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Forums - Research / Post-WW2 |
This Post WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to any time after WW2 (1945+) subjects. |
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| Messages | 5008 |
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| Subject: | Re: Bailey bridge |  |
| Date: | Jan 29, 2001 |
| From: | Paul Roberts | |
Kurt Laughlin wrote:
>
> "Ludovic BERTRAND" wrote in message
>
> > Could any one provide me with documentation on the M2 bailey bridge
> > (drawings, assembly instructions, pictures,...) please?
>
> I have a US Army Technical Manual on the post-war (1970s) version that shows
> the pieces, how to build it, and things like that, but they are not what I
> call drawings that you could build from. I'd have to root around for the TM
> to see what models it covers, but it probably ISN'T the WW II version if
> that's what you want.
>
> KL
Having both the Brit & American Post war Bailey manuals as well as most
of the wartime American Bailey manual (TM 5-277), I can say that the
differences between the original Bailey Bridge and the current model in
use by, at least, the Brit armed forces are pretty minimal. Post war the
bridges were widened to (I think) 14 feet between the curbs of the
roadway and a few small enhancements were added to ease storage and
installation, but, generally they are almost identical. I don't know
this for sure, but I bet that many WW II parts will fit on a modern
Bailey.
Wartime Baileys weren't supposed to go bigger than a "triple-triple",
i.e. three panels wide and three high to carry the highest loads, but
post war baileys add a second tier of transoms to cover in the bridge
thus increasing its capacity even more. Bailey panels can be used to
make the vertical piers that support bridges over even longer spans.
As an engineer I love the Bailey Bridge. The total number of different
parts for a standard Bailey Bridge is 43 items and that includes all the
bolts, pins , jack blocks and hardware. The