diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index c2bfc55..ff4ba7d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Verify the public setup diagnostics
         working-directory: source/modules/antono2/vkmemalloc
         run: v run setup.vsh --check
-      - name: Test with the Microsoft C compiler
+      - name: Test and run fenced uploads with the Microsoft C compiler
         working-directory: source/modules/antono2/vkmemalloc
         shell: pwsh
         run: |
@@ -152,6 +152,10 @@ jobs:
           Import-Module (Join-Path $InstallPath 'Common7\Tools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.DevShell.dll')
           Enter-VsDevShell -VsInstallPath $InstallPath -SkipAutomaticLocation -DevCmdArguments '-arch=x64 -host_arch=x64'
           v -cc msvc test .
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
+          $env:VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS = 'VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation'
+          v -cc msvc run examples/buffer_suballocation
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
 
   linux-v-master:
     name: Advisory current V master and Vulkan master
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e72fc2f..3184ff5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
+## 2.7.0 - 2026-10-14
+
+- Pin `antono2.memory` v1.5.0 and extend the buffer example with bounded,
+  completion-driven upload retirement.
+- Submit real buffer copies, observe fences before reuse, exercise upload-ring
+  wraparound and backpressure, and verify independent host readback.
+- Keep the existing `UploadRing` API and caller-owned synchronization contract.
+- Document completion domains, cleanup ordering and portable reproduction steps.
+- Make Vulkan descriptor locals compatible with current V pointer checking.
+- Discover a transfer-capable queue and run fenced upload checks on Linux with
+  Lavapipe and Windows with MSVC/SwiftShader and Vulkan validation enabled.
+
 ## 2.6.0 - 2026-09-12
 
 - Add explicit `create_suballocated_image()` and
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2d74c5e..c48a046 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,12 +76,17 @@ replace an installed SDK. CI runs the complete allocator test suite on Windows
 Server 2022 with MSVC and SwiftShader. Linux CI additionally runs the real
 Vulkan buffer, image and sustained-allocation example workloads.
 
-The allocator uses the production-hardened v1.4 release of
+The allocator uses the v1.5 release of
 [`antono2.memory`](https://github.com/antono2/memory), specifically
 `memory.RangeAllocator`,
 for its dependency-free block suballocation policy. Vulkan handles remain
 isolated in this module.
 
+The buffer-suballocation example also demonstrates
+[fenced upload retirement](docs/deferred-retirement.md) using
+`memory.RetirementQueue`. It observes real Vulkan fence completion, preserves
+FIFO slice release and verifies copied data through mapped readback.
+
 ## Basic use
 
