diff --git a/applications/test/CompactListList/Test-CompactListList.C b/applications/test/CompactListList/Test-CompactListList.C
index 6d0a26676a..9baf498faf 100644
--- a/applications/test/CompactListList/Test-CompactListList.C
+++ b/applications/test/CompactListList/Test-CompactListList.C
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         rowSizes[1] = row1.size();
         cll1.resize(rowSizes);
 
-        cll1[0].assign(row0);   //note: operator= will not work since UList
-        cll1[1].assign(row1);
+        cll1[0].deepCopy(row0);
+        cll1[1].deepCopy(row1);
         Info<< "cll1:" << cll1 << endl;
 
         forAll(cll1.m(), i)
diff --git a/applications/test/globalMeshData/Test-globalMeshData.C b/applications/test/globalMeshData/Test-globalMeshData.C
index c6b2d142e7..eab4500ebe 100644
--- a/applications/test/globalMeshData/Test-globalMeshData.C
+++ b/applications/test/globalMeshData/Test-globalMeshData.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -64,10 +64,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
         // Create field with my local data
         pointField coords(globalPointSlavesMap.constructSize());
-        SubList<point>(coords, coupledPatch.nPoints()).assign
-        (
-            coupledPatch.localPoints()
-        );
+        SubList<point>(coords, coupledPatch.nPoints()) =
+            coupledPatch.localPoints();
 
         // Exchange data. Apply positional transforms.
         globalPointSlavesMap.distribute
@@ -185,8 +183,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         label nBnd = mesh.nFaces()-mesh.nInternalFaces();
 
         pointField fc(globalPointBoundaryFacesMap.constructSize());
-        SubList<point>(fc, nBnd).assign
-        (
+        SubList<point>(fc, nBnd) =
             primitivePatch
             (
                 SubList<face>
@@ -196,8 +193,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                     mesh.nInternalFaces()
                 ),
                 mesh.points()
-            ).faceCentres()
-        );
+            ).faceCentres();
 
         // Exchange data
         globalPointBoundaryFacesMap.distribute
diff --git a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/setFields/setFields.C b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/setFields/setFields.C
index eedce844bc..9570756b4f 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/setFields/setFields.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/setFields/setFields.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ bool setFaceFieldType
                 field.boundaryField()[patchi].size(),
                 field.boundaryField()[patchi].patch().start()
               - mesh.nInternalFaces()
-            ).assign(field.boundaryField()[patchi]);
+            ) = field.boundaryField()[patchi];
         }
 
         // Override
diff --git a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/viewFactorsGen/viewFactorsGen.C b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/viewFactorsGen/viewFactorsGen.C
index defc6fb870..cdafdf3b20 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/viewFactorsGen/viewFactorsGen.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/viewFactorsGen/viewFactorsGen.C
@@ -424,14 +424,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             (
                 availablePoints,
                 upp.faceCentres().size()
-            ).assign(upp.faceCentres());
+            ) = upp.faceCentres();
 
             SubList<point>
             (
                 availablePoints,
                 upp.localPoints().size(),
                 upp.faceCentres().size()
-            ).assign(upp.localPoints());
+            ) = upp.localPoints();
 
             point cfo = cf;
             scalar dist = GREAT;
@@ -592,8 +592,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     DynamicList<label> compactPatchId(map.constructSize());
 
     // Insert my coarse local values
-    SubList<point>(compactCoarseSf, nCoarseFaces).assign(localCoarseSf);
-    SubList<point>(compactCoarseCf, nCoarseFaces).assign(localCoarseCf);
+    SubList<point>(compactCoarseSf, nCoarseFaces) = localCoarseSf;
+    SubList<point>(compactCoarseCf, nCoarseFaces) = localCoarseCf;
 
     // Insert my fine local values
     label compactI = 0;
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubList.H
index ff7661852a..b55fced6bb 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubList.H
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ public:
         //- Allow cast to a const List<T>&
         inline operator const Foam::List<T>&() const;
 
+        //- Assignment of all entries to the given sub-list
+        inline void operator=(const SubList<T>&);
+
         //- Assignment of all entries to the given list
         inline void operator=(const UList<T>&);
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubListI.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubListI.H
index 2a7f5c19ef..dbbed7469b 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubListI.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SubList/SubListI.H
@@ -87,10 +87,17 @@ inline Foam::SubList<T>::operator const Foam::List<T>&() const
 }
 
