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Post Info TOPIC: Operation Hush
James H


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Operation Hush
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Been having a look at photos of the dummy run. David Fletcher says the Tank tracks were fitted with "special claws" or "sharp metal teeth" which "dug into the fabric of the (sea) wall". I have to say that I can't see any such claws or teeth in the photos of the rehearsals. It looks more as if they are spuds designed to mesh with the steel ramp - necessary in view of the very steep angle of ascent. It would seem more useful to have spikes of some kind on the bottom of the ramps, otherwise, once the Tank was on the ramp, the whole lot would slide down the seaweed-covered wall. In fact, I think I remember reading somewhere that the weight of the Tanks alone was sufficient for the ordinary tracks to grip the wall.

Also; how was the ramp attached to the front of the Tank and subsequently released? The photo appears to show it clear of the wall at the front and attached somehow to the front of the vehicle in what looks like an impossible fashion. Logic would suggest that the front of the ramp would have to be in contact with the wall, with the Tank simply pushing it. Once the ramp made contact with the lip of the wall, the Tank would have to reverse, to allow the ramp to drop into place (and, one assumes, stay there), and then proceed up it. That's how it looks to me, anyhow.

Here's a nice site with some interesting pics of other aspects of the operation.

http://www.1914-1918.net/hush.htm



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Gwyn Evans


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I have copies of a document about Operation Hush that I found in The National Archives at Kew some years ago. On the subject of the tank's tracks its says "a special type of claw spud was devised ... made of an armour plate stamping with a number of sharp teeth coming in contact with the ground and giving the necessary grip. These spuds were fitted to every alternate track plate and never failed to give the necessary grip under the worst possible conditions." The document explains that there was an expectation the sea wall would be slippery with slime or seaweed. Incidentally I don't know what's meant by "armour plate stamping". I didn't think you could stamp armour plate.

As to how the ramp was attached to the tank, it seems the ramp "was carried from the front end of the Machine at the end of a pole or boom, which was in turn stayed back to the turret of the tank by means of wire rope guys." The document indicates that several different designs of ramp were tried and it is possible that different methods of attachment were also used. Certainly the photographed ramp is of a different design to the final version shown in the drawings in the document.

Gwyn

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TinCanTadpole


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I expect the "armour plate stamping" really means boilerplate - a heavy gauge steel plate that by its chunkiness and the nature of the vehicle it was used on, could easily be thought of as armour plate.

I've seen a photo of trials from a different angle, a couple of months ago - I think it's in David Fletcher's book on the MkIV, which I was able to see some of on google books. That pic I'm thinking of would be of no use as far as the ramp goes, because it shows a tank in mid-climb if memory serves, but it may show the tracks better - I'll have a look.

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James H


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One good turn . . .

http://www.scribd.com/doc/60781464/Osprey-New-Vanguard-133-British-Mark-IV-Tank-Ogon

V good photo of the winch tank, but only colour illustrations of ramp, etc.

P.S. A little find. It seems that the first attempt to adapt a Tank for Hush involved a Mk II. Can't make out any spikes on this photo.





-- Edited by James H on Friday 30th of March 2012 01:35:06 AM

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James H


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That is extremely interesting, gents. The more we can see of that, the better. Gwyn, can you say in what way the final version of the ramp differed?

Does it also explain the picture below? I cropped this, so you can't see Fuller, who is observing at close quarters. The spuds look very like the ones on the "Hush" Mk IV, although they seem to be performing very badly in this demonstration. It looks like a plan to tunnel into Belgium.



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TinCanTadpole


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Unfirtuantely, or rather, unfortunately (my typing seems to be getting worse - usually you can't tell, because I amend the mistakes before posting), Google books is not playing ball for me; at times it seems to let you see a reasonable portion of a book, other times it lets you look at the cover and the copyright notices (and I mean for the same book). Just now it's not being generous, although how much that's down to the variable broadband I have in student digs is a good question.

A plan to tunnel into Belgium? Or a De Mole landship ? wink



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James H


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TinCanTadpole wrote:

A plan to tunnel into Belgium? Or a De Mole landship ? wink

 That was very amusing. Or is it The Black Sapper?



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TinCanTadpole


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James H wrote:
 That was very amusing. 

 Glad you liked it. 

As for the link, that machine looks just like the "Mole" from Gerry Anderson's classic puppet series Thunderbirds. His version had caterpillar tracks along the sides for propulsion.



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TinCanTadpole


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Thanks for that James. Clearly my memory is wrong, as I was thinking of an image similar to the one you've posted; the book looks good though, with some nice technical photos of things you tend not to hear of. Must get myself a copy some time.

I notice the MkII seems to have a much longer add-on section on the side (presumably the winch gear, like on the MkIV). As for the tracks, we'd need a high res image to know if there is any form of claw on the tracks, but there's enough hint I think to keep the possibility in mind.


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James H


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TinCanTadpole wrote:
I notice the MkII seems to have a much longer add-on section on the side (presumably the winch gear, like on the MkIV).

Not sure about that. I think it might be an optical illusion caused by the shadows of the spuds against the hull. Will try to find out more about when the winch was introduced into the proceedings.



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TinCanTadpole


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James H wrote:
I think it might be an optical illusion caused by the shadows of the spuds against the hull.

 Yes, on second look you're right, it does seem to be an optical illusion - caused by the shadows of the angle irons that stick out around the lower track rollers, plus the way the light hits the varying dirt stains higher up the armour plates. Not the spud shadows though, they seem clearly enough to be what they are.

Actually, you're right about the spud shadows too. They do define the upper edge of my phantom winch housing.



-- Edited by TinCanTadpole on Friday 30th of March 2012 11:22:08 PM

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TinCanTadpole


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Since you're interested in Hush, James, did you know it was a rehash of a plan intended for 1916? According to Denis Winter's "Haig's Command", the Somme was supposed to be a brief diversionary attrition battle before a coastal operation as the main event. Things didn't go to plan and the Somme battle had to be extended, with the seaborne invasion cancelled - a bit like what happened a year later. Presumably the 1916 invasion, had it gone ahead, would have to have done without tanks.

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