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Originally Posted by plant-pilot Well I have to agree, it's certainly an 'amazing truck'. As for how much faster than Bailey it is, very is the short answer. To 'slash in' 8 rigs and build a 100m long bridge you'd expect to be trafficking MBTs in under 30 minutes.
That is of course if you want to actually build a bridge. In most cases it's much better to 'splash in' build ferries and get the traffic across before getting out and disappearing. From splashing in to ferrying tanks would be no more than 10 minutes. So with 8 rigs you could have 4 tanks on the way across the river in less than 10 minutes. Bailey is good, but it's not that good.
As for their use in an Arnhem type senario, the M3s would have to approach from the south with 30 Corps as they are too big to be moved by air. However, it would have meant that there was no need to push so far into the town in order to actually take a bridge. They could have headed south, took the high ground of Westbowing and defended that (a much better prospect). This would have meant they might have been able to have caught the Driel ferry in working order and held that part of the Rhine on both sides in order to put in the M3s. Still a risky operation, but possible. |
Good stuff PP!
Setting off quality 'What If' thoughts about modern kit being available at Arnhem....
errrr. Yes. I did detect just a teeny hint of enthusiasm there, certainly enough to make me laugh
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And good stuff Spidge. But far from funny.