Submerged DD Valentine, Poole.

Surely the title is not correct for this video.
Valentine dual-duplex swimming tank. Lost during training for D-Day off Poole, UK in April 1941

 

Yeah, I realize that, but a Valentine DD in April of 41?

I didn't think the Valentine DD was in use that early. When did Staussler do his development on the canvas screen and then Hobart attach it to the Valentine? The most exact date I can find for Straussler was 1941, which is a big range.

 

The '1941' query was sent as soon as I saw the vid, the gent who took it should now have a link to this thread.
I'll stick to giving credit to an obviously skilled amateur diver as I'm told he has 'other stuff' we might find interesting. ^_^

(Though I like a bit of good solid pedantry as much as the next bloke, I'm guessing it's just a typo on the date )

Oh, I agree, VP. Heavens know I make enough mistakes just posting here and on the other Ottoforum. Enjoyed the video, good clear water, so the tank showed up well. Any plans on recovering the vehicles that you know of?

I used to do genealogy and had to pay special attention to dates. I got a lineage one time from someone and noticed that there were two major discrepencies in that the parents of a family were shown by the birth dates given to be 4 and 5 years old when the first child was born and then in another line, the parents were well into their 70s when their first child was born. The person who sent me the lineage had found matching names and just shoe-horned the line into theirs without any verification or evaluation. Needless to say, I didn't use the lineage.

Oh yeah, does pedantry mean the same over there as it does here?

 

Oh sorry Jeff, I see what you mean.
I'll let the cheif-tank-nerd answer that one.
edit: I've been looking on the net, found this which proves you're right.
D Day Tanks and countdown to 60th anniversary of D-Day from the Tank Museum Bovington



Awe, shoot, Owen, even a blind hog like me finds an acorn every once in a while.

 

Not Poole harbour but thought you might like this little snippet of DD Tanks crossing the Rhine.

 

Valentine DD tank with screen erected, in the water alongside a landing craft, 79th Armoured Division School, Gosport, 14 January 1944. So still being used 6 months before D - Day.

Ross

 

It's a popular misconception that the Thistlegorm bikes are all BSAs but those three on their side at least are Norton 16Hs.

Can any of the more maritime genned-up people here tell me if the ship's manifest still survives ?

It's a wonderful thought that the War Department were sending truck-loads of wellies to Egypt

 

Valentine DD tank with screen erected, in the water alongside a landing craft, 79th Armoured Division School, Gosport, 14 January 1944. So still being used 6 months before D - Day.

Ross

I guess if I had really thought about, I would have realilzed it, but I just didn't think about how low in the water the hull of the tank was. Seeing it in a photo like mahross posted really makes it apparent.

Thanks.

 

I guess if I had really thought about, I would have realilzed it, but I just didn't think about how low in the water the hull of the tank was. Seeing it in a photo like mahross posted really makes it apparent.

Thanks.

Jeff - I think a good way of thinking about it is think about the recent episode of Top Gear where Jeremy Clarkson crossed the channel in a 'amphbious' car. I think the men who manned these DD tanks were extremely brave. As Omaha showed there misuse could be disastrous.

Ross

 

Research has never been so easy with this here internet! - On the train home from work last night was reading the last book by the late Noel Cashford ex RN Bomb Disposal guy - it makes mention of the time he was working at clearing ranges at Studland and that his boss, Lt Gutteridge, saw the top of a tank sticking out of the water during spring tides. Gutteridge swam out from the shore and down to the tank. Noel said he came back quite white as he had found a body in the tank. Divers from Poole recovered the body a few days later.
I got to wondering who the unfortunate chap might have been and if the tank wreck was still there.
Got home and within two minutes of getting on the net I found this thread and -
Valentine tank tragedy

 

thank you for posting
Brookwood Panel attached

Corporal ARTHUR JACKSON PARK

7907384, 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps
who died age 24
on 04 April 1944
Son of George and Edith Park, of Lancaster.
Remembered with honour
BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL