Churchill Avre log carpet

[MicS]

There are not many photos of AVRE with Log Carpet that I know of, even less so with the Log Carpet still on. Here are a couple of well known NAC photos of AVRE 1D, 80 Aslt Sqn RE on D Day at Bernières. This AVRE was commanded by Lt John Holland SAUNDERS (228040) RE, and landed from LCT(5) 2286 (LTIN 1408) on NAN WHITE Green Gap. The timber on top of the mudguards is clearly visible on both pics, but on the first you will note that the release gate, which is in its "down" position, is slightly different from that shown on the drawings:






LCT Serial 1408 is visible on NAC PA-137130 (second row, fourth from left). The SBG br and Fascine AVsRE are easily recognisable, but the Log Carpet AVRE is not:




Another photo (by Lambton Burn, in his book "Down Ramps!") shows AVRE 4A 'BARBARIAN' commanded by Captain Thomas "Tom" Wyllie Howie FAIRIE (226311) RE, 77 Aslt Sqn RE, on board LCT(4) 947 (Serial 109) after the LCT was hit by German anti tank gun shells opposite the western end of Strongpoint COD:




The timber at the top of each track guard, as specified in the Training doc and as visible on AVRE 1D, seems to have been replaced by three lengths of tubular, which is consistent with information from a 77 Aslt Sqn report:

77 ASLT SQN

NOTES ON PREP FOR LANDING LA BRECHE D'HERMANVILLE AND LDG
OF CRAFT - 6 JUN 44. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE OPS

(...)

2. SPECIAL FITTING

(a) AVRE, log carpet and Bangalore.

(i) Tubular cradle and release gate for carpet.

79 Aslt Sqn RE seems to also have used tubular, rather than timber, for their Log Carpet cradles. I believe that AVRE T 172053/C 'CHEETAH' of 79 Aslt Sqn RE, which landed from LCT(4) Serial 115 (QUEEN RED Blue Gap), is a Log Carpet AVRE, because these three tubular lengths are apparent on the top of the front mudguards. This would probably make it AVRE 3A commanded by Lieutenant William Haynes Hilton HUTCHINSON (219697) RE:




In conclusion, there were slight variations in details between units, but the general layout seemed to have been the same.

If someone has a higher resolution version of NAC PA-137130 I'd be very grateful, as it has lots of valuable details that are not clear here.

Michel

[Noel Burgess]

Michael
I had seen the last photo (Cheetah) many years ago and had assumed that the tubes on the track guards were lengths of Bangalore Torpedo. That was before I had found any forum discussions about the various AVRE fittings and then knew nothing about the D Day Log Carpet.
Many thanks for the others, which are new to me.
My information came from Mike by the way. Sorry for the delay in replying been away for a while.
Noel