 Create one allocator after selecting a physical device and creating its logical
diff --git a/compatibility.json b/compatibility.json
index fa726e4..4b16e92 100644
--- a/compatibility.json
+++ b/compatibility.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   "ci_runtime": "v1.2",
   "modules": {
     "vulkan": "v3.2.2",
-    "memory": "v1.4.0"
+    "memory": "v1.5.0"
   },
   "build_tools": [
     "git",
diff --git a/docs/deferred-retirement.md b/docs/deferred-retirement.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f88980a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/deferred-retirement.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Fenced upload retirement
+
+This example uses `antono2.memory@v1.5.0` and the Vulkan dependency pinned in
+`v.mod` and `compatibility.json`. Install the declared dependencies with the
+repository setup script. If using an isolated module directory, set `VMODULES`
+to that directory before setup and validation.
+
+`examples/buffer_suballocation/deferred_uploads.v` uses the existing example's
+device and allocator. It registers upload slices in a two-entry retirement queue,
+submits real buffer copies, observes Vulkan fences before reporting completion,
+and releases slices in allocation order. A rejected full-queue registration
+leaves upload accounting unchanged. After observing the first fence, another
+allocation wraps to offset zero. A final fence and transfer-to-host barriers
+permit independent mapped readback of values `21,22,23` before shutdown.
+
+The example performs no premature reuse even if the GPU finishes before the
+application polls. Cleanup waits for actual device completion before draining
+and destroying pending resources. Device-loss recovery was not fault-injected.
+The example discovers an available transfer-capable queue before creating the
+device. Graphics and compute queues qualify through their implicit transfer
+support. The helper receives the created queue family index.
+
+## Verified locally
+
+- Official released V 0.5.2 (`7647ce1`), Lavapipe, validation layer enabled: pass.
+- Official released V 0.5.2, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, validation layer enabled: pass.
+- Pinned V `efae23e` with explicit V3, Lavapipe, validation layer enabled: pass.
+- Output: `fenced retirement: copies=3 readback=21,22,23 wrap=0 pending=0`.
+- No validation-layer errors were reported by these runs.
+
+The two existing instance/device descriptor locals are mutable for compatibility
+with the pinned V3 compiler's pointer checking. No public UploadRing API changes
+are required. These local results are Linux device evidence. CI separately runs
+the fenced-copy program on native Windows with MSVC, SwiftShader and validation
+enabled. No native macOS runtime coverage is claimed.
+
+Run from the repository root with the native Vulkan prerequisites installed:
+
+```sh
+compiler=${VEXE:-v}
+"$compiler" run setup.vsh
+VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS=VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation \
+  "$compiler" run examples/buffer_suballocation
+```
+
+Use the pinned current compiler and add `-new-compiler` for the strict V3 run.
+To select a specific driver, set `VK_DRIVER_FILES` to an installed ICD manifest
+on the current host. Otherwise the Vulkan loader selects the available driver.
diff --git a/examples/buffer_suballocation/deferred_uploads.v b/examples/buffer_suballocation/deferred_uploads.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f0fa0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/buffer_suballocation/deferred_uploads.v
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+// Uses memory v1.5's bounded completion queue with actual Vulkan fences.
+// Exercises real ordered queue submissions, fence observation and host readback.
+module main
+
+import antono2.memory
+import antono2.vkmemalloc as vma
+import antono2.vulkan as vk
+
+// Graphics and compute queues implicitly support transfer operations even if
+// the driver omits the explicit transfer flag. Ignore unavailable queues.
+fn select_transfer_family(properties []vk.QueueFamilyProperties) ?u32 {
+	capabilities := u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.graphics) | u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.compute) | u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.transfer)
+	for index, property in properties {
+		if property.queueCount > 0 && property.queueFlags & capabilities != 0 {
+			return u32(index)
+		}
+	}
+	return none
+}
+
+fn transfer_queue_family(physical_device vk.PhysicalDevice) !u32 {
+	mut count := u32(0)
+	mut no_properties := unsafe { nil }
+	vk.get_physical_device_queue_family_properties(physical_device, &count, mut no_properties)
+	if count == 0 { return error('physical device has no queue families') }
+	mut properties := []vk.QueueFamilyProperties{len: int(count)}
+	vk.get_physical_device_queue_family_properties(physical_device, &count, mut properties[0])
+	return select_transfer_family(properties[..int(count)]) or {
+		return error('physical device has no transfer-capable queue family')
+	}
+}
+
+fn record_upload(command vk.CommandBuffer, source vk.Buffer, destination vk.Buffer, slice vma.UploadSlice, offset u64) ! {
+	begin := vk.CommandBufferBeginInfo{
+		flags: u32(vk.CommandBufferUsageFlagBits.one_time_submit)
+	}
+	require_success(vk.begin_command_buffer(command, &begin), 'begin deferred copy')!
+	region := vk.BufferCopy{
+		srcOffset: slice.offset
+		dstOffset: offset
+		size:      4
+	}
+	vk.cmd_copy_buffer(command, source, destination, 1, &region)
+	barrier := vk.BufferMemoryBarrier{
+		srcAccessMask:       u32(vk.AccessFlagBits.transfer_write)
+		dstAccessMask:       u32(vk.AccessFlagBits.host_read)
+		srcQueueFamilyIndex: vk.queue_family_ignored
+		dstQueueFamilyIndex: vk.queue_family_ignored
+		buffer:              destination
+		offset:              offset
+		size:                4
+	}
+	vk.cmd_pipeline_barrier(command, u32(vk.PipelineStageFlagBits.transfer),
+		u32(vk.PipelineStageFlagBits.host), 0, 0, unsafe { nil }, 1, &barrier, 0, unsafe { nil })
+	require_success(vk.end_command_buffer(command), 'end deferred copy')!
+}
+