 
+template<class T>
+inline void Foam::SubList<T>::operator=(const SubList<T>& sl)
+{
+    UList<T>::deepCopy(sl);
+}
+
+
 template<class T>
 inline void Foam::SubList<T>::operator=(const UList<T>& l)
 {
-    UList<T>::assign(l);
+    UList<T>::deepCopy(l);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.C
index e64b808ed5..ea871ed3f9 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.C
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ License
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<class T>
-void Foam::UList<T>::assign(const UList<T>& a)
+void Foam::UList<T>::deepCopy(const UList<T>& a)
 {
     if (a.size_ != this->size_)
     {
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H
index a2fd872fa6..984bd90436 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H
@@ -80,6 +80,19 @@ class UList
         T* __restrict__ v_;
 
 
+    // Private Member Functions
+
+        //- Disallow default shallow-copy assignment
+        //
+        //  Assignment of UList<T> may need to be either shallow (copy pointer)
+        //  or deep (copy elements) depending on context or the particular type
+        //  of list derived from UList and it is confusing and prone to error
+        //  for the default assignment to be either.  The solution is to
+        //  disallow default assignment and provide separate 'shallowCopy' and
+        //  'deepCopy' member functions.
+        void operator=(const UList<T>&) = delete;
+
+
 public:
 
     // Related types
@@ -90,11 +103,13 @@ public:
         //- Declare friendship with the SubList class
         friend class SubList<T>;
 
+
     // Static Member Functions
 
         //- Return a null UList
         inline static const UList<T>& null();
 
+
     // Public classes
 
         //- Less function class that can be used for sorting
@@ -198,15 +213,18 @@ public:
             inline void checkIndex(const label i) const;
 
 
+        //- Copy the pointer held by the given UList.
+        inline void shallowCopy(const UList<T>&);
+
+        //- Copy elements of the given UList.
+        void deepCopy(const UList<T>&);
+
         //- Write the UList as a dictionary entry.
         void writeEntry(Ostream&) const;
 
         //- Write the UList as a dictionary entry with keyword.
         void writeEntry(const word& keyword, Ostream&) const;
 
-        //- Assign elements to those from UList.
-        void assign(const UList<T>&);
-
 
     // Member operators
 
@@ -327,7 +345,7 @@ public:
     // STL member operators
 
         //- Equality operation on ULists of the same type.
-        //  Returns true when the ULists are elementwise equal
+        //  Returns true when the ULists are element-wise equal
         //  (using UList::value_type::operator==).  Takes linear time.
         bool operator==(const UList<T>&) const;
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UListI.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UListI.H
index 243e5faaf1..2d58855cbc 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UListI.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UListI.H
@@ -152,6 +152,14 @@ inline T* Foam::UList<T>::data()
 }
 
 
+template<class T>
+inline void Foam::UList<T>::shallowCopy(const UList<T>& a)
+{
+    size_ = a.size_;
+    v_ = a.v_;
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/SlicedGeometricField/SlicedGeometricField.C b/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/SlicedGeometricField/SlicedGeometricField.C
index e347e2bf4b..d49c8b46f8 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/SlicedGeometricField/SlicedGeometricField.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/SlicedGeometricField/SlicedGeometricField.C
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ slicedBoundaryField
                     DimensionedField<Type, GeoMesh>::null()
                 )
             );
-            bf[patchi].UList<Type>::operator=(bField[patchi]);
+            bf[patchi].shallowCopy(bField[patchi]);
         }
     }
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ DimensionedInternalField::DimensionedInternalField
     )
 {
     // Set the internalField to the slice of the complete field
-    UList<Type>::operator=
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy
     (
         typename Field<Type>::subField(iField, GeoMesh::size(mesh))
     );
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ SlicedGeometricField
     )
 {
     // Set the internalField to the slice of the complete field
-    UList<Type>::operator=
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy
     (
         typename Field<Type>::subField(completeField, GeoMesh::size(mesh))
     );
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ SlicedGeometricField
     )
 {
     // Set the internalField to the slice of the complete field
-    UList<Type>::operator=
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy
     (
         typename Field<Type>::subField(completeIField, GeoMesh::size(mesh))
     );
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ SlicedGeometricField
     )
 {
     // Set the internalField to the supplied internal field
-    UList<Type>::operator=(gf.internalField());
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(gf.internalField());
 
     correctBoundaryConditions();
 }
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ SlicedGeometricField
     )
 {
     // Set the internalField to the supplied internal field
-    UList<Type>::operator=(gf.internalField());
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(gf.internalField());
 }
 
