Bailey Bridges

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Gerry Chester, Jan 22, 2005.

  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Snap.
     
  2. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Could not put it better Trux. Cheers
     
  3. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

  4. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    HI Folks,

    I have recently built a 1/76 scale model of a BEF period Karrier CK6 with an SBG load which I had to scratch-build. I would also like to do an Albion BY3 with Pontoons which I will likewise have to scratch-built. Does anyone have any info on the overall dimensions of the Mk V Pontoon which were used with SBG's and I believe Baileys later?

    Any assistance or input would sincerely be appreciated.

    Regards,

    Neil
     
  5. Old Git

    Old Git Harmless Curmudgeon

    If you go to http://www.onesixth.co.uk and click on Forum from the menu bar, scroll down to the sub-section entitled Military Intelligence, sub-forum Heavy Equipment you will find a couple of posts, one specifically on Bailey Pontoons, which will answer your question.

    I would have posted a link but for some reason this edit box will not allow me to paste anything; I really do not like this new software everywhere I go I find new glitches that make navigating this site frustrating to say the least. Uploaded images for which the links are broken or links to other posts on this site that no longer work, it's really, really annoying!

    Rgds

    Pete
     
  6. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    Many thanks Pete, for the very informative link. That will give me all I need to do a half decent job of replicating a couple of pontoons for the load for my Albion BY3.

    Cheers,

    Neil
     
  7. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Neil,

    I know you like a lot of fine detail so I offer the following.

    The BY3 was used to carry the earlier MkV Pontoon which had the same dimensions as the MkVI used for the Bailey Bridge but had a lot more detail. I have somewhere the RE Handbook for the MKV equipment but the chance of finding it in the near future are slim. I have the following however.

    The Mk V Pontoon was built of a birch/mahogany/birch plywood with steel gunwale supports. It was completely decked. It was 20 foot long, 5 foot 9 inches wide and 2 foot 8½ inches high (over all rubbing strips and combings). Weight was 1,450 pounds.

    Two pontoons were fastened together, end to end, to make a single pier to support roadbearers. The standard Class 24 raft unit was made up of three piers supporting a 21 foot roadway.

    The roadway was constructed with
    - Eight steel road bearers which were I section girders 21 foot 2½ inches long. Bearers fit into slots on the pontoon gunwales.
    - Two steel button road bearers which each had 25 aluminium buttons to locate the roadway chesses.
    - Twenty six wooden chesses 11 foot 3 inches long were laid across the bearers.
    - Two steel ribands held the chesses in place.

    Rafts were joined together with raft connectors which allowed some articulation.

    The lorry carried the roadway parts in the well and the raft connector on the side of the pontoons.

    MkV pontoon.
    View attachment MkV pontoon.tif

    Note that this is equipped with rowlocks for oars and bars against which to rest feet while rowing.

    MkVI pontoon
    View attachment MkVI Pontoon.tif

    Mike
     
  8. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    Hi Mike,

    Thank you very much for this information. It is a huge help as it gives the actual dimensions of the Mk V. The information Pete referred to is very good in that it shows the whole system but I was having to do a lot of dimensional verification. It did seem that the O/A length was 20 ' as a tripartite pier was 60' and all sections were of equal length.
    I'm presently painting the Karrier CK6 I just built along with the SBG load and two launching noses which I scratch-built. I'm attaching a photo prior to painting as I think the original of the excellent model was yours.
    Thanks again for your constructive input...I really appreciate it.

    Regards,

    Neil
     

    Attached Files:

  9. ploughman

    ploughman Junior Member

    I was in the RE between 1977 - 1983 and TA RE 1986 - 96
    In that time built a number of Baileys in Training at Cove in Hampshire as part of Basic Corps training.
    Then we were volunteered to dismantle the footbridge used at Badminton after the 3 day eventing had finished.
    Then to reerect it at Guildford across the A3 prior to the Surrey County Show.
    Another troop then had the pleasure of dismantling and reerecting for another event.

    One of the troop seniors we had at Tidworth had the distinction of dropping a Bailey in the Thames.
    I think it was attributed to moving the bridge and forgetting the Centre of Gravity marker. A very common error.
    Apparently it was somewhere near HMS Belfast.

