Vehicles used by Royal Canadian Engineers after D-Day

[Adrian Dwyer]

I recently came across this site <https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/royal-canadian-engineers-rce-north-west-europe-1944-1945>.  It may, of course, be well known to some here, but the images are stunning and worth a look if you haven't seen them before.  All the best.  A

(BTW - the site, when you scroll to the end, has a number of excellent links to similar threads.)

Edited December 12, 2024 by Adrian Dwyer

[Adrian Dwyer]

The third photo states the Sappers are repairing 'bomb damage'.  My eye keeps being drawn to the penetrating hole in the roof.

[Adrian Dwyer]

Does anyone recognise the motorcycle?

[Adrian Dwyer]

This really is the gift that keeps on giving re: Canadian military vehicles of WW2.  The image below is from the link <https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/i-canadian-corps-1942-1945>  and shows Crew from 11th Armoured Regiment Ontario Tanks, Lt. H.S. Nixon (on top), Sgt. T.W. McCutcheon (at side), and Tpr. E. Kobarnynka (in tank) driving a Sherman 'repossessed' from disconsolate Germans.

[john1950]

All of the duck bills you can see in place.

[Adrian Dwyer]

3 hours ago, john1950 said:

All of the duck bills you can see in place.

Evening John.  That's what had had been niggling about the image!  What's the history of the 'duck bill'?

Edited December 12, 2024 by Adrian Dwyer

[john1950]

Hello Adrian. All I know is they were developed inner and outer to spread the load in muddy conditions. They also prevent the track pins from working there way out.

Edited December 13, 2024 by john1950
addition

[Adrian Dwyer]

Through the wonders of google, found this site.  <https://www.theshermantank.com/tag/duckbill-end-connectors/>

Edited December 13, 2024 by Adrian Dwyer

[David Herbert]

4 hours ago, john1950 said:

 They also prevent the track pins from working there way out.

I am sorry John but no ! Sherman tracks pins do not come out even if you want them to. They are rubber bushed into the track link, two per link. The links are then joined by removeable 'End Connectors' which also extend away from the ground to include the guide horns that form the path for the road wheels. The end connectors are retained on the pins by wedge bolts that engage with flats on the pins, a bit like the cotter bolts that hold a bicycle crank onto the sprocket shaft. The nut that holds the wedge in is on the upper surface of the end connector so the drive sprocket has cutaways between the teeth to clear these nuts. The sprocket teeth actually drive onto the end connectors so when there is too much wear the end connectors can be replaced together with the sprockets disks.

When it was realised that standard 16 1/2" Sherman VVSS track ground pressure was too high the quick fix was to make end connectors with sheet metal extensions welded on to them. As seen in the photos above there were several different designs of these. Even after HVSS 24" track solved the ground pressure issue there were a huge number of VVSS Shermans in use and some were remanufactured with all the suspension units spaced out about 4" from the hull to enable extended end connectors to be fitted on both sides of each track.

David

[Adrian Dwyer]

From the same link