Interesting pics of AVRE trials
 

Here is a series of pictures, taken at Brancaster I believe, showing various trials with an AVRE defeating an anti-tank obstacle with a Small Box Girder Bridge and Chespale fascines. The second picture is interesting with the AVRE teetering on top of the concrete wall, the crew cinching up their seat belts and locking everything down before proceeding, I imagine. No further pics to suggest whether or not the AVRE took the plunge or backed down the ramp.

CHIMO! Derek.

Is it just me, or is there a bit of a bend in some of the scaffold poles?

Paul.

DD trials
 

With the same lot of pictures came this picture of a modified DD tank swimming through an inferno of burning oil. There were concerns that the Germans may attempt to thwart the D Day landings by igniting oil on the invasion beaches. It was unsure how the DD tanks would contend with this hazard so trials were done in Studland Bay. This picture was taken March 27th, 1944.

CHIMO! Derek.

I'm sorry Paul, I'm not sure what you mean by the bend in the scaffold poles. Are you referring to the strain on the the SBG?

CHIMO! Derek.

I was looking at the scaffold poles in front of the obstacle in the photo, but looking again I don't think they are connected to it.

Methinks my specs need changing:blink::blink:

Paul.

I see what you mean Paul. The metal poles you're referring to are either rebar if they had wanted to extend the concrete obstacle or some kind of obstacle in itself. The War department did all sorts of experiments at Brancaster prior to D Day to study the efficacy of their designs. One test performed was to see how many shells from a 75mm gun were needed to destroy or weaken a Belgian gate beach obstacle sufficiently to allow a tank to push it over. See pic.

CHIMO! Derek.

Those crafty sappers! Great photos Derek.