I suspect that the desires for which one to scan and post will be quite varied. But so as to not impose might I ask that you do two one Ford and one Chevy for the most numerous type the 3 ton 4x4 that will cover 24% of the Canadian Production.

Lorry, 3-Ton Chevrolet (Long Immersion for driving in Water)
Lorry 3-ton Ford (Long Immersion)

From the point of historical value to CMP community it would be nice if all of them in time might be scan and preserved.

Found the picture of the Ford V8 on test stand to be most interesting, what a display to have. Can you imagine hearing and watching as that thing was lowered into a tank of water while it was running.

You also raise some very good information in terms of terminology, I was saying "Deep Water Fording" and "Wade Proofing" you added "Amphibious Operation" do the manuals draw the distinction. I'll add the phrase "Amphibious Operations" to my web search and see if I stir up an more information.

Thanks for responding to my question.

Cheers Phil

[Lang]

Phil

I was lucky enough to get this lot back in the mid 70's. I was working in Victoria Barracks (the main HQ in NSW) and heard that the big base vehicle workshop west of Sydney was having a clean out.

I raced out in a ute and got there just as they were loading absolutely full, a truck with all their manuals dating from the 30's - several tons of them! Not just theirs but those from the nearby Ordnance Depot.

I knew the officer in charge of that section well and we both climbed up onto the pile and pulled out only Operators Manuals, Workshop Manuals and Illustrated parts manuals of every type of vehicle the Australian Army had ever operated and many they had not. The cardboard box of waterproofing instructions somehow got saved.

I filled the back of the ute but could not stop tons of books heading to the dump. If I had received earlier notice I knew the system well enough to easily have had the truck leave for the dump and arrive back empty with thousands of manuals diverted from the destruction order to disappear into the mists of the community

Unfortunately I donated maybe 300 manuals to a museum a couple of years later, just keeping a selection of a couple of hundred in my library. The museum failed, I got no phone call, and even today I see my rescued manuals advertised and at swap meets for outrageous prices. Maybe you have one??

As for scanning, these books appear to be very generic inside the covers (I haven't read right through any yet). If that is the case we may be able to achieve the aim with more types by just copying specific vehicle instruction pages to attach to the general section.

I can understand why these manuals are rare as each has the check list tear-out pages and look like they were issued for a specific operation and probably thrown away after the vehicle was prepared.

Lang

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Found the picture of the Ford V8 on test stand to be most interesting, what a display to have. Can you imagine hearing and watching as that thing was lowered into a tank of water while it was running.

Hi Phil,
The photo of the waterproofed engine on the stand is not a Ford V8, it looks to me to be an Austin 4 cyl., either an 8hp or a 10hp.

When I worked in army workshops, one of the longer serving workers told me that they had a display unit once with a Bedford petrol engine in it all waterproofed and the tank was filled with water and the engine started. Think is was taken out for displays.

cheers Richard

[Lang]

Richard

You are right, I think the overhead generator might have thrown Phil off the scent.

The photo is one of many original A4 size original glossies that are in the collection - not printed or copied - so they are very clear.

Lang