military bridging

[David Potter]

In the same vein as Les' image of early cab FBE, here are some early (non windscreen) pontoon carriers. Date: 24-25 March; "General Ritchie (12 Corps) inspecting brdiging parties".

David

[David Potter]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
To keep the thread lively heres a Albion small box girder superstruture
cheers
Les

Les, you have briliantly eclipsed me!

I was struggling for an image of "full size" SBG on British chassis (have an overhead shot of Diamond T975 - but had to resort to a 1/76 model for the Leyland Retriever!) to illustrate my series of drawn out replies to David Haywards question regarding LLB, SBG and TSB. Much of the vehicle load data and images would have been more appropriate here under the bridging thread! As a relative novice here I assume it is bad practice to copy posts from one thread to another?

Please keep the images coming Les; very much appreciated!

David

[Noel Burgess]

heres an Albion BY3 Trestle & Sliding Bay Lorry
Photo (credited to Albion Motors) appeared in one of the "Focus on Allied Softskins" articles by Mike Conniford in the now defunct B attle magazine (Feb 1977)

[Noel Burgess]

Leyland Retriever Pontoon Lorry (Conniford again)

Noel

[David Potter]

Karrier CK6 SBG

[David Potter]

SBG Body Drawing

[David Potter]

SBG - Short Box Girder. SBG Mk2 & Mk3 was in use in 1939; obsolete in 1944 (replaced by Bailey bridge), although SBG Mk2 components were used in SBG assault bridge carried by Churchill AVRE in 79th Armoured Division.
SBG Load 1:
On frames: 4x Box sections; 2x Launching nose on top of box sections; 2x Launching cradles on rear ends of outside box sections.
In toolbox: 4x Cradle Pins; 16x Dogs.

[David Potter]

SBG - Short Box Girder. SBG Mk2 & Mk3 was in use in 1939; obsolete in 1944 (replaced by Bailey bridge), although SBG Mk2 components were used in SBG assault bridge carried by Churchill AVRE in 79th Armoured Division.

SBG Load 2:
On frames: 4x Hornbeam sections; 1x Launching nose on top of hornbeams; 1x Launching cradles on rear ends of one of the hornbeams; 4x Ramps on top of hornbeams; 2x Bankseats on top of hornbeams.
In toolbox: 9x Dogs; 4x Cradle & Ramp pins; 4x Launching rollers; 4x 6 fathom lengths of 2" lashings.
In hornbeams: 3x Handspikes; 8x Carrying bars; 4x 5' Pickets; 1x Maul.

[David Potter]

FBE Body Drawing

[David Potter]

FBE Floating Bay Load

[David Potter]

FBE Landing Stage Load

[David Potter]

Please note that above drawings all relate to FBE Mk3 equipment.

Earlier FBE Mk1 & 2 had totally different bodies and loading:
Boats were carried on trailers (Les has already uploaded a picture)
Truck carried road bearer sections on a wooden trestle ramp structure.
There are quite a number of images about of earlier Mk1 / 2 trucks; if anyone has not seen them I can upload or send privately.

David

[David Potter]

Pontoon carrier body for MkV & VI pontoons and Bailey centre pontoons

[David Potter]

TSB - Trestle and Sliding Bay. Used to carry trestle equipment for MkV pontoon bridge. The sliding bay was a length of roadway to accompany trestle equipment. Obsolete in 1944 (replaced by Bailey pontoon bridge).
TSB Trestle load
On frame: 14x Roadbearers, long, plain; 2x Roadbearers, long, button; 2x Ribands, long.
In the well: 1x Transom; 2x Transom legs; 2x Struts; 21x Chesses.
On side shelves: 1x Saddle; 4x Chesses; 2x Chesses, stiffening.
In the forward compartment: 2x Shoes; 2x Shoe extensions; 2x Jacks; 3x Racking channels; 3x Racking bolts; 1x Trestle transport case; 4x Ropes; 2x Lashings; 3x 5' Pickets; 2x Mauls.
Sliding Bay load:
On frame: 14x Roadbearers, long, plain; 2x Roadbearers, long, button; 2x Ribands, long.
In the well: 25x Chesses; 2x Rafting levers.
On side shelves: 2x Chesses, stiffening; 5x Racking boxes; 4x Roadbearer lifters.
In the forward compartment: 8x Ramps; 5x Bridging spikes; 2x Hammers; 2x Holdfast anchors; 2x Ropes; 2x Lashings; 3x Sliding Bay guides.
TSB body was used on Albion BY1 & BY3, AEC Marshall and Leyland Retriever; also fitted to Diamond T 975 but never used since equipment was obsolete so these chassis were fitted with Coles cranes in UK.

tsb.jpg

[David Potter]

No I am not talking about US Trackway on Brockway (great machine) or FWD!

Albion BY1 with 20ft Track Bridge

[David Potter]

Bridge launched; trackways were cable hauled over cab to launch position; don't think I would want to be in the cab during this procedure!

[David Potter]

Assault raft consisting of Bailey / MkV pontoons, FBE Mk3 superstructure.

Albion BY is early FBE (Mk3) unit with original fuel tank repositioned above tool box rather than production version with fuel tank at running board level. Picture probably taken at EBE Christchurch in 1943.

[Les Freathy]

AT this rate David we will bridge that gap with a Cadburys snack.

Gonna go ancient now in fact to the inter war period with these images

first raft unit lorry cant make up my mind if its a half cab Albion or Burford

[Les Freathy]

Leyland medium derrick lorry

[Les Freathy]

Late 1930s raft carrier 90% sure its a Crossley IGL

[Neilie (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Les Freathy

Late 1930s raft carrier 90% sure its a Crossley IGL

I am working on a Crossley IGL8 and was about to apply the TSB body to it based upon this photo but, I think it is an early Albion BY1. Firstly, the front hubs are finned and notice the absence of a panel outboard the driver's seat as in the early BY1 half cab versions. Also, I see no documented evidence the IGL8's were TSB bodied. Now I'm back to doing it as a Derrick which is a safe bet and well documented. I have a Retriever to use for the TSB.

Cheers,

Neil

[Les Freathy]

And early Morris D type tractor and semi trailer pontoon carrier

[David Potter]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
Late 1930s raft carrier 90% sure its a Crossley IGL

Les,

Crossley IGL (8?) with TSB Body.

David

[David Potter]

Les,

To follow your Leyland Derrick, here is a Crossley IGL8.

David

[David Potter]

Now a Crossley IGL7 Derrick

[Les Freathy]

Something a little different, a Karrier K6 4x4 GS loaded with bridging equipment

[Les Freathy]

Albion with pontoons, in colour to

[Les Freathy]

Albion trackway

[Les Freathy]

David

i,m interested to know more of this diorama you are building for a museum,is it in the uk or france. Prehaps Bromton RE museum

[David Potter]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
Something a little different, a Karrier K6 4x4 GS loaded with bridging equipment

Les,

1. Nice to see an image of Karrier K6 (quite rare to see in photos), although sometimes seen (winch equipped) in RE use.

2. Load is 3x Stormboats with ramps (for jeeps - a bit top heavy - or 6pdr gun) from Section 4 of an Assault Equipment Platoon RASC Bridging Company.

As always I envy your photo library, always something new!

David