+fn submit_copy(queue vk.Queue, command vk.CommandBuffer, fence vk.Fence) ! {
+	submit := vk.SubmitInfo{
+		commandBufferCount: 1
+		pCommandBuffers:    &command
+	}
+	require_success(vk.queue_submit(queue, 1, &submit, fence), 'submit deferred copy')!
+}
+
+fn retire_completed(mut pending memory.RetirementQueue[vma.UploadSlice], mut uploads vma.UploadRing) int {
+	mut retired := 0
+	for {
+		slice := pending.try_take_ready() or { break }
+		if !uploads.retire(slice) { panic('upload FIFO retirement failed') }
+		retired++
+	}
+	return retired
+}
+
+fn run_deferred_uploads(device vk.Device, family u32, mut allocator vma.Allocator) ! {
+	mut queue := vk.Queue(unsafe { nil })
+	vk.get_device_queue(device, family, 0, &queue)
+	pool_info := vk.CommandPoolCreateInfo{
+		queueFamilyIndex: family
+	}
+	mut command_pool := vk.CommandPool(unsafe { nil })
+	require_success(vk.create_command_pool(device, &pool_info, unsafe { nil }, &command_pool),
+		'create copy pool')!
+	defer { vk.destroy_command_pool(device, command_pool, unsafe { nil }) }
+	mut commands := unsafe { []vk.CommandBuffer{len: 3} }
+	allocate_info := vk.CommandBufferAllocateInfo{
+		commandPool:        command_pool
+		level:              .primary
+		commandBufferCount: 3
+	}
+	require_success(vk.allocate_command_buffers(device, &allocate_info, commands.data),
+		'allocate copy commands')!
+	mut fences := []vk.Fence{len: 3, init: vk.Fence(unsafe { nil })}
+	defer {
+		for fence in fences {
+			if !isnil(fence) { vk.destroy_fence(device, fence, unsafe { nil }) }
+		}
+	}
+	for index in 0 .. fences.len {
+		info := vk.FenceCreateInfo{}
+		mut fence := vk.Fence(unsafe { nil })
+		require_success(vk.create_fence(device, &info, unsafe { nil }, &fence), 'create copy fence')!
+		fences[index] = fence
+	}
+	buffer_info := vk.BufferCreateInfo{
+		size:        16
+		usage:       u32(vk.BufferUsageFlagBits.transfer_dst)
+		sharingMode: .exclusive
+	}
+	mut destination := vk.Buffer(unsafe { nil })
+	mut destination_allocation := vma.AllocationInfo{}
+	require_success(allocator.create_buffer_with_options(&buffer_info, vma.AllocationOptions{
+		usage: .readback
+	}, &destination, mut destination_allocation), 'create readback destination')!
+	defer {
+		vk.destroy_buffer(device, destination, unsafe { nil })
+		_ = allocator.release(mut destination_allocation)
+	}
+	mut uploads := vma.new_upload_ring_with_options(mut allocator, 1024, vma.AllocationOptions{
+		usage: .upload
+	})!
+	mut pending := memory.new_retirement_queue[vma.UploadSlice](2)!
+	defer {
+		// This runs before buffer/fence/command cleanup, including on error paths.
+		idle := vk.device_wait_idle(device)
+		if idle == .success {
+			pending.advance_completed(~u64(0)) or { panic(err) }
+			_ = retire_completed(mut pending, mut uploads)
+			_ = uploads.destroy()
+		} else {
+			// A lost device is not completion evidence. Destroy the API object as
+			// part of device teardown without falsely reporting completed tokens.
+			vk.destroy_buffer(device, uploads.buffer, unsafe { nil })
+		}
+	}
+	for index in 0 .. 2 {
+		if pending.is_full() {
+			return error('unexpected queue backpressure')
+		}
+		slice := uploads.allocate(400, 16)!
+		pending.enqueue(slice, u64(index + 1))!
+		unsafe {
+			*(&u32(slice.data)) = u32(21 + index)
+		}
+		require_success(uploads.flush(slice), 'flush queued upload')!
+		record_upload(commands[index], uploads.buffer, destination, slice, u64(index * 4))!
+		submit_copy(queue, commands[index], fences[index])!
+	}
+	// No reuse before the application observes completion, even if the GPU has
+	// already finished. A full queue must not cause another ring allocation.
+	if pending.try_take_ready() != none {
+		return error('premature retirement')
+	}
+	if !pending.is_full() {
+		return error('expected bounded queue exhaustion')
+	}
+	before := uploads.stats()
+	if _ := pending.enqueue(vma.UploadSlice{}, 3) {
+		return error('expected backpressure')
+	}
+	if uploads.stats() != before {
+		return error('backpressure changed upload allocation state')
+	}
+	first_fence := fences[0]
+	require_success(vk.wait_for_fences(device, 1, &first_fence, vk._true, 10_000_000_000),
+		'wait first copy')!
+	pending.advance_completed(1)!
+	if retire_completed(mut pending, mut uploads) != 1 {
+		return error('expected first retirement only')
+	}
+	wrapped := uploads.allocate(300, 16)!
+	pending.enqueue(wrapped, 3)!
+	if wrapped.offset != 0 {
+		return error('expected upload wraparound')
+	}
+	unsafe {
+		*(&u32(wrapped.data)) = 23
+	}
+	require_success(uploads.flush(wrapped), 'flush wrapped queued upload')!
+	record_upload(commands[2], uploads.buffer, destination, wrapped, 8)!
+	submit_copy(queue, commands[2], fences[2])!
+	// One queue executes these submissions in order. The final fence covers all
+	// three copies and their transfer-to-host barriers; unrelated queues would
+	// require separate completion domains or explicit synchronization.
+	last_fence := fences[2]
+	require_success(vk.wait_for_fences(device, 1, &last_fence, vk._true, 10_000_000_000),
+		'wait final copy')!
+	pending.advance_completed(3)!
+	if retire_completed(mut pending, mut uploads) != 2 {
+		return error('expected final two retirements')
+	}
+	mut mapped := voidptr(unsafe { nil })
+	require_success(allocator.map(mut destination_allocation, &mapped), 'map copy readback')!
+	defer { allocator.unmap(mut destination_allocation) }
+	require_success(allocator.invalidate(destination_allocation), 'invalidate copy readback')!
+	for index in 0 .. 3 {
+		actual := unsafe { *(&u32(usize(mapped) + usize(index * 4))) }
+		if actual != u32(21 + index) {
+			return error('independent copy readback mismatch at ${index}: ${actual}')
+		}
+	}
+	if !pending.is_empty() || uploads.stats().allocation_count != 0 {
+		return error('pending work at shutdown')
+	}
+	println('fenced retirement: copies=3 readback=21,22,23 wrap=0 pending=0')
+}
diff --git a/examples/buffer_suballocation/main.v b/examples/buffer_suballocation/main.v
index d917369..c85f67a 100644
--- a/examples/buffer_suballocation/main.v
+++ b/examples/buffer_suballocation/main.v
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ fn first_physical_device(instance vk.Instance) !vk.PhysicalDevice {
 
