diff --git a/applications/test/volField/Test-volField.C b/applications/test/volField/Test-volField.C
index 37e4d303bf..688650b2c0 100644
--- a/applications/test/volField/Test-volField.C
+++ b/applications/test/volField/Test-volField.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
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         mesh
     );
 
+    Info<< nl
+        << "p.v().size(): "
+        << p.v().size() << endl;
+
     Info<< "Reading field U\n" << endl;
     volVectorField U
     (
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/GeometricField/GeometricField.H b/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/GeometricField/GeometricField.H
index fe30dc9181..d5be62367a 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/GeometricField/GeometricField.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/fields/GeometricFields/GeometricField/GeometricField.H
@@ -437,6 +437,11 @@ public:
         //- Return a const-reference to the dimensioned internal field
         inline const DimensionedInternalField& dimensionedInternalField() const;
 
+        //- Return a const-reference to the dimensioned internal field
+        //  of a "vol" field.  Useful in the formulation of source-terms
+        //  for FV equations
+        inline const DimensionedInternalField& v() const;
+
         //- Return a reference to the internal field
         //  Note: this increments the event counter and checks the
         //  old-time fields; avoid in loops.
@@ -564,6 +569,11 @@ public:
 
     // Member operators
 
+        //- Return a const-reference to the dimensioned internal field
+        //  of a "vol" field.  Useful in the formulation of source-terms
+        //  for FV equations
+        inline const DimensionedInternalField& operator~() const;
+
         void operator=(const GeometricField<Type, PatchField, GeoMesh>&);
         void operator=(const tmp<GeometricField<Type, PatchField, GeoMesh>>&);
         void operator=(const dimensioned<Type>&);
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFields.H b/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFields.H
index 145fc5dccb..2372a59069 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFields.H
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFields.H
@@ -62,13 +62,16 @@ void GeometricField<scalar, fvPatchField, volMesh>::replace
     const GeometricField<scalar, fvPatchField, volMesh>& sf
 );
 
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 } // End namespace Foam
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+#include "volFieldsI.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
 #endif
 
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFieldsI.H b/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFieldsI.H
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..27599b47eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/fields/volFields/volFieldsI.H
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+template<class Type, template<class> class PatchField, class GeoMesh>
+inline
+const typename
+Foam::GeometricField<Type, PatchField, GeoMesh>::DimensionedInternalField&
+Foam::GeometricField<Type, PatchField, GeoMesh>::
+v() const
+{
+    static_assert(isVolMesh<GeoMesh>::value, "Only valid for volFields");
+    return *this;
+}
+
+
+template<class Type, template<class> class PatchField, class GeoMesh>
+inline
+const typename
+Foam::GeometricField<Type, PatchField, GeoMesh>::DimensionedInternalField&
+Foam::GeometricField<Type, PatchField, GeoMesh>::
+operator~() const
+{
+    static_assert(isVolMesh<GeoMesh>::value, "Only valid for volFields");
+    return *this;
+}
+
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/volMesh/volMesh.H b/src/finiteVolume/volMesh/volMesh.H
index 243bf16907..d132df1070 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/volMesh/volMesh.H
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/volMesh/volMesh.H
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ Class
 Description
     Mesh data needed to do the Finite Volume discretisation.
 
+Class
+    Foam::isVolMesh
+
+Description
+    Supports static assertion that a template argument is of type volMesh.
+
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 #ifndef volMesh_H
@@ -35,6 +41,7 @@ Description
 #include "GeoMesh.H"
 #include "fvMesh.H"
 #include "primitiveMesh.H"
+#include <type_traits>
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -83,6 +90,24 @@ public:
 };
 
 
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+                          Class isVolMesh Declaration
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+template<class T>
+class isVolMesh
+:
+    public std::false_type
+{};
+
+
+template<>
+class isVolMesh<volMesh>
+:
+    public std::true_type
+{};
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 } // End namespace Foam