 
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ Foam::SlicedGeometricField<Type, PatchField, SlicedPatchField, GeoMesh>::
 {
     // Set the internalField storage pointer to NULL before its destruction
     // to protect the field it a slice of.
-    UList<Type>::operator=(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
 }
 
 
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ DimensionedInternalField::~DimensionedInternalField()
 {
     // Set the internalField storage pointer to NULL before its destruction
     // to protect the field it a slice of.
-    UList<Type>::operator=(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/LUscalarMatrix/LUscalarMatrixTemplates.C b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/LUscalarMatrix/LUscalarMatrixTemplates.C
index 605babb852..432c39917c 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/LUscalarMatrix/LUscalarMatrixTemplates.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/LUscalarMatrix/LUscalarMatrixTemplates.C
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void Foam::LUscalarMatrix::solve
             (
                 X,
                 x.size()
-            ).assign(x);
+            ) = x;
 
             for
             (
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverAgglomerateMatrix.C b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverAgglomerateMatrix.C
index d472b98ded..d6df8be629 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverAgglomerateMatrix.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverAgglomerateMatrix.C
@@ -497,14 +497,13 @@ void Foam::GAMGSolver::procAgglomerateMatrix
         if (coarsestMatrix.hasDiag())
         {
             scalarField& allDiag = allMatrix.diag();
+
             SubList<scalar>
             (
                 allDiag,
                 coarsestMatrix.diag().size()
-            ).assign
-            (
-                coarsestMatrix.diag()
-            );
+            ) = coarsestMatrix.diag();
+
             forAll(otherMats, i)
             {
                 SubList<scalar>
@@ -512,10 +511,7 @@ void Foam::GAMGSolver::procAgglomerateMatrix
                     allDiag,
                     otherMats[i].diag().size(),
                     cellOffsets[i+1]
-                ).assign
-                (
-                    otherMats[i].diag()
-                );
+                ) = otherMats[i].diag();
             }
         }
         if (coarsestMatrix.hasLower())
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverSolve.C b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverSolve.C
index d9f4760375..03a6d11107 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverSolve.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolverSolve.C
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ void Foam::GAMGSolver::Vcycle
             // used
             if (nPreSweeps_)
             {
-                preSmoothedCoarseCorrField.assign(coarseCorrFields[leveli]);
+                preSmoothedCoarseCorrField = coarseCorrFields[leveli];
             }
 
             agglomeration_.prolongField
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/globalMeshData/globalIndexTemplates.C b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/globalMeshData/globalIndexTemplates.C
index 5532969f36..3be3a3a90b 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/globalMeshData/globalIndexTemplates.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/globalMeshData/globalIndexTemplates.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2013-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2013-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void Foam::globalIndex::gather
         allFld.setSize(off.last());
 
         // Assign my local data
-        SubList<Type>(allFld, fld.size(), 0).assign(fld);
+        SubList<Type>(allFld, fld.size(), 0) = fld;
 
         if (commsType == Pstream::scheduled || commsType == Pstream::blocking)
         {
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void Foam::globalIndex::scatter
 {
     if (Pstream::myProcNo(comm) == procIDs[0])
     {
-        fld.assign(SubList<Type>(allFld, off[1]-off[0]));
+        fld.deepCopy(SubList<Type>(allFld, off[1]-off[0]));
 
         if (commsType == Pstream::scheduled || commsType == Pstream::blocking)
         {
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/primitiveMesh/PrimitivePatch/PrimitivePatch.C b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/primitiveMesh/PrimitivePatch/PrimitivePatch.C
index 6fb9994e4d..7f78dde7b2 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/primitiveMesh/PrimitivePatch/PrimitivePatch.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/primitiveMesh/PrimitivePatch/PrimitivePatch.C
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ operator=
 {
     clearOut();
 
