Foni

[Waycool]

Presently I am reading Reginald Roy's 1944 The Canadians in Normandy and it mentions an amazing super heavy tank called "foni" a fake tank built upon a Sherman by 4th Cdn. Armoured Division engineers. Foni was a Super heavy tank purposely built to cause a stir on the Canadian front of an immense behemoth prowling the area armed with a mighty 9" cannon (telephone pole).

The tank was suppose to simulate a 120 ton beast with dimensions of 10 feet high, 15 feet wide and 40 feet long. It was smoke and mirrors all the way constructed with tin and a steel frame. According to Dr. Roy's account the subterfuge was used as part of an effort of holding German armour/forces on this front.

To complete the illusion of a Super heavy they also dug in a 5.5 inch howitzer in a pit immediately in front of Foni. the 5.5 inch would target a German held building some mile away. Foni trained its gun on the same building and "fired" its 9 inch cannon. Foni would then withdrawl satisified in giving Jerry a taste of its super 9" gun under German shelling.

Does anyone have photos of foni?