Sand channel, PSP, Marsden matting

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's some more pix I dug up. The PSP was also known as sand channels. They also used canvas sand mats and rolls of sticks as you can see in some of these pix.

[cletrac (RIP)]

And some more. The captured F8 has quite a bit of sand matting over the bumper.

[David DeWeese]

Hi,
The photos of the matting shown are of an entirely different design than the PSP aircraft landing mat or Marston mat I'm used to seeing here in the US. Are these a Commonwealth style of aircraft landing mat, or a purpose-built item made for unsticking vehicles in sand?
Thanks, David

[cletrac (RIP)]

I doubt if they made any sand channels specifically for the job when they had the airfield stuff. In some of the pix if you look close you can see the links along the edges to hook the planking together. You have to remember that the US didn't get to North Africa until the action there was almost over so the planking would be from a Commonwealth source. The US matting was produced mainly for the Pacific theater. The high manganese content that kept it from rusting wouldn't have been necessary in the Sahara.
The US planks have the pierced holes in rows of three while a lot of this African stuff has them arranged like the 5 on dice. There's a few other patterns there too.
Having said all this, I can't imagine anyone noticing the difference if you hung a US piece on the side of your CMP. Any of it is close enough in my estimation.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David DeWeese

The photos of the matting shown are of an entirely different design than the PSP aircraft landing mat or Marston mat I'm used to seeing here in the US. Are these a Commonwealth style of aircraft landing mat, or a purpose-built item made for unsticking vehicles in sand?

Yes, most if not all photos in this thread show steel sand channels. They are steel U-section. Designed and used specifically for crossing soft sand patches with vehicles. There also were canvas sand mats, designed and used for the same purpose. These are not Engineers equipment, but vehicle kit.

Sand channels and sand mats have a totally different purpose from the American PSP / Marsden matting (of which the British equivalent was SMT or Square Mesh Track).

HTH,
Hanno

[Jeff Gordon]

This is the US style.
Everywhere you go in the Pacific you will find cattle yards, fences, gates, trailers, you name it, made out of the stuff.
I would like to know how many hundreds of tons of the stuff was made during the war. No wonder there was a metal shortage.
They still use it today but a slightly different profile and I think it is Aluminium now?
Cheers
Jeff
P.S check out the Cab 12!

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Jeff Gordon

This is the US style.
Everywhere you go in the Pacific you will find cattle yards, fences, gates, trailers, you name it, made out of the stuff.
I would like to know how many hundreds of tons of the stuff was made during the war. No wonder there was a metal shortage.
They still use it today but a slightly different profile and I think it is Aluminium now?
Cheers
Jeff
P.S check out the Cab 12!

During the war the United States made 2,000,000 tons of the stuff. Yes, that's not a typo, as Dr. Evil would say, " Two Meeelliion tons!" They also made PAP (Perforated Aluminum Planking) as well as PSP (perforated Steel Planking) during the war. One will still see lots of PSP to this day as the high Manganese content in the steel alloy has helped preserve the planking.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Let's see; 2000000 tons at 100 pounds per 13 sq feet-----------------that works out to around 13000 acres! Wow!

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by sapper740

During the war the United States made 2,000,000 tons of the stuff..... One will still see lots of PSP to this day as the high Manganese content in the steel alloy has helped preserve the planking.

Any idea how many producer's made the stuff, and if it was only Wartime production? I'd imagine there'd be sufficient war surplus to get through the post-war years, or was there? The rust resistance is true enough, the lengths I have all clearly show the manufacturer's name, but no date: