DEMONSTRATION OF WATERPROOFING TECHNIQUES BY RAF MOTOR TRANSPORT WATERPROOFING UNITS, INDIA [Allocated Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: DEMONSTRATION OF WATERPROOFING TECHNIQUES BY RAF MOTOR TRANSPORT WATERPROOFING UNITS, INDIA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ABY 31
  • Other titles: ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Airmen of an RAF motor transport waterproofing unit demonstrate techniques for waterproofing vehicles in preparation for amphibious operations.
  • Description: Various modifications are made to a jeep to enable it to operate amphibiously, including the fitting of a special intake pipe to the carburettor, the sealing of the battery with a water-resistant mineral jelly, (possibly asbestos) the sealing of the fuel tank and waterproofing the radiator by means of a ground sheet. Several angles of the jeep being driven through a testing tank with four airmen aboard. A waterproofed, 3-ton Chevrolet lorry is then also seen being driven through the tank.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-09-13
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company) Layzell, R G (Production individual) Swain, J (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Motor Transport Waterproofing Units (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: India (geography) Far East 1939-1945 (theme) Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (theme) India 1939-1945 (theme) Amphibious Warfare (theme) Combined Operations and Landing Craft 1940-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 284 ft; Running time: 4 minutes
  • HD Media:
  • Notes: The dopesheet adds: 'When waterproofing is complete a vehicle can be driven through five feet of water for a distance of 600 yards. This is estimated to enable a vehicle to leave a landing barge some distance from the shore and to proceed to the beach under its own power'. Date from slate. Dopesheet dated 31/10/1944.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ABY 31

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register