    On the decommissioning of HMS Eagle, I think, we had to build a ramp from dockside to deck level to get trucks up to strip out required fittings. Some of which was HGOB Heavy Girder Overbridge but mostly Bailey.

    My last encounter with a Bailey was at RAF Leeming were there is a Triple / Triple over the River Swale on the track through one of the crash gates.
    It is visible on Google Maps to the East of the airfield across the river. Do not know how to get the link to go direct to it.
     
  10. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Just been reading this interesting thread.

    By sheer coincidence I picked up a book in the local library yesterday by Susan Butler, "Goole, A Pictorial History vol 4."

    It mentions a chap who remembers seeing a Bailey Bridge over the Ouse at Goole. He says there were Sherman and Churchill tanks testing the bridge. His grandfather who was with him mentioned to the soldiers that his father was in the war at that time as a tank commander and he was given a pretty scary ride over the bridge in a Churchill tank.

    Story here from BBC People's war about 72 Field Company Royal Engineers who were in Goole building floating Bailey Bridges which came in very useful as the tide is so fast on the Ouse.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/72/a4281572.shtml

    Unfortunately I cannot find any pictures on the internet of the bridge but I will go to the local library and search the papers to see if I can find any info.
     
  11. Neilie

    Neilie Member

    Thanks 4Jonboy for the information and the links....all very interesting. I did finish the vehicle a few weeks ago and the finished result is shown below. More photos can be seen in the Modelling section of this forum.

    Thanks to everyone who contributed.

    Cheers,

    Neil
     

    Attached Files:

    Old Git likes this.
  12. Keefb

    Keefb New Member

    A long shot. My dad, a Sapper worked on this Bailey Bridge over the Rhine in WW2. He has a picture of the men in front of the bridge. Would it be possible to identify the bridge from the photo?
     

    Attached Files:

  13. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It looks rather like the Tyne and Tees bridges at Rees but I haven't yet found a similar picture of the completed bridges to confirm it.
     
  14. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    good day gerry chester,ww2 veteran,22 january,2005.09:14pm.re:bailey bridges.i have been reading this old thread.most interesting reading from the experiences of those who assemble them under fire.but i would just like to mention the person who invented it,this how we were told way back.mr bailey was having lunch with a high ranking officer,politition.they told him the problem of bridge building in the field,it is said that as they spoke mr baily was skeching what was to become known as the baily bridge on the back of the menu.he was awarded 10,000 pounds after the war.quiet a sum back then.and well deserved.regards bernard85
     
  15. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    idler,

    There's a pic of the Tyne and Tees bridges in forum post #69 which I can't make heads or tails of.

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/1306-bailey-bridges/page-3#entry182878

    'Think Defence' describes them this way:

    "Tyne Bridge at Rees, a 4,980 feet Class 70 Bailey bridge, Tees bridge at Rees, a 4,980feet Class 40 piled Bailey bridge"

    If not on the net they are probably tucked away in a book on Bailey Bridges.

    Regards ...
     
  16. Thomo1972

    Thomo1972 Member

    Dusseldorf 2391 ft long.jpg Dusseldorf Br.jpg Dusseldorf Bri.jpg Opening day of br at Dusseldorf.jpg Opening day of the Brg at Dusseldorf.jpg Ray Hollis R.Eng.jpg
    I'm only a few years late commenting on this post ..... but I have just come across my Great Uncles photos, he was 213 Fld Coy RE and worked to build this bridge (Freeman Bridge) over the Rhine at Dusseldorf. I have attached a few photos but have more if anyone is interested. Also have some photos of the Piled bridge at Cologne and the Bailey at Xanten.
     
    Aixman likes this.
  17. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    "... have more if anyone is interested. ..."
    Yes please Thomo1972 - always interested in seeing photos of the work of the Royal Engineers
    Noel
     
  18. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Thomo,

    Wonderful photos and I'd love to see them all. There's some pics in this thread on one of the Cologne bridges which I believe was named in honour of General Leslie J McNair. I found some video of people crossing there which is interesting as well.

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/52393-ronald-george-goodin/

    But do carry on ... :)

    Regards ...
     
  19. ploughman

    ploughman Junior Member

    Is that the same bridge FREEMAN BRIDGE as in the post a couple above on the 29th April?
     
  20. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

Share This Page