-    FaceList<Face>::operator=(pp);
+    FaceList<Face>::shallowCopy(pp);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/Pstream/dummy/UPstream.C b/src/Pstream/dummy/UPstream.C
index 3f82f8a4dd..124e22a0c5 100644
--- a/src/Pstream/dummy/UPstream.C
+++ b/src/Pstream/dummy/UPstream.C
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void Foam::UPstream::allToAll
     const label communicator
 )
 {
-    recvData.assign(sendData);
+    recvData.deepCopy(sendData);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/Pstream/mpi/UPstream.C b/src/Pstream/mpi/UPstream.C
index 4f95592ecc..b7a5cd0c8f 100644
--- a/src/Pstream/mpi/UPstream.C
+++ b/src/Pstream/mpi/UPstream.C
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ void Foam::UPstream::allToAll
 
     if (!UPstream::parRun())
     {
-        recvData.assign(sendData);
+        recvData.deepCopy(sendData);
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/dynamicMesh/fvMeshDistribute/fvMeshDistribute.C b/src/dynamicMesh/fvMeshDistribute/fvMeshDistribute.C
index bbf056d0d8..cb16af4907 100644
--- a/src/dynamicMesh/fvMeshDistribute/fvMeshDistribute.C
+++ b/src/dynamicMesh/fvMeshDistribute/fvMeshDistribute.C
@@ -566,10 +566,8 @@ void Foam::fvMeshDistribute::getNeighbourData
             }
 
             // Which processor they will end up on
-            SubList<label>(nbrNewNbrProc, pp.size(), offset).assign
-            (
-                UIndirectList<label>(distribution, pp.faceCells())()
-            );
+            SubList<label>(nbrNewNbrProc, pp.size(), offset) =
+                UIndirectList<label>(distribution, pp.faceCells())();
         }
     }
 
@@ -1074,7 +1072,7 @@ void Foam::fvMeshDistribute::sendMesh
 
             if (myZoneID != -1)
             {
-                zonePoints[nameI].assign(pointZones[myZoneID]);
+                zonePoints[nameI].deepCopy(pointZones[myZoneID]);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1106,8 +1104,8 @@ void Foam::fvMeshDistribute::sendMesh
 
             if (myZoneID != -1)
             {
-                zoneFaces[nameI].assign(faceZones[myZoneID]);
-                zoneFaceFlip[nameI].assign(faceZones[myZoneID].flipMap());
+                zoneFaces[nameI].deepCopy(faceZones[myZoneID]);
+                zoneFaceFlip[nameI].deepCopy(faceZones[myZoneID].flipMap());
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1137,7 +1135,7 @@ void Foam::fvMeshDistribute::sendMesh
 
             if (myZoneID != -1)
             {
-                zoneCells[nameI].assign(cellZones[myZoneID]);
+                zoneCells[nameI].deepCopy(cellZones[myZoneID]);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvPatchField.C b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvPatchField.C
index 37b209e8c4..5e489ae07f 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvPatchField.C
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvPatchField.C
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvPatchField<Type>::slicedFvPatchField
     fvPatchField<Type>(p, iF, Field<Type>())
 {
     // Set the fvPatchField to a slice of the given complete field
-    UList<Type>::operator=(p.patchSlice(completeField));
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(p.patchSlice(completeField));
 }
 
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvPatchField<Type>::slicedFvPatchField
     fvPatchField<Type>(ptf.patch(), iF, Field<Type>())
 {
     // Transfer the slice from the argument
-    UList<Type>::operator=(ptf);
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(ptf);
 }
 
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvPatchField<Type>::slicedFvPatchField
     )
 {
     // Transfer the slice from the argument
-    UList<Type>::operator=(ptf);
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(ptf);
 }
 
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvPatchField<Type>::~slicedFvPatchField()
 {
     // Set the fvPatchField storage pointer to NULL before its destruction
     // to protect the field it a slice of.
-    UList<Type>::operator=(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvsPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvsPatchField.C b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvsPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvsPatchField.C
index 9cd047b214..34750c979a 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvsPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvsPatchField.C
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvsPatchFields/basic/sliced/slicedFvsPatchField.C
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvsPatchField<Type>::slicedFvsPatchField
     fvsPatchField<Type>(p, iF, Field<Type>())
 {
     // Set the fvsPatchField to a slice of the given complete field
-    UList<Type>::operator=(p.patchSlice(completeField));
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(p.patchSlice(completeField));
 }
 
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvsPatchField<Type>::slicedFvsPatchField
     fvsPatchField<Type>(ptf.patch(), iF, Field<Type>())
 {
     // Transfer the slice from the argument
-    UList<Type>::operator=(ptf);
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(ptf);
 }
 
