Armoured bulldozer, Juno Beach

[Les Freathy]

Hi Derek

The load on the trailer could be gas cylinders for barrage ballons, they used these as a deterrant against low flying aircraft but in the end they proved to be good aiming points for German gunners. Its unusual to see cylinders on this type of trailer but that said every item of equipment was used to the full in the first few months of the landings
cheers
Les

[Noel Burgess]

I too have pondered over this, and other similar trailer loads, seen on D Day photos.
Les: hadn't thought of baloon cylenders before but I thought that the initial baloons were the smaller ones taken (ready inflated) from the landing craft which flew them on passage. have not seen any referance to vehicles/trailers associated with the initial BB units
Sapper: how about rolls of PBS as mentioned recently in relation to the possible Tar Boiler.

At this site http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/gold...page=69landing there are some fairly good landing tables for Gold Beach - these include 6 "Freuhauf" trailers landed for 235 Fld Pk Co and 3 of same plus 2 "20 Ton low loading Trlr" for 51 Mech Equip Sect but no mention of what any carried

See also this picture which I posted some time ago http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...4621#post64621 this trailer appears to be carrying some sort of trackway ?

Noel

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Noel Burgess

I too have pondered over this, and other similar trailer loads, seen on D Day photos.
Les: hadn't thought of baloon cylenders before but I thought that the initial baloons were the smaller ones taken (ready inflated) from the landing craft which flew them on passage. have not seen any referance to vehicles/trailers associated with the initial BB units
Sapper: how about rolls of PBS as mentioned recently in relation to the possible Tar Boiler.

At this site http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/gold...page=69landing there are some fairly good landing tables for Gold Beach - these include 6 "Freuhauf" trailers landed for 235 Fld Pk Co and 3 of same plus 2 "20 Ton low loading Trlr" for 51 Mech Equip Sect but no mention of what any carried

I don't think its PBS as all the pictures I have seen show it in rolls a few feet wide in order to fit through the "Stamp Licker". I'm leary of the balloon gas cylinder theory as most barrage balloons were ship mounted so disembarking the cylinders would be counter-productive. I know some balloons were tethered ashore but wouldn't the service life of the gas inside exceed their time ashore at Normandy, thus negating any need to replenish it? Just my thought, gentlemen.

See also this picture which I posted some time ago http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...4621#post64621 this trailer appears to be carrying some sort of trackway ?

The rolls in the front of the trailer look very similar to ARC matting which was used extensively by U.S. forces in the Pacific. I'm unaware of it's use by Commonwealth troops. It's difficult to identify the rest of the load on the trailer.

[ted angus]

Having attended Cardington on several occassions and watched demonstrations of the result of mishandling cylinders of Oxy and hydrogen there is no way hydrogen cylinders would be transported like that. As noted initial balloons were the mini variety which came ashore inflated. I have pictures of the MT used by the Balloon sqns that eventually landed and both the winches and cylinders were on fordson sussex 38-39 model. what is interesting is in late 1944 these Fordson's photographed on the Belgium Dutch border still bore their Middlesex CC reg numbers without a sign of an RAF number. Sqn support vehicles were Bedford QL and CMP 30cwt.
my money is on trackway matting being carried.
TED

[Les Freathy]

You are probably right Ted, as the photo is very fuzzy its not easy to see the load clearly. Mine was only a suggestion but the trailer and load did not seem to link, how about posting some of the pictures you mentioned
cheers
Les

[ted angus]

Hi Les I will post them one at a time . In the first picture the full cabs of 2 hydrogen carriers can be seen, to the left part of a winch is visible. To the the right part of a wheel and wing.
It is not possible to see all 4 in one shot but once you see all the shots you will get the idea.
The left hand winch has the type number on its nearside cab door.
TAF 85 is clear on them all one at least also bears a wing marking which I think is 150 wing. No evidence at all of an RAF number just the CC reg numbers. I have had to compress the pictures to get them to attach but from the original pictures the 2 visible reg numbers are PMG 409 and PHX 802
I have also found another shot taken in 1942 of a Balloon winch again devoid of a RAF number. I have numerous other Fordson shots I will have to dig for when I have time.
TED

[ted angus]

In this shot more of the left hand winch truck is visible