diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.C b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.C
index c60d0cc3fe..37b7ada772 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.C
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.C
@@ -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
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ License
 #include "translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.H"
 #include "addToRunTimeSelectionTable.H"
 #include "volFields.H"
-#include "surfaceFields.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -38,21 +37,7 @@ translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
 )
 :
     fixedValueFvPatchField<vector>(p, iF),
-    U_(vector::zero)
-{}
-
-
-Foam::translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField::
-translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
-(
-    const translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField& ptf,
-    const fvPatch& p,
-    const DimensionedField<vector, volMesh>& iF,
-    const fvPatchFieldMapper& mapper
-)
-:
-    fixedValueFvPatchField<vector>(ptf, p, iF, mapper),
-    U_(ptf.U_)
+    U_(0)
 {}
 
 
@@ -65,13 +50,27 @@ translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
 )
 :
     fixedValueFvPatchField<vector>(p, iF),
-    U_(dict.lookup("U"))
+    U_(Function1<vector>::New("U", dict))
 {
     // Evaluate the wall velocity
     updateCoeffs();
 }
 
 
+Foam::translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField::
+translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
+(
+    const translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField& ptf,
+    const fvPatch& p,
+    const DimensionedField<vector, volMesh>& iF,
+    const fvPatchFieldMapper& mapper
+)
+:
+    fixedValueFvPatchField<vector>(ptf, p, iF, mapper),
+    U_(ptf.U_, false)
+{}
+
+
 Foam::translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField::
 translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
 (
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
 )
 :
     fixedValueFvPatchField<vector>(twvpvf),
-    U_(twvpvf.U_)
+    U_(twvpvf.U_, false)
 {}
 
 
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
 )
 :
     fixedValueFvPatchField<vector>(twvpvf, iF),
-    U_(twvpvf.U_)
+    U_(twvpvf.U_, false)
 {}
 
 
@@ -104,9 +103,12 @@ void Foam::translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField::updateCoeffs()
         return;
     }
 
+    const scalar t = this->db().time().timeOutputValue();
+    const vector U = U_->value(t);
+
     // Remove the component of U normal to the wall in case the wall is not flat
     const vectorField n(patch().nf());
-    vectorField::operator=(U_ - n*(n & U_));
+    vectorField::operator=(U - n*(n & U));
 
     fixedValueFvPatchVectorField::updateCoeffs();
 }
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ void Foam::translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField::updateCoeffs()
 void Foam::translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField::write(Ostream& os) const
 {
     fvPatchVectorField::write(os);
-    os.writeKeyword("U") << U_ << token::END_STATEMENT << nl;
+    U_->writeData(os);
     writeEntry("value", os);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.H b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.H
index c6e9c70b88..5bc1d5e057 100644
--- a/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.H
+++ b/src/finiteVolume/fields/fvPatchFields/derived/translatingWallVelocity/translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.H
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2012 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Description
 
     \table
         Property     | Description             | Required    | Default value
-        U            | translational velocity  | yes|
+        U            | translational velocity  | yes         |
     \endtable
 
     Example of the boundary condition specification:
@@ -47,9 +47,12 @@ Description
     }
     \endverbatim
 
+    The \c U entry is a Function1 of time, see Foam::Function1Types.
+
 
 SeeAlso
     Foam::fixedValueFvPatchField
+    Foam::Function1Types
 
 SourceFiles
     translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField.C
@@ -60,6 +63,7 @@ SourceFiles
 #define translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField_H
 
 #include "fixedValueFvPatchFields.H"
+#include "Function1.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ class translatingWallVelocityFvPatchVectorField
     // Private data
 
         //- Translational velocity
-        vector U_;
+        autoPtr<Function1<vector>> U_;
 
 
 public:
@@ -150,19 +154,11 @@ public:
 
     // Member functions
 
-        // Access functions
+        //- Update the coefficients associated with the patch field
+        virtual void updateCoeffs();
 
-            //- Return the velocity
-            const vector& U() const
-            {
-                return U_;
-            }
-
-            //- Update the coefficients associated with the patch field
-            virtual void updateCoeffs();
-
-            //- Write
-            virtual void write(Ostream&) const;
+        //- Write
+        virtual void write(Ostream&) const;
 };