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvsPatchField<Type>::slicedFvsPatchField
     )
 {
     // Transfer the slice from the argument
-    UList<Type>::operator=(ptf);
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(ptf);
 }
 
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ Foam::slicedFvsPatchField<Type>::~slicedFvsPatchField()
 {
     // Set the fvsPatchField storage pointer to NULL before its destruction
     // to protect the field it a slice of.
-    UList<Type>::operator=(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
+    UList<Type>::shallowCopy(UList<Type>(NULL, 0));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/interpolation/volPointInterpolation/volPointInterpolate.C b/src/finiteVolume/interpolation/volPointInterpolation/volPointInterpolate.C
index 2759d0fb4b..0f4750b279 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/interpolation/volPointInterpolation/volPointInterpolate.C
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/interpolation/volPointInterpolation/volPointInterpolate.C
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ Foam::tmp<Foam::Field<Type>> Foam::volPointInterpolation::flatBoundaryField
                 boundaryVals,
                 vf.boundaryField()[patchI].size(),
                 bFaceI
-            ).assign(vf.boundaryField()[patchI]);
+            ) = vf.boundaryField()[patchI];
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Kinematic/InjectionModel/CellZoneInjection/CellZoneInjection.C b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Kinematic/InjectionModel/CellZoneInjection/CellZoneInjection.C
index 083b0b6cb9..20f3740857 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Kinematic/InjectionModel/CellZoneInjection/CellZoneInjection.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/submodels/Kinematic/InjectionModel/CellZoneInjection/CellZoneInjection.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void Foam::CellZoneInjection<CloudType>::setPositions
         allPositions,
         globalPositions.localSize(Pstream::myProcNo()),
         globalPositions.offset(Pstream::myProcNo())
-    ).assign(positions);
+    ) = positions;
 
     Pstream::listCombineGather(allPositions, minEqOp<point>());
     Pstream::listCombineScatter(allPositions);
@@ -126,19 +126,19 @@ void Foam::CellZoneInjection<CloudType>::setPositions
         allInjectorCells,
         globalPositions.localSize(Pstream::myProcNo()),
         globalPositions.offset(Pstream::myProcNo())
-    ).assign(injectorCells);
+    ) = injectorCells;
     SubList<label>
     (
         allInjectorTetFaces,
         globalPositions.localSize(Pstream::myProcNo()),
         globalPositions.offset(Pstream::myProcNo())
-    ).assign(injectorTetFaces);
+    ) = injectorTetFaces;
     SubList<label>
     (
         allInjectorTetPts,
         globalPositions.localSize(Pstream::myProcNo()),
         globalPositions.offset(Pstream::myProcNo())
-    ).assign(injectorTetPts);
+    ) = injectorTetPts;
 
     // Transfer data
     positions_.transfer(allPositions);
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/spray/clouds/Templates/SprayCloud/SprayCloudI.H b/src/lagrangian/spray/clouds/Templates/SprayCloud/SprayCloudI.H
index ba5bc78aa7..bd0ebdc0dc 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/spray/clouds/Templates/SprayCloud/SprayCloudI.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/spray/clouds/Templates/SprayCloud/SprayCloudI.H
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ inline Foam::scalar Foam::SprayCloud<CloudType>::penetration
                 allMass,
                 globalParcels.localSize(procI),
                 globalParcels.offset(procI)
-            ).assign(procMass[procI]);
+            ) = procMass[procI];
 
             // flatten the distance list
             SubList<scalar>
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ inline Foam::scalar Foam::SprayCloud<CloudType>::penetration
                 allDist,
                 globalParcels.localSize(procI),
                 globalParcels.offset(procI)
-            ).assign(procDist[procI]);
+            ) = procDist[procI];
         }
 
