Storm and Assault Boats

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Art Johnson
If they are the same boats that we trained on they were collapsable with wooden bottoms and canvas sides. there was a wooden gunnell I think it was called around the top. Wooden stays were inserted between the gunnell and the bottom to form the sides and rear of the boat. They were very heavy and awkward to handle.

In The Mark River Crossing Albert E. Siklosi recalls having to use assault boats furnished by the Canadians: "But these were described as collapsible and of canvas covered frame construction. a type we had never seen or used before. They were rated as 12 men, 2 engineers and 10 infantry. The Canadians were to instruct us on their assembly and use when they made delivery."
"Where were the Canadians? Finally we heard their lorries coming and they pulled up beside us. We all pitched in to unload the boats, which were in the collapsed state for easy transport. We were shown how to open the canvas covered frames and snap them into the locked position to form an assault boat shape. They proved to be deceptively heavy, almost the same as the all wood American model. Twelve paddles were placed in each boat which helped increase the weight. Their job done, the Canadians wished us good luck and took off in their lorries."