Location of floating bridge???

Looking for the location of this floating bridge (or raft bridge, what's the proper name?). Photo was taken by a member of F Company, 8th Bn. The Rifle Brigade, during their campaign in NW-Europe, from Normandy to the Baltic.

For more about the Battalion, have a look at Home - 8th Rifle Brigade

 

The Mulberry Harbour [and Floating Bridges] is worth looking into.

 

What do you mean? This is not Arromanche...

 

I think hundreds were built across NW Europe in 1944/45. It could be anywhere unless it’s possible to pinpoint the location from the photo - but there’s not much to go on!

 

Looks like a Cl 40 Bailey pontoon bridge.

The bridge is crossing a major river and there is clear sign of major destruction on the far bank. Looks like an industrial area and there is at least one rail-mounted crane, suggesting barges were loaded here. The river should be identifiable from the 8 RB war diary. What about the Maas?

 

A US Treadway Pontoon Bridge. Not normally used by the British. The vehicles are Universal Carriers. Best guess would be that the photo shows British troops using a US bridge, probably before or during the Rhine crossing when British units did use US Army bridges.

Mike.

Photo is of GHQ 1:285 scale Treadway Bridge with transporter/erector and mobile crane.

 

8RB had to cross quite a few rivers and canals (opposed or unopposed). Looking at the photo, I'm thinking Holland or Germany. Here are some possibilities. Any idea how to find out which one?

- River Maas, at or near Maasbommel (Holland)
- River Maas, Venlo (Holland)
- River Rhine, Wesel (Germany)
- River Ems, Mesum (Germany)
- Dormund-Ems Canal, near Dorenthe (Germany)
- ... Canal, Eversheide (Germany)
- River Weser, Petershagen (Germany)
- River Leine, Bothmen (Germany)
- River Leine, Helstorf (Germany)
- River Aller, near Essel (Germany)
- River Wietze, near Reiningen (Germany)
- River Ortze, Poitzen (Germany)
- River Elbe, Lauenburg (Germany)
- River Elbe, Artlenburg (Germany)
- Wilhelm Canal, Rendsburg (Germany)

 

Absolutely not the Weser, Leine or Aller. Far too wide and industrial. If it is a US bridge as Mike suggests then this should significantly narrow the choices.

 

I have looked for but not found any bridge on the Maas or Rhine which fits. The US bridges built by 9 US Army when they were part of 21 Army Group seemed a strong possibility but those on the Maas were heavier Bailey bridges and the lighter bridges on the Rhine were not positioned near built up areas. In fact this stretch of the Rhine has wide flood plains with no buildings along the banks.

Mike

 

The Americans built a Treadway brigde across the Rhine at Wesel - seen on the photo below:

They also built a Heavy Pontoon bridge and a Bailey bridge - all three were reserved for the use by British forces until March 31st.

 

Is that not the same bridge as that posted buy the OP? Just looking at the shapes of trees and buildings at the other side….Have you found the answer? (I confess I don’t know if 8 RB were operating around Wesel.)

 

Yes, it is the same bridge. The map below also indicates where the crane was situated - just downstream from where the River Lippe enters the Rhine:

 

Well done Alberk. I was hoping that you would come along with the answer.

That is the bridge I thought of first. I did not realise that there were buildings so close to the river.

Mike

 

Hooray, and I was just about to post that it was not the Elbe!

 

Many thanks to all of you. To confirm what we know now, the two photos one above the other:

 

They crossed the Rhine at Wesel on 28 March 1945, prior to their advance through Germany, ending at the Baltic. For their route from Normandy to the Baltic, have a look at my 8RB website, at Maps - 8th Rifle Brigade

 

Nice one!

 

By the way: the vehicles and men on my picture are British.

 

So are those on mine. One more question (for the moment): how do you know this photo is at Wesel. IWM photo with description, or...?

 

In case Alberk is too modest!

He lives in Wesel and is THE expert on the action there.

Mike