M2 Assault boat

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sgtpeter
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M2 Assault boat

Post by sgtpeter » Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:37 pm

Anyone have detailed pics or plans for the M2 Assault boat? Have you seen one for sail?
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John Phillips
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Post by John Phillips » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:27 am

"Army Motors" issue #45 (Summer 1988) has an article with a pen and ink dimensioned drawing of the M2 Assault Boat. Also, there are some on display at the National War and Resistance Museum / Marshall Museum at Overloon, The Netherlands.

It looks like it would be easy to make a reproduction of the M2 Assault Boat. Are you interested in making one? Let me know what you find.


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Post by sgtpeter » Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:24 am

Thanks John. I'll see if I can find an issue and let you know if I find anything else.
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Post by sgtpeter » Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:35 am

Hi John -

I was just looking at that picture again and realized how much I missed the first time. At first all I saw was the boat on the ground with the motor. Then I realized there was a whole stack of 'em on the trailer. That's pretty cool. It would certainly be easier to haul that around than an LCVP. :wink:

Peter
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Hanno Spoelstra
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Post by Hanno Spoelstra » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:50 pm

John Phillips wrote:Also, there are some on display at the National War and Resistance Museum / Marshall Museum at Overloon, The Netherlands.
See http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=916 for the rest of my pictures.

Hanno

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Post by sgtpeter » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:22 pm

Thanks Hanno, those are some great pics. Are you involved with the Overloon museum?
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Greg Hines
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Post by Greg Hines » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:31 pm

There are about 8 pages of pictures, drawings and text of the M2 Assault Boat in TM 5-271 Light Stream-Crossing Equipage (dtd 27 March 1944). There is a drawing there with dimensions that might be enough to work from I suppose. It also list the materials used:

"The sides are 7/16 in mahogany plywood, the bottom is 3/8 inch fir plywood, and the transom is 3/4 inch fir plywood" There is more on the fasteners used and all that. BTW it weighs 410 pounds.

I bought my copy(ies) off Ebay. If you just want the section on the M2 I'd be happy to provide high quality copies just send me an address but I recommend the entire manual as there is more good stuff in there about other boats, rafts, ferries, & light bridges.

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Post by sgtpeter » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:36 pm

Hi Greg -

Thanks for the info, I knew there was a manual that would cover it, but hadn't seen it yet. I remember reading somewhere that they were heavy! I'll definitely watch for that manual, but would love to have a copy in the mean time. I can paypal you some money for copy and postage fees. Or do you have the ability to scan and email the pages?

Can you imagine the weight of those 4 boats on the trailer? I haven't seen the "assault boat trailer" in the military vehicle catalog so I wonder if that trailer is specific for the boats or adapted from something else? And what do you think about towing the boat trailer and boats behind my ambulance :wink:

Thanks,
Peter
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Post by sgtpeter » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:00 am

Forgot to ask ... have you seen any for sale?
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Greg Hines
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Post by Greg Hines » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:41 am

Peter,

Where are you located? Just pm me your address and I'll send the copies. I don't need any money. There is a trailer illustrated in the manual but it wasn't in the section on the assault boats. I'll look closer at that and see if it was also intended for the assault boats.

No, I haven't seen any of the boats for sale but I keep my eyes open.

Greg
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Post by sgtpeter » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:28 am

PM sent
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Post by battlebaby3 » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:44 am

I always wanted to maKe the canvas assult boat like the ones off " A Bridge Too Far". Would be easier to store and lighter.
Been looking for the plans for years now.

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Post by ccandgc » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:39 pm

as an interesting note....on last nights(10/1) episode of "The War" showed several of these M2 assault boats in action! They were loaded almost to the point that if anyone moved, it would capsize!

chad

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Post by Greg Hines » Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:05 pm

Pat,

Someone is selling plans for a collapsible assault boat on Ebay. As I recall they are mid to late 1930's US plans so they are probably not exactly what the Brits had but close enough. I'll see if I can find them again.

Greg
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Post by Greg Hines » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:49 pm

Page 8 of TM 5-271 says this about transportation of the boats:

"The boats are nested for transportation. They may be carried on 2 1/2 ton trucks or on two wheel trailers."

The exact trailer is not mentioned but a pole type trailer is shown a chapter or two later carrying another type of boat. That trailer looks like the trailer in the picture John posted but it's hard to be sure.

Greg
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