Armoured Bulldozers on D Day

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Paul Reed, Jun 9, 2009.

  1. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Does anyone know which units were equipped with these in the British sector on D Day? I am guessing 79th Armoured, but did all the Assault Squadrons have them?

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    From what I've read, the 79th Armoured never operated as an individual Division. The many and varied types of equipment were attached to whatever unit required their services.

    If I'm correct, it was the 1st Assault Brigade RE (5, 6 & 42 Assault Regiments RE) of the 79th Armoured, who were sent to the Gold, Juno & Sword.

    I'm sure sapper will confirm whether Armoured Bulldozers were used by the other RE units on the day.

    I'd be interested to find out more as well.
     
  3. CommanderChuff

    CommanderChuff Senior Member

    The D8 was a standard Caterpiller design with armour plate housing the engine and cab. First used on the Normandy beaches the purpose was to clear defences from the beach and keep open the beach exits and roadways. They were also used for towing guns.

    The 1st Assault Brigade, RE, of the 79th Armoured Division had 5 regiments plus HQ; 5th, 6th and 42nd Assault Rgmts were equipped with Churchill AVRE, and 149th Assault Park had x14 D8, 87th Assault also had bulldozers but my records are not specific on the armoured aspect.

    Hopefully, a model of this vehicle will be appearing in my Overlord Military Train next year.

    Not a lot of info, but hope that helps,

    David
     
  4. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Weren´t there tank-dozers available?
     
  5. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I know you have asked about the British Sector, but I found reference to bulldozers in the CMHQ Canadian report on the Juno landing.

    The DD tanks were to land at H Hour -5 followed by the AVRE tanks and Bulldozers at H Hour exactly

    "5 Canadian Field Company, in support of 7 and 8 Cdn Inf Bdes, was charged with clearing four gaps through the underwater obstacles by H plus 75 minutes, using bulldozers and explosives. These gaps, distributed across the divisional front, were to vary in width from 600 yards on MIKE Green Beach to 200 yards on NAN Green. On each brigade front a Naval Landing Craft obstacle Clearance Unit (L.C.O.C.U.) was to assist in the removal of underwater obstructions. (Ibid; 3 Cdn Inf Div O.O. No. 1). Two sapper assault teams, composed each of one platoon from 6 and 16 Cdn Fd Coys, were to be placed under the command of the assaulting brigades to assist the battalions in clearing beach defences. (R.C.E., 3 Cdn Inf Div O.O. No. 1)."

    So a field company RE is using them in this instance and the same may apply to the British sector. Hope this was of some use.
     
  6. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  7. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks for that one and all.

    I had a lady in my Normandy group whose husband drove an armoured bulldozer ashore at D Day, and was wondering if only the Assault Sqs used them. Seems not - was hoping to narrow it down a bit!
     
  8. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    We had our own armoured bulldozer. And we used them up in the front line all the time, but some had armour all round the operator.

    Oddly enough. The first mine free exit off Sword was made by my platoon. Where in the turmoil on the beach they found an armoured bulldozer, commandeered it and drove a clear path through.... Who did it belong to? I don't know...But it is well recorded.

    There were two phases in the invasion. The first part we acted as an Assault Company. After the invasion all the assault gear was withdrawn, and we continued in out normal role as a RE Field company. With armoured bulldozers brought in later.

    All Field Cos RE had bulldozers. But they were open to solid shot. But some of the drivers were bloody marvelous of avoiding anti tank shells. As sadly our Cole's Crane that we used right up front...Did not...She... bless her, finally perished after being hit several time previously. A solid shot got the old Girl! If I recall she had an aerial bomb on her jib when she burst into flames. She had been known to lift sea mines used as an anti personal, and anti tank weapon.

    Sapper
     
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  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks for that Brian- most interesting.
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Paul,

    There was a chap on here the other day (New member). If I remember rightly he said his grandfather drove one ashore on D-Day. He did list the unit too but it escapes me at the mo.

    Andy
     
  11. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks Andy - will make a search for it.
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  13. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    No worries, it was worth a look!
     
