Op Plunder - question on XXX Corps OOB plus questions answered

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Rod_M, Jul 28, 2021.

  1. Rod_M

    Rod_M Member

    Hi,

    after reading two outstanding threads on this forum:

    Crossing the Rhine. | WW2Talk

    Bridging the Rhine for 12th Corps - March 1945 | WW2Talk

    I would like to ask if anyone has details from the planned XXX Corps Order of Battle for Op Plunder.

    Specifically, I am wanting to know what Anti-Aircraft Artillery units were assigned to the XXX Corps sector at Xanten, i.e. what was the assigned AA AA Brigade and AA Regiments? Also, what was the assigned Anti-Aircraft Operations Room (AAOR)?

    This information will enable me to obtain copies of the relevant war diaries from TNA, Kew.

    Cheers

    Rod

    Also, on another thread, someone asked when the first bridges were completed/become operational in the northern sector. I have some answers. The US bridge at Wallach was the first, followed by the British bridge near Vissel.

    Firstly, the two threads mentioned above provide information on British bridges.

    The Ike Skelton CARL in the United States has a large number of WWII documents online at:

    Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library - Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library (oclc.org)

    A search on the term 'Plunder' will bring up several US Army (and a US Navy) documents relating to Op Plunder and the American bridging effort.

    From all these sources, here is a rundown on bridges across the Rhine completed in the Northern sector between 24-26 March 1945, in order of completion:

    1530h, 24/03
    1,152 ft M2 Treadway Bridge near Wallach completed

    1600h, 24/03
    1,152 ft M2 Treadway Bridge near Wallach opened to traffic

    1840h, 24/03
    1,152 ft M2 Treadway Bridge near Wallach accidentally damaged, closed to traffic

    2200h, 24/03
    Draghunt Bridge (FBE 9), near Vissel, Xanten completed

    2300h, 24/03
    Draghunt Bridge (FBE 9), nr Vissel, Xanten opened to traffic

    0100h, 25/03
    1,045 ft Heavy Pontoon Bridge (Reinforced) near Wallach completed

    0200h, 25/03
    1,152 ft M2 Treadway Bridge near Wallach repaired and reopened to traffic

    0615h, 25/03
    M1 Treadway Bridge near Mehrum completed

    0630h, 25/03
    1,045 ft Heavy Pontoon Bridge (Reinforced) near Wallach opened to traffic

    0830h, 25/03
    M1 Treadway Bridge near Mehrum opened to traffic

    1630h, 25/03
    Digger Bridge (Class 40 BPB), near Bislich opened to traffic

    0200h, 26/03
    Waterloo bridge (CL 9) near Wisselward, Rees completed

    0405h, 26/03
    1,284 ft M2 Treadway Bridge at Wesel opened to traffic

    0830h, 26/03
    Lambeth bridge (CL 15) near Niedermörmter, Rees completed

    0900h, 26/03
    Sussex Bridge (Class 12 BPB) near Auf dem Hammel, completed and opened to traffic

    1645h, 26/03
    M2 Treadway Bridge near Milchplatz completed

    1800h, 26/03
    M2 Treadway Bridge near Milchplatz opened to traffic

    1850h, 26/03
    25-Ton Ponton Bridge at Wesel completed

    2300h, 26/03
    London bridge (CL 40) near Niedermörmter, Rees completed
     
    Aixman and alberk like this.
  2. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    Hi Rod_M,

    if you're interested in AA-units near Xanten you should look to XII Corps and its order of battle.

    I believe Trux' latest thread has answers on that question:
    Crossing the Rhine. | Page 3 | WW2Talk
     
  3. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

  4. Rod_M

    Rod_M Member

    Hi alberk,

    thanks for the links - I'd already noted the info on the XII Corps AA units from that thread.

    There are also a host of bridge photographs from the Northern and Southern sectors within the following two US Army publications:

    Engineer operations in the Rhine crossing: Ninth US Army, 1945
    Part_1 - World War II Operational Documents - Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library (oclc.org)


    Rhine crossing: Twelfth Army Group engineer operations
    Part_1 - World War II Operational Documents - Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library (oclc.org)

    Each webpage contains a facsimile scan of the the original publications in two parts.

    Cheers

    Rod
     
    alberk likes this.

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