 fn run() ! {
 	require_success(vk.initialize_loader(), 'initialize Vulkan loader')!
-	application_info := vk.ApplicationInfo{
+	mut application_info := vk.ApplicationInfo{
 		pApplicationName:   c'vkmemalloc suballocation example'
 		applicationVersion: 1
 		pEngineName:        c'none'
@@ -44,14 +44,15 @@ fn run() ! {
 	vk.load_instance_commands(instance)
 
 	physical_device := first_physical_device(instance)!
+	transfer_family := transfer_queue_family(physical_device)!
 	memory_budget_supported := vma.supports_memory_budget(physical_device)
 	mut device_extensions := []&char{}
 	if memory_budget_supported {
 		device_extensions << vk.ext_memory_budget_extension_name
 	}
 	mut priority := f32(1)
-	queue_info := vk.DeviceQueueCreateInfo{
-		queueFamilyIndex: 0
+	mut queue_info := vk.DeviceQueueCreateInfo{
+		queueFamilyIndex: transfer_family
 		queueCount:       1
 		pQueuePriorities: &priority
 	}
@@ -242,6 +243,7 @@ fn run() ! {
 	uploads_destroyed := uploads.destroy()
 	assert uploads_destroyed
 	assert allocator.stats().block_count == 0
+	run_deferred_uploads(device, transfer_family, mut allocator)!
 }
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/examples/buffer_suballocation/queue_family_test.v b/examples/buffer_suballocation/queue_family_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e5c7b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/buffer_suballocation/queue_family_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+// Checks unavailable and non-transfer families before device creation.
+module main
+
+import antono2.vulkan as vk
+
+fn test_transfer_family_selection_rejects_unavailable_and_sparse_only_queues() {
+	if _ := select_transfer_family([]vk.QueueFamilyProperties{}) { assert false
+	 }
+	if _ := select_transfer_family([
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{ queueCount: 0, queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.transfer) },
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{ queueCount: 1, queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.sparse_binding) },
+	])
+	{
+		assert false
+	}
+	families := [
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{
+			queueCount: 1
+			queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.sparse_binding)
+		},
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{
+			queueCount: 0
+			queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.graphics)
+		},
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{
+			queueCount: 1
+			queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.compute)
+		},
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{
+			queueCount: 1
+			queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.transfer)
+		},
+	]
+	assert (select_transfer_family(families) or { panic('missing compute transfer support') }) == 2
+	assert (select_transfer_family([
+		vk.QueueFamilyProperties{ queueCount: 1, queueFlags: u32(vk.QueueFlagBits.graphics) },
+	]) or { panic('missing graphics transfer support') }) == 0
+}
diff --git a/v.mod b/v.mod
index 8784f39..9def3a4 100644
--- a/v.mod
+++ b/v.mod
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ Module {
   name: 'antono2.vkmemalloc'
   author: 'Anton Oreskin'
   description: 'Policy-driven Vulkan memory selection, suballocation, mapping, and diagnostics'
-  version: '2.6.2'
+  version: '2.7.0'
   license: 'MIT'
   repo_url: 'https://github.com/antono2/vulkan_memory_allocator'
   tags: ['V','vulkan','allocator']
-  dependencies: ['antono2.vulkan@v3.2.2','antono2.memory@v1.4.0']
+  dependencies: ['antono2.vulkan@v3.2.2','antono2.memory@v1.5.0']
 }