On Sunday 13 May 2007 17:35, Craig wrote: > The UK Special Forces have a long and illustrious history of using > kayaks for their missions. One of the most famous is during WWII when > Blondie Hasler (who later invented the self-steering windvane for > sailboats and was a primary mover in the single-handed races between the > USA and England) led a team of commandos on a raid into France. Hasler's book on how to build a 'Practical Junk Rig' (which is its title), is the bible in these matters. Lots of drawings, nary any photo! I must protest, by the way, against Craig claming that the 'Cockleshell Heroes' used boats similar to Folboats. It is true, that the Marine first tried kayaks were something like Folboats, but they just took too long time to assemble on deck in pitch darkness so they were replaced by weird plywood kayaks, of similar size, but with wooden tops and bottoms, while the sides were canvas. In packed form they looked liked packed sheets of plywood, with canvas inbetween, but it took just seconds to straighten the frames under the deck and go paddling. As their bottoms were flat I doubt they were very easy to paddle - and they tended to leak. If the film used other kinds, I have no idea. The attack on French shipping in Bordeaux was very daring, but their military importance was next to nil, and just two commandoes survived, one of them being Hasler. The rest died underway, or from German actions. As they tried to evade capture in 'civvies', they were all killed. Just like that! Later the marines and the SBS (the naval equivalent to SAS) used powered canoelike vessels that could dive as well! The advantage was that the commandos using these vessels arrived fairly rested, while some of the paddlers involved in Operation Frankton had been very near exhaustion. Here's a picture of the boats they used for the raid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cockshellboat.jpg The canvas sides is easily visible, as is the wooden deck! A bit about the raid: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/cockleshell_heroes_of_1942.htm Better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Frankton Tord *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
on 14/5/07 11:03, Tord Eriksson at tord_at_tord.nu wrote: > the Marine first > tried kayaks were something like Folboats, but they just took too long > time to assemble on deck in pitch darkness so they were replaced > by weird plywood kayaks, of similar size, but with wooden tops and > bottoms, while the sides were canvas. > > In packed form they looked liked packed sheets of plywood, with > canvas inbetween, but it took just seconds to straighten the frames > under the deck and go paddling. As their bottoms were flat I doubt > they were very easy to paddle - and they tended to leak. Anyone have plans for a Cockle Mk II, as used on operation Frankton? While no doubt a horrible thing to paddle, it would make an interesting project, and as two sheets of plywood joined by canvas, it is possibly within my woodworking skill level! Cheers JKA -- John Kirk-Anderson Banks Peninsula NEW ZEALAND *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Monday 14 May 2007 21:32, you wrote: > > Anyone have plans for a Cockle Mk II, as used on operation Frankton? > While no doubt a horrible thing to paddle, it would make an interesting > project, and as two sheets of plywood joined by canvas, it is possibly > within my woodworking skill level! > > Cheers > John, Try contacting the Royal Marines Museum, where there is one, I believe! http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/ http://people.brunel.ac.uk/~acsrrrm/kayak/cockle.html Tord *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This is close: http://www.vintageprojects.com/boats/FoldingKayak.pdf John Kirk-Anderson wrote: >Anyone have plans for a Cockle Mk II, as used on operation Frankton? While >no doubt a horrible thing to paddle, it would make an interesting project, >and as two sheets of plywood joined by canvas, it is possibly within my >woodworking skill level! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Gary J. MacDonald wrote: > This is close: > http://www.vintageprojects.com/boats/FoldingKayak.pdf Why not get one of these and stick a skirt on it (folds like a book, too).... http://www.porta-bote.com/ We put five westies in one. No skirt, though. http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/jmsailing/?action=view¤t=DSC03252_1.jpg Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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