         // sort allDist distances into ascending order
diff --git a/src/meshTools/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolationParallelOps.C b/src/meshTools/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolationParallelOps.C
index 77e77b2ce6..df6b45268c 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolationParallelOps.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolation/AMIInterpolationParallelOps.C
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ distributeAndMergePatches
     // My own data first
     {
         const labelList& faceIDs = allTgtFaceIDs[Pstream::myProcNo()];
-        SubList<label>(tgtFaceIDs, faceIDs.size()).assign(faceIDs);
+        SubList<label>(tgtFaceIDs, faceIDs.size()) = faceIDs;
 
         const faceList& fcs = allFaces[Pstream::myProcNo()];
         forAll(fcs, i)
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ distributeAndMergePatches
         if (procI != Pstream::myProcNo())
         {
             const labelList& faceIDs = allTgtFaceIDs[procI];
-            SubList<label>(tgtFaceIDs, faceIDs.size(), nFaces).assign(faceIDs);
+            SubList<label>(tgtFaceIDs, faceIDs.size(), nFaces) = faceIDs;
 
             const faceList& fcs = allFaces[procI];
             forAll(fcs, i)
diff --git a/src/parallel/decompose/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C b/src/parallel/decompose/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C
index 0af2348247..e0e27a5166 100644
--- a/src/parallel/decompose/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C
+++ b/src/parallel/decompose/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose
 
             label nTotalPoints = 0;
             // Master first
-            SubField<point>(allPoints, points.size()).assign(points);
+            SubField<point>(allPoints, points.size()) = points;
             nTotalPoints += points.size();
 
             // Add slaves
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose
                     allPoints,
                     nbrPoints.size(),
                     nTotalPoints
-                ).assign(nbrPoints);
+                ) = nbrPoints;
                 nTotalPoints += nbrPoints.size();
             }
 
@@ -401,8 +401,8 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose
 
             label nTotalPoints = 0;
             // Master first
-            SubField<point>(allPoints, points.size()).assign(points);
-            SubField<scalar>(allWeights, points.size()).assign(weights);
+            SubField<point>(allPoints, points.size()) = points;
+            SubField<scalar>(allWeights, points.size()) = weights;
             nTotalPoints += points.size();
 
             // Add slaves
@@ -416,13 +416,13 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose
                     allPoints,
                     nbrPoints.size(),
                     nTotalPoints
-                ).assign(nbrPoints);
+                ) = nbrPoints;
                 SubField<scalar>
                 (
                     allWeights,
                     nbrWeights.size(),
                     nTotalPoints
-                ).assign(nbrWeights);
+                ) = nbrWeights;
                 nTotalPoints += nbrPoints.size();
             }
 
diff --git a/src/renumber/SloanRenumber/SloanRenumber.C b/src/renumber/SloanRenumber/SloanRenumber.C
index 2490478940..43e8006a7a 100644
--- a/src/renumber/SloanRenumber/SloanRenumber.C
+++ b/src/renumber/SloanRenumber/SloanRenumber.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2012 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2012-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::SloanRenumber::renumber
                 nbr,
                 pbm[patchI].size(),
                 pbm[patchI].start()-mesh.nInternalFaces()
-            ).assign(pbm[patchI].faceCells());
+            ) = pbm[patchI].faceCells();
         }
     }
     syncTools::swapBoundaryFaceList(mesh, nbr);
diff --git a/src/sampling/meshToMesh/meshToMeshParallelOps.C b/src/sampling/meshToMesh/meshToMeshParallelOps.C
index ebe9a50b93..e1b72cce2a 100644
--- a/src/sampling/meshToMesh/meshToMeshParallelOps.C
+++ b/src/sampling/meshToMesh/meshToMeshParallelOps.C
@@ -644,17 +644,14 @@ void Foam::meshToMesh::distributeAndMergeCells
     forAll(allPoints, procI)
     {
         const pointField& pts = allPoints[procI];
-        SubList<point>(tgtPoints, pts.size(), pointOffset[procI]).assign(pts);
+        SubList<point>(tgtPoints, pts.size(), pointOffset[procI]) = pts;
     }
 
     // Insert cellIDs
     forAll(allTgtCellIDs, procI)
     {
         const labelList& cellIDs = allTgtCellIDs[procI];
-        SubList<label>(tgtCellIDs, cellIDs.size(), cellOffset[procI]).assign
-        (
-            cellIDs
-        );
+        SubList<label>(tgtCellIDs, cellIDs.size(), cellOffset[procI]) = cellIDs;
     }
 
 
@@ -671,7 +668,7 @@ void Foam::meshToMesh::distributeAndMergeCells
             allNInternalFaces[procI],
             internalFaceOffset[procI]
         );
-        slice.assign(SubList<face>(fcs, allNInternalFaces[procI]));
+        slice = SubList<face>(fcs, allNInternalFaces[procI]);
         forAll(slice, i)
         {
             add(slice[i], pointOffset[procI]);
@@ -683,7 +680,7 @@ void Foam::meshToMesh::distributeAndMergeCells
             allNInternalFaces[procI],
             internalFaceOffset[procI]
         );
-        ownSlice.assign(SubField<label>(faceOs, allNInternalFaces[procI]));
+        ownSlice = SubField<label>(faceOs, allNInternalFaces[procI]);
         add(ownSlice, cellOffset[procI]);
 
