Rexford, Jeff Duquette, etc., check AVRE thread

[John Kettler]

Please see my post, especially the bottom of the linked thread for some juicy info on the semimythical Flying Dustbin projectile. Would be most interested in your thoughts afterwards.

Regards,

John Kettler

[Jeff Duquette]

John:

Yes I did go through about ¾ of that thread on the AVRE. Very enjoyable read. Thanks for the link. The spigot mortar certainly sounds like it was a very unconventional beast to load. My own reference material is limited to Chamberlain’s “British and American Tanks of WWII”.

Unfortunately David Fletcher’s excellent book “Mr. Churchill’s Tank” focuses mostly on the MkIII and MkIV. Not much in the book on "Hobart's Funnies". Perhaps he is working on a sequel

Seems to me Patrick Delaforce did something on the 79th Armoured Division.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>From Chamberlain’s “British and American Tanks of WWII”.

Churchill AVRE: (AVRE: Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers) Though the Dieppe raid was unsuccessful it proved that specialised types of armour were needed to assist assault forces in landing on and taking fortified open beaches. Urgently shown to be necessary was a heavily armoured vehicle to carry and support assault engineers charged with breaching heavy defences. Lt. Donovan of the Royal Canadian Engineers proposed adapting an existing tank. Both the Ram and Sherman were evaluated for the role, but the choice fell on the Churchill which had a roomier hull plus side escape doors which were useful for egress under fire. A spigot mortar, called a Petard, of 29cm caliber and firing a 401b bomb 80 yards, was developed, tested in a Covenanter tank, and modified for fitting on the 6pdr mount of the Churchill III or IV. 180 Churchills of these marks were converted to AVREs by D-Day, June 6, 1944, and equipped the 1st Assault Brigade of 79th Armoured Division at this time. Subsequently another 574 vehicles were converted and AVREs played an important part in the NW Europe campaign. AVREs were fitted to carry and drop fascines (brushwood bundles), the CIRD (Canadian Indestructible Roller Device) for mine-clearing, and SBG (Small Box Girder) bridges, attachment points being incorporated for all these to be handled as required. A few AVREs were unarmed or lacked the usual AVRE fittings, these being used mainly for training. Also produced for use with the AVRE was a sledge for towing stores, fascines, or explosives. Further AVRE development took place post-war, again with the Churchill as a basis, though this is beyond the scope of the present volume.

Mortar, Recoiling Spigot, Mks I and II United Kingdom Work on a special demolition gun was started in September 1942, when lessons of the Dieppe raid had been evaluated and indicated the need for short range bpmb throwing weapon for the demolition of pillboxes and anti-invasion obstacles. By 1943, the Churchill had been chosen for conversion to the AVRE role and the Petard mortar was adapted to fit the 6pdr gun mount. Churchills armed with this weapon took part in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landing and proved highly effective in the assault engineer role. The weapon was "broken" for loading, outside the turret, a special sliding loading hatch being provided in the front hull roof. The demolition bomb was popularly known as the "Flying Dustbin".

Calibre: 290mm

Length of tube (loading trough): 45in

Overall length: 86in

Weight of bomb: 401b

Effective range (with demolition bomb): 80 yards

Vehicles fitted: Churchill III & IV (Mk I mortar used in

training vehicles only).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Andreas]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeff Duquette:

Seems to me Patrick Delaforce did something on the 79th Armoured Division.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

He did 43rd, 49th, 51st, 11th AD, 7th AD and a 4th/8th AB history (got all of those). Also one on 3rd RTR, and some broader books in which he probably takes the best stories from the other ones.

He also did one called 'Churchill's secret weapons' which must be the one you talk about.

He is writing one about the reduction of the Channel coast fortresses by the Americans in Brittany and the 1st Canadian Army in Pas de Calais.

His books draw heavily on previously published material (e.g. memoirs, regimental histories), but use the division instead of the regiment as the basis for the story. They are a good read, and a good basis for scenario-making.