military bridging

rob.c · #1 21-12-13, 09:39

Hello everybody! I'm looking for information about Bailey Mk.II bridges, that should mean "original" British materiel and not US M1/M2 types. There is one still "living", in use since the 50s or 60s in my whereabouts in Italy. I still have to take measurements and pictures, though I've been driving on this bridge for decades - maybe I always took it for granted as I was used to it since my childhood - but now I want to research its story in depth.

At first I thought it was standard US/NATO issue, which was also widely employed by the Italian Army in those years, but the width doesn't seem to fit and the markings on it are clearly British and not US. So maybe it was really "WW2 surplus" when it was fitted, or the Italian Army had manuals describing the M1A/M2 but actually had in use also the British version.

I have been unable to locate detailed information and drawings, apart from a couple web articles etc., mostly regarding the US version: is anybody able to provide scans or links to publications? I guess there was some official manual in the British Army, like the FM 5-227 for the US Army...

motto · #2 22-12-13, 13:32

In the photo Michel posted of the bridge at Elbeuf (post 162). What is the tracked vehicle in the left foreground with the engine covers open?
It looks a little strange.

David

MicS · #3 22-12-13, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by motto

In the photo Michel posted of the bridge at Elbeuf (post 162). What is the tracked vehicle in the left foreground with the engine covers open?
It looks a little strange.

David

That's a German Sd.Kfz 251/D Armoured Personnel Carrier half-track.

Michel

motto · #4 23-12-13, 12:26

Thanks Michel, maybe it's the angle from which the photo was taken but I couldn't work out what it was. The onlookers must be obscuring the front wheel.

David

Lang · #5 23-12-13, 21:07

Found a better detail photo of the bridge on the India/Burma border plus another one on our trip through Northern India

Mike Cecil · #6 25-12-13, 17:34

Ha! I like the contrast: 'Friendship Road' ... and a guy with an auto slung over his shoulder!

The Triple Triple (TT) had a curious way of construction: build a Triple Double (TD), launch it in to place, then add the third layer of panels, starting from both sides, in equal steps. The last step is to add the top cross braces, from the bridge span's centre and working in equal steps outwards in each direction.

The other curious thing about the TT bridge is that it requires only a TD at each bridge end panel, rather than the TT as shown here.

Mike C