23tons photos on Flickr

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Me crewing on my pal's 55ft yacht off the coast of Portugal in 2005. A big adventure it was from Plymouth in England to Lagos in the Algarve, Portugal. Great memories.

"Dolphins at starboard bow!" by John

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As we sailed around Cape St. Vincent the weather suddenly improved and we were warmly welcomed to Portugal's Algarve by these three very beautiful and playful dolphins. They raced under and ahead of the boat and seemed to love us calling and waving out at them.

M4A2 TANK MEDIUM DUPLEX DRIVE by sean gibson

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A swimming tank used on D-Day

DD, or Duplex Drive, was a term applied to Sherman tanks modified for amphibious operations. It refers to the fact that the tank uses its tracks on land and marine propellers in the water. Even so the most obvious feature of the amphibious Sherman is the huge screen of waterproof canvas which provides the buoyancy.

The system was invented by a Hungarian, Nicholas Straussler, who became a British subject before the war. It was first applied to a Tetrarch light tank and then to the Valentine which was used extensively for training. However the American Sherman was selected for active service because it was a more modern tank. The floatation screen is first raised by air filled tubes and then locked in place by a metal framework. The tracks keep turning in the water but they also drive the propellers which are steered by the helmsman standing behind the turret.

DD tanks were used by American, British and Canadian forces on D-Day; by the Americans again in the south of France and by the Americans and British during the Rhine crossing. They were relatively successful but crews had to be trained in submarine escape techniques in case their tank sank.

Duplex Drive equipment designed in the U.K. and fitted to Sherman (M4 medium) and Valentine infantry tank Mark III. DD equipment made the two tanks amphibious so could cross rivers and make seaborne landings. The equipment was stored and tank operated normally. It took 8 minutes to inflate using the 2 air bottles carried. Bilge pump by separate electric motor. Extension periscope and 2 propellors (driven by power taken from tank engine). Experiments continued until 1946

VEHICLES Features

Full Tracked

Tracks/Wheels

Gun - 75mm Gun

Armament - Main Weapon Type

Amphibious

Additional Features

2 x .30" M1919A4 Machine Guns

Armament - Secondary Weapon Type

General Motors Diesels, Model 6046, Series 71 x 2

Engine

Vehicle Statistics

5

Number (Crew)

29.23tons

Weight (Overall)

25mph

Maximum (Speed - Road)

4kn

Maximum (Speed - Water)

Diesel

Type (Fuel)

75mm

Calibre (Main Gun)

375bhp

Power (Engine Output)

148gall

Volume (Fuel)

Radius (Range)

50.8mm

Maximum (Armour Thickness)

97rounds

Number (Projectile)

7.62m

Length (Overall)

3.2m

Width (Overall)

3.96

Height (Overall)

Ex-‘Air Sea Rescue Boat’ (1945 -) by glmrsnsw

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The boat moored at Tuncurry in 1980 (pictured above not long after arrival) is believed to be an Ex Air Sea Rescue vessel. During her stay at Tuncurry the owner undertook some alterations and superstructure additions - including the addition of an enclosed cabin and an open fly bridge.

After a period of time the vessel was taken upstream from her mooring to a property on the Wallamba River at Darawank, where she was taken out of the water and put on hard stand.

The eventual fate of this vessel is unknown; any further information would be greatly appreciated.

General History

The following extracts come from: Air-Sea Rescue Boats

“The design for the Air Sea Rescue boats was based on an American anti-submarine boat which had been modified for rescue operations. They were mainly used to rescue crews from Allied aircraft which ditched in the sea. All Air Sea Rescue boats had a sick bay at the rear of the boat. They were mostly stationed in northern Australian waters or in New Guinea."

"All ASR Boats were painted with a black hull on the sides with dark red below the water line and a white water line if needed. The decks, all superstructure sides and roof were painted yellow."

"Twenty Air Sea Rescue Boats were ordered through Admiralty Requisition Number BAD (Aust) 2714, Authority ACNB. 270611 dated 4th March 1944 signed by R. Millar. They arrived as deck cargo on 5 ships eventually to Sydney June/July 1944."

"In 1946 a proposal was announced to transfer 15 ASR Boats to the RAAF. At that stage 19 boats had been commissioned. One boat, Air Mist, had been wrecked by that time. 13 ASR Boats were finally transferred to the RAAF in about 1949. After WW2 the remaining RAN boats were re-designated as Search and Rescue vessels."

RAAF

Although the identification of the above boat at Tuncurry is not positively known, it is possible that, if she was one that was transferred to the RAAF from the RAN, she could be in fact one of the seven listed below that have not been accounted for.

HMAS Air Sailor (926) Built by Fellows & Stewart Inc., USA. Launched in 1944 and Commissioned on 8 November 1944. Transferred to the RAAF in 1949.

HMAS Air Sense (914) Built by Harbour Boat Building Co., USA. Commissioned on 1 March 1945. Transferred to the RAAF in 1949.

HMAS Air Bird (915) Built by the Harbour Boat Building Co., USA. Launched in 1945 and Commissioned on 28 March 1945. Transferred to the RAAF in 1949.

HMAS Air Cloud (924) Built by Harbour Boat Building Co., USA. Launched in 1944 and Commissioned on 20 October 1944. Transferred to the RAAF in 1949.

HMAS Air Rest (921) Built by Harbour Boat Building Co., USA. Launched in 1944 and Commissioned on 20 September 1944. Transferred to the RAAF in 1950.

HMAS Air Clan (922) Built by Harbour Boat Building Co., USA. Launched in 1944 and Commissioned on 11 December 1944.Transferred to the RAAF in 1949.

HMAS Air Hope (908) Built by South Coast Co., USA. Commissioned on 13 February 1945. Transferred to the RAAF in 1949.

Details of the HMAS Air Sense

Type: Naval + Rescue/Airforce + Rescue Boat

Length: 63ft

Beam: 15.3ft

Draft: 4ft Displacement: 23tons

Engine: 2 x 630hp x V12Cyclinder Hall Scott Defender Petrol Speed: 33.5 knots /Top speed 37.3knots. Range: 14.5 hours Fuel: 1200 gallons. 20 knots 56 gal @ 1500 revs/33 knots 110 gal @ 2100 revs.

Armament: Two 0.5 inch Machine Guns ( 2 x 2)

Builder: Harbor Boat Building Co

Where Built: Terminal Beach California, USA

Official numbers: HMAS 914 - RAAF 02-104

Commissioned: 1st March 1945

Owners: Royal Australian Navy [1945-1949] Royal Australian Air Force [1949-1960]

1945 – 1960’s HMAS Air Sense arrived at Sydney as deck cargo onboard the SS. Kookaburra Commissioned into the RAN 1st March 1945. Stationed at Townsville & Thursday Island. February 1946 stationed at Thursday Island. 21st October 1946 placed in modified ‘E Class’ reserve commission at Brisbane. 1946 transferred to the RAAF. Fitted with tripod mast 1960 at Neutral Bay, Sydney. 1960s based at Neutral Bay, Sydney.

Fate unknown.

Image Source: Courtesy of Alex Lopez, Via ‘Historic Waterways' Facebook Site.

Acknowledgements. The assistance of Mori Flapan (Mori Flapan boatregister) by providing access to his extensive database is greatly appreciated.

All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.

GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flickr Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List

Ex-‘Air Sea Rescue Boat’ (1945 -) by glmrsnsw

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The boat moored at Tuncurry in October 1980 (left) is believed to be an Ex Air Sea Rescue vessel. The ex "Air Faith" was moored out the front of Graham Nicholson's house in Tuncurry when he was a lad. During her stay at Tuncurry the owner undertook some alterations and superstructure additions - including the addition of an enclosed cabin and an open fly bridge.