         SubField<label> nbrSlice
@@ -692,7 +689,7 @@ void Foam::meshToMesh::distributeAndMergeCells
             allNInternalFaces[procI],
             internalFaceOffset[procI]
         );
-        nbrSlice.assign(SubField<label>(faceNs, allNInternalFaces[procI]));
+        nbrSlice = SubField<label>(faceNs, allNInternalFaces[procI]);
         add(nbrSlice, cellOffset[procI]);
 
         internalFaceOffset[procI] += allNInternalFaces[procI];
diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatchInternalField/sampledPatchInternalFieldTemplates.C b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatchInternalField/sampledPatchInternalFieldTemplates.C
index be2348729f..803fa5c6fa 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatchInternalField/sampledPatchInternalFieldTemplates.C
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatchInternalField/sampledPatchInternalFieldTemplates.C
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Foam::sampledPatchInternalField::interpolateField
 
         // Now patchVals holds the interpolated data in patch face order.
         // Collect.
-        SubList<Type>(allPatchVals, patchVals.size(), sz).assign(patchVals);
+        SubList<Type>(allPatchVals, patchVals.size(), sz) = patchVals;
         sz += patchVals.size();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledTriSurfaceMesh/sampledTriSurfaceMeshTemplates.C b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledTriSurfaceMesh/sampledTriSurfaceMeshTemplates.C
index 737ccba99b..e2242536e5 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledTriSurfaceMesh/sampledTriSurfaceMeshTemplates.C
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledTriSurfaceMesh/sampledTriSurfaceMeshTemplates.C
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Foam::sampledTriSurfaceMesh::sampleField
                 bVals,
                 vField.boundaryField()[patchI].size(),
                 bFaceI
-            ).assign(vField.boundaryField()[patchI]);
+            ) = vField.boundaryField()[patchI];
         }
 
         // Sample in flat boundary field
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.C b/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.C
index af64864ecb..1cc3ddcba4 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.C
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ Foam::surfMesh::~surfMesh()
 
 void Foam::surfMesh::updatePointsRef()
 {
-    // assign the reference to the points (this is truly ugly)
+    // Assign the reference to the points (this is truly ugly)
     reinterpret_cast<SubField<point>&>
     (
         const_cast<Field<point>&>(MeshReference::points())
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ void Foam::surfMesh::updatePointsRef()
 
 void Foam::surfMesh::updateFacesRef()
 {
-    // assign the reference to the faces
-    static_cast<UList<face>&>(*this) = this->storedFaces();
+    // Assign the reference to the faces
+    shallowCopy(this->storedFaces());
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/radiationModels/viewFactor/viewFactor.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/radiationModels/viewFactor/viewFactor.C
index d70eccfa9c..aa2077e2be 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/radiationModels/viewFactor/viewFactor.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/radiationModels/viewFactor/viewFactor.C
@@ -467,10 +467,9 @@ void Foam::radiation::viewFactor::calculate()
     }
 
     // Fill the local values to distribute
-    SubList<scalar>(compactCoarseT,nLocalCoarseFaces_).assign(localCoarseTave);
-    SubList<scalar>(compactCoarseE,nLocalCoarseFaces_).assign(localCoarseEave);
-    SubList<scalar>
-        (compactCoarseHo,nLocalCoarseFaces_).assign(localCoarseHoave);
+    SubList<scalar>(compactCoarseT,nLocalCoarseFaces_) = localCoarseTave;
+    SubList<scalar>(compactCoarseE,nLocalCoarseFaces_) = localCoarseEave;
+    SubList<scalar>(compactCoarseHo,nLocalCoarseFaces_) = localCoarseHoave;
 
     // Distribute data
     map_->distribute(compactCoarseT);
@@ -491,7 +490,7 @@ void Foam::radiation::viewFactor::calculate()
     (
         compactGlobalIds,
         nLocalCoarseFaces_
-    ).assign(localGlobalIds);
+    ) = localGlobalIds;
 
     map_->distribute(compactGlobalIds);