military bridging

[gjamo]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/36ft-mil...IAAOSww-BaekFg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by MicS

Thanks a lot for posting this close-up. The turret number '21' is consistent with 'A' Squadron, and would make this tank part of 2 Troop 'A' Sqn 1 Lothians.

Other markings are not readable but could include the AoS number '52', the tank name and T-number, plus maybe some loading code:

The name of the tank should be one of these four, since No.20 was RHODERICK DHU T212645, see http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ac053d...8-003048976d84

ROB ROY
RED DOUGLAS
RED COMYN
RED TOD

Hello Michel,

As I saw you reference to a Sherman Crab named "ROB ROY", I attched a picture of "ROB ROY IV" taken during a demonstration in the Netherlands shortly after WW2:



Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/5a4e3b...1-46ae0266c1e9

[Bob Carriere]

...Rototille the garden!!!!!!!

[MicS]

What exactly would be the name / official designation for this cage-shaped thing carried by the lads on the first photo below,
used as "crib grillage" for basing Bailey Bridges,
and apparently pretty standard given the numbers used in the second photo (Monty's Bridge in Caen):

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/at...1&d=1533069019

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/at...1&d=1533068651

Source: http://sgmcaen.free.fr/les-ponts.htm and https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_...1&text=p010415

Michel

[MicS]

as often, in thinkdefence.co.uk:

https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/...ging-supports/

So these are "Christchurch Crib bridging supports" or simply "Christchurch Cribs"

More on this page (search for 'Christchurch'):
https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/...tion-bridging/

where we (or at least, I ) learn that its offical name is "Bridging Crib 20 ton"

Michel

[Alex van de Wetering]

While looking for info on British and Canadian Pontoons, I noticed IWM has quite a selection of pictures.....I don't know if these are recently added to the site, or if I just missed them before, but I am attaching a few.

source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search

I am specifically looking for measurements and/or scale plans of MkV and MkVI pontoons.....or any info on possible survivors. If anyone knows of any drawings, please let me know. Post-war nato pontoons seem to be a dime a dozen here, but I can't remember seeing any WW2 Commonwealth pontoons.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Another bridging vehicle, in this case a CMP 6-wheeler - C60X by the looks of it.

I think this is in Burma, saw a pic of a similar truck there.

H.

Hanno, this one maybe? (with the other truck in the background?)

source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205205108

[Alex van de Wetering]

The first pictures seems to show a pontoon in use as a sled!

I am presuming these pontoons were plywood, which could be a reason you hardly see any surviving examples (?)

[Ed Storey]

Pontoons and Centre Sections were both the same size:

25 feet 9 inches by 2 feet 6 inches.

Surviving examples in Canada are very rare as the surplus pontoons were mostly all burned in the 1970s. The example on outdoor display in Petawawa is a post-War Extra Wide Bailey Bridge although the panels appear to be primarily wartime.

I managed to save one of the data plates off of the pontoons which were being burned.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ed, I can see why you saved that data plate!

Thanks for your comment on a survivor in Petawawa. It looks rather nice and I agree that the Bailey section is the later type with the wider lower beams.
So far, I have just found one picture of the pontoons in Petawawa.
source: http://silverhawkauthor.com/royal-ca...s-rce_318.html

Is "2 feet 6 inches" the height from water level to the top of the pontoon? I am asking, because 2'6" seems a bit low for the full pontoon (?).

By the way, this time i am asking for a scale model.....I am not planning on making 1:1 repro pontoons (yet).

Alex

[Ed Storey]

I just checked my written source for those dimensions but I have not gone to a primary source to confirm.

Here are a few images of the CFB Petawawa Bailey Bridge. It was my Father who was behind saving the bridge back in the 1970s and the bay of bridging has been on outdoor display ever since. It is currently situated at 2 CER's Brennan Lake site. The pontoons have lost much of their originality as they have been rebuilt at least two times due to the deterioration from being outside for several decades. The pontoons were last reconstructed in 2018.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ed,

Thanks for the additional pictures (and the article)...they are a great help. So, the pontoons have a special meaning to you! Was the "Storey" on the build plate of the other pontoon family as well?

I can imagine that the wood suffers a lot from being outdoor......so for any survivors that weren't burnt for fire wood.....

So far, the Petawawa ones are the only survivors I have managed to find on the web....even though I am sure there must be one or two more hiding somewhere.
Out here there is a Diamond T 975 in the Overloon museum, but sadly it's not fitted with a set or original pontoons.

Alex