Major MacLean R.C.E., Snake, and Snake carrier

[sapper740]

Does anyone have info regarding Major MacLean of the 11th Field Co., 2nd Canadian Division, R.C.E. and his invention, the Snake? Apparently he invented it in October 1941 when it was nicknamed the "Worthington Wiggler" after F.F. Worthington, commander of the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade. My research so far has shown that the Snake and the Snake carrier were only deployed once in combat at Anzio by the U.S. 1st Armored Division on May 23, 1944. Any comments/info/links/pics especially diagrams or details of the snake would be greatly appreciated.

[Roger Lucy]

Microfilm C-8374, file HQS 8768-3 (which you should be able to obtain through inter-library loan) has extensive coverage of trials of the Snake between March 1942 and the fall of 1943. The initial report covers trials undertaken in the UK by 11 Fd Coy.RCE and No.1 Canadian Tunneling Company. The report, by Major the Hon. Colin Cambell MLA OC No.1 Tunneling Coy is unfortuantely is very hard to read as it's a poor microfim of a carbon copy, but has a number of photos of it being pushed into position by a Churchill tank. The other reports cover trials at Petawawa in April 1942 with photos and numerous drawings. Both sets of trials showed considerable promise.

Less sussessful were Worthy's efforts, as GOC 4 Armoured Division to develop, in the summer of 1942, a "water-snake" for destroying beacjh obstacles however there are well illustrated reports of 21 Fd Coy tirlas off Halifax, as well as nice drawings of various flotation devices that were tried out.

NDHQ's Directorate of Engineering Design then seems to have turned over the refinement of the system to the US Army Engineers at Fort Belvoir. The idea was also taken over by Combined Operations in the UK. By 1943, Canada was trying hard to defend its claim to having invented the system (and other mine breaching devices).

The various Snake prototypes comprised a couple of hundred feet of 2 to 3 inch water pipe (4" proved better for the sea snake) - thin enough to be flexible, but not so flexible it could not be pushed into place - the last 10 or so feet being filled with about 10lbs of explosive. A pointed wooden head was fitted to the end so it could "snake" its way past obstacles, through undergrowth and under wire entanglements. It proved it could blast a 12 foot wide lane through a dummy minefield.

In the Pet trials it was pushed into place by either Ford CMP or a Universal carrier - best results were obtained at about 6mph. For the water-snake a powered lighter or a landing craft was used - the water-snake had floats (originally kapok supported by sections of assault bridge tressle and walkway, later more elaborate metal or cellaur wooden floats were tested). When it reached the beach the floats were to be jettisoned so the water-snake could be pushed ashore - unfortunately it tended to turn broad-side to the beach.