military bridging

[David Potter]

Vernon cinefilm still

D7 dozing Bailey bridge approaches.

[servicepub (RIP)]

1935

[Les Freathy]

OK guys i let that QLC run for a bit to see if some answers came up they did so here are theother two the FBE and not sure

[Les Freathy]

With all these specialist bridging trucks flying aruond the thread i suppose we must remember the role played by nomal GS trucks to carry componants such as this 3 ton QL

[cliff]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
With all these specialist bridging trucks flying aruond the thread i suppose we must remember the role played by nomal GS trucks to carry componants such as this 3 ton QL

here is 3 photos of a CMP tipper being used to haul Bridging components near Cairns Queensland.

All pics from AWM data base.

[David Potter]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
2nd

Les, Your second image is FBE framework; it is certainly carrying Sommerfeld Track; underneath the track rolls.....ahh! The girders are right profile for FBE but look very long (need to try and scale trailer length!); just looked at your FBE loaded trailer and, yes, the girders are same length! Not sure about other material between rolls and girders; too large for decking panels (they were only 3'10.5"x2'7.5"!); the poles could well be marker posts to give bridge alignment. Ummh! I need to think about this load!

David

[David Potter]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
David i,m looking at the Leylands but you will like this Thew Lorraine crane in British service constructing Bailey coponants
cheers
Les

Les, Here two more images of Thew Lorain MC in British service; they (maybe same crane, but are from different IWM photo collections) are unloading landing craft for Rhine crossing.

David

[David Potter]

Construction scene at St Hors Loup; Bailey over rail track.

Nice selection of vehicles!

[David Potter]

Slightly off-beat, but hardly off subject, here are a couple of images of Sir Donald Bailey with some models.

[David Potter]

RASC Bridging Company (FBE) moving up through Bretteville, 30 June 1944

[David Potter]

A couple of colour images of FBE in Italy.

[David Potter]

Manual labour.... FBE roadbearer weighed 380lb.

[David Potter]

Can anyone help indentifying following:

1. What number was carried by 128 Bridge Company RASC (operated in support of 30 Corps, also known as Boar Bridge Column - presumably in reference to 30 Corps symbol)?
I suspect 1317 or 1318 on RASC Green/Red square with GHQ reverse diagonal bar.

2. Indentity for 1205 on RE Blue square with Army Troops bar at bottom?
I suspect could be linked to 7 Army Troops Engineers.

Maybe some bridging vehicle enthusiasts have this information; otherwise I shall start a new thread to indentify obscure unit serial numbers - the Canadians units are relatively easy as they were the best documented forces!

David

[David Potter]

Vernon.

I found a clearer print of a earlier post; the stills photographer must have been standing next to cine-camera!

10-RB now at work; Loyd carrier behind (refueling?) armoured D7.

Stringers waiting to go on Bailey followed by chesses.

[Les Freathy]

Two more shots of the Brockway both loaded with inflatable pontoons

[Les Freathy]

The centre of gravity must be beyond the limit with this load, lets hope the driver had no side slopes to negotiate or the whole unit would have been on its side. Although the pontoons are inflatable they are no lightweights
cheers
Les

[Les Freathy]

Not the best of images but this shows the Jimmies loaded with potoons taking a short cut through the crops

[Les Freathy]

This picture shows the first convoy to China down the Stillwell road crossing a large pontoon bridge on the Irrawaddy river in Burma. the convoy of 113 vehicles reached Kunming in China on Feb 4th 1945 thus ending the land blockade to China. Nice Jimmie with radio shack in the forground
cheers
Les

[Phil Waterman]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
The centre of gravity must be beyond the limit with this load, lets hope the driver had no side slopes to negotiate or the whole unit would have been on its side. Although the pontoons are inflatable they are no lightweights
cheers
Les

These big pontoons are not as bad as you would think, as a kid I went to camp that had one of these to play on in the water. The counselors would carry it in and out of the water each year for storage. Lasted well into the 1960s.

According to a Engineering Handbook these little things weight 525 lbs.

[Les Freathy]

Nice shot of a Coleman Quickway crane loading a Autocar

[Les Freathy]

Whoops , the only thing i can say is they are quick, be back when i have sorted this little problem
cheers
Les

[Les Freathy]

Still cant sort out that last problem so its kicked into touch. Now heres a interesting item, about 15 years ago i put this photo into a model mag to find out more details we all came to the conclusion that it was bridging but never resolved the full purpose of strapping complete large sections in this way. One it must have been rather out of balance whilst travelling, think of the roads in Europe at that time, for obvious reasons its better to go up rather than flat the width would have been totally restrictive and upwards as can be seen would foul bridges, trees, arches etc
comments welcome
Les

[Les Freathy]

I snapped this nice restored Brockway at the Southsea rally must be between 15/20 years ago, is it still in the UK

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
I snapped this nice restored Brockway at the Southsea rally must be between 15/20 years ago, is it still in the UK

Les,

That was Pip Biddlecombe's Brockway. I believe it went to the USA, some years ago.

[David Potter]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
Still cant sort out that last problem so its kicked into touch. Now heres a interesting item, about 15 years ago i put this photo into a model mag to find out more details we all came to the conclusion that it was bridging but never resolved the full purpose of strapping complete large sections in this way. One it must have been rather out of balance whilst travelling, think of the roads in Europe at that time, for obvious reasons its better to go up rather than flat the width would have been totally restrictive and upwards as can be seen would foul bridges, trees, arches etc
comments welcome
Les

Les, Just had a look at the Forum and seen this post (currently in Switzerland); I have not seen the sections loaded this way before, but they are SBG sections used by 79th Armoured Division AVRE; I had always thought that the components were brought up by 3 ton 6x4 SBG in UK use and / or Diamond T 975 GS in Canadian use (Canadians used many AVRE SBG bridges in Le Havre assault and in Netherlands). I have not got my reference charts with me so not sure who "16" users were. Background colour could well be RE blue which would be logical but most 79th Armoured Division support units were in 9** series. I will look when I get home Thursday!

Cheers, David

[Noel Burgess]

David
Are you sure about the load being SBG sections ? The "girder" part seems to be wide and shallow wheras the SBG was narrow and deep - if you see what I mean.
Pictures I have seen of AVRE Bridges have varying numbers of cross joists but never seen as many as shown in Les' picture.

Just seems a bit "wrong" to me
Noel

[David Potter]

Noel, I agree that the sections look "wrong" for SBG; the problem of having a "quick look" at Forum when travelling! I will check drawings when I get home on Thursday and give you and Les a more accurate reply!
David

[Les Freathy]

Pontoon over the rhine, its reported that this was the first artillery piece to cross

[Les Freathy]

David P what is the load in the back of the Morris
cheers
Les

[Les Freathy]

Interesting shot of two Bailey bridges across the river Seine, a 8" howitzer crosses