  14. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    According to Normandy to the Seine (War Office 1946), which is a history of RE work in Normandy, the armoured bulldozers on D Day were supplied by 860 Mechanical Equipment Company Royal Engineers. There were 36 of them on Juno and 8 on Sword from this unit. Will check out their diary at Kew later this week.
     
  15. kfz

    kfz Very Senior Member

    We had our own armoured bulldozer. And we used them up in the front line all the time, but some had armour all round the operator.

    Oddly enough. The first mine free exit off Sword was made by my platoon. Where in the turmoil on the beach they found an armoured bulldozer, commandeered it and drove a clear path through.... Who did it belong to? I don't know...But it is well recorded.

    There were two phases in the invasion. The first part we acted as an Assault Company. After the invasion all the assault gear was withdrawn, and we continued in out normal role as a RE Field company. With armoured bulldozers brought in later.

    All Field Cos RE had bulldozers. But they were open to solid shot. But some of the drivers were bloody marvelous of avoiding anti tank shells. As sadly our Cole's Crane that we used right up front...Did not...She... bless her, finally perished after being hit several time previously. A solid shot got the old Girl! If I recall she had an aerial bomb on her jib when she burst into flames. She had been known to lift sea mines used as an anti personal, and anti tank weapon.

    Sapper

    Sapper,

    Where they proper conversion with real armour plate, that had been tested, or where they just worn out commandeered ex builing site with a a bit of mild steel sheet bolted on?

    Did you not get any of the proper Churchill or Sherman dozers?

    Kev
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I was reading somewhere a while back that some steam powered bulldozers/Rollers (Plant) and the like were commandeered by the Ministry of War (Or whatever Dept.) for the use on D-Day from road Maintenance Depts. run by local governments. The article I think was in Vol 1 of ATB's D-Day (Or the net to do with South London during the war) and it said they took stock of various types from Steam Powered to the more conventional petrol powered types.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  17. Bala

    Bala Member

    I have a folder of sketches, notes and War Diary extracts made by 82 Assault Squadron RE. They landed on D-Day supporting 231 Infantry Brigade of 50 Div and forced the exits.
    A quote from the Notes reads ".....Success could only be achieved by provision of special craft, equipment and devices....Tactically....surprise achieved by landing in the first waves, a weight of armour great enough to overwhelm the defences in the first few hours. This was achieved by assigning to lead the attack on each beach, both DD tanks and LCT's carrying specialized armour of 79th Armoured Division.
    The three divisions on the British[& Canadian] Sector all had special assault teams provided by 79th Armoured Division and under command of Brigadier N.W. Duncan. These were made up of Crabs, AVREs and armoured bulldozers and allotted to Divisions."

    A map shows:

    JIG BEACH - 82 Sqn ARE under 231 Inf Bde of 50 Div
    KING Beach - 81 Sqn ARE under 69 Inf Bde of 50 Div

    MIKE BEACH - 26 Sqn ARE under 7 Canadian Inf Bde of 3 Cdn Div
    NAN BEACH - 80 Sqn ARE under 8 Canadian Inf Bde of 3 Cdn Div

    QUEEN BEACH (Green) - 77 Sqn ARE under 8 Inf Bde of 3 Brit Div
    QUEEN BEACH (Red) - 79 Sqn ARE under 8 Inf Bde of 3 Brit Div

    Regards

    Bill
     
  18. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks for that - so far I have found nearly half a dozen different RE units who supplied personnel and kit for the armoured bulldozers.
     
  19. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    We had our own Dozers. The steel armour came right up so that the driver had to look out the top, Not cobbled together. Armoured Dozers but made properly, I cannot recall the Numbers???...D 8 was one if I recall correctly?
    Perhaps I did not make this clear? The armour covered the Dozer....Only A solid shot was likely to take it out.

    The first exit off Sword Beach was accomplished by using an armoured bulldozer found on the beach... IT WAS NOT ONE OF OURS! IT was quickly commandeered and put to very good use immediately/
    Cheers
    Sapper
     
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  20. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Courtesy of Arrse, a dozer from the Field Park Company of an Infantry Division:

    [​IMG]

    The caption is: Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière moving through the village, 6 June 1944.
    Battlezone Juno doesn't list a Fd Pk Coy under its 3 Cdn Div order of battle - perhaps someone else will know?
     

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