VERITABLE 1945: 3rd Canadian Division in Op Veritable

Just a few numbers to start this operation.

“Demands have entailed the production of over 500,000 air photographs and 15,000 enlargements. Over 800,000 special maps, requiring over 30 tons of paper, have been produced. If the ammunition allotments for the operations, which consists of 350 types, were stacked side by side and five feet high, it would line a road for 30 miles. The total ammunition tonnage, provided for the supporting artillery from D-Day, to D-Day plus 3, would be the equivalent in weight to the bomb-drop of 25,000 medium bombers.

“1,100 tons of smoke materials, exclusive of artillery, will be used in the ground plan, which will produce what is believed will be the longest smoke screen in the history of this war.”

 

A question that surfaced on Facebook (Op Veritable Group). Does anyone know what these items on the back of the Buffaloos amphibious vehicles are?

 

First thought Stolpi, docking/mooring fenders maybe? The things you chuck over the side if coming alongside a jetty, or other boat, or Buffalo, while in the water, to cross-deck and the like (stops your bits banging together).

Happy to be shot down in flames!

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

The middle photo in your post above stolpi is on this web page here too - with lots of others!

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

Alligator and Buffalo Amphibious Vehicles, Tracked (LVT)

 

Interesting, you don't see many photos of Mk.II Buffaloes.
They look a bit like Lilos (air filled rubberised canvas) to me. I wonder if these (ramp-less) Buffaloes would put them on the ground so that cargo could be quickly offloaded onto them without damage. In the same way that draymen throw kegs off the dray onto stuffed sacks.

 

Turns out that German draymen used the same method

 

These are Kapok Bridge Floats. See Missing-Lynx-LVT's: rare footage Vitality II

Also tested for floating a Carrier (photo courtesy DannyM):

 

Thank you so much Michel. Do you know why the Buffaloos would carry these with them?

 

I've been wondering about this ever since I started studying the Weskapelle landings but found nothing about their purpose. I suppose that they were simply meant as collective lifebuoys and/or floating supports for the heavier gear if the transported troops had to wade ashore.

 

Here is another thread about these Kapok floats. Including a link with more details and dimentions.

 

Excellent Bedee!

Kind regards, always,

Jim.