Marston airport runway mats.....

[Alex van de Wetering]

I was also looking into these recently.....trying to find a way to recognize ww2 made examples from postwar ones....Anyone?

Bob, I do seem to remember the ones with the slots in the ends of the plates are a postwar improvement. Not sure if this is British or US design.

I have also seen them in different length sizes (also presumed postwar) and even ones in plastic or aluminium, which seem to be of very recent manufacture for the 4x4 world.

Also steel ones which don't have the large holes "open" but closed with 3 very small drainage holes.......no idea when these were made.

[chalky]

Slightly off topic but tractor on bridge is either a BMC Mini 9/16 or a Nuffield 4/25.
Former had a dieselised Mini 950 engine and was not a sales success as seen as underpowered .
Latter had the well proven BMC 1500cc diesel and sold better.

[Lang]

Some time ago I was reading about air operations in New Guinea in WW2. There was mention that those small "plugs" holding the mats together were popping out and causing punctures to aircraft tyres.

Must be why the longer ones I have seen were brought in and driven into the ground to stop them popping out.

Many New Guinea. Solomons and Indonesian steel strips were made of crushed coral which often was hard enough by itself after setting like concrete but the steel mats were put on top to stop dust, tyre wear and the corrosive effects of salt-water rolled coral mud in wet weather.

After the war many steel strips were covered with either more coral or gravel on top of the steel then bitumenised.

[Lang]

Here are some instructions. Note they say one 600mm (2 foot) pin per sheet to stop horizontal movement.

[Bob Carriere]

Thanks Lang

Seems that the ones I have may be post war......... at both ends I have 3 1.5 inch slots and the top surface is recessed to allow for overlap....so some kind on flat bar fastener must have been used....... this would link mats lenghtwise as well as sideways...... I have not been able to see any pictures of the ones I have.......

Cheers

[Lang]

Matting being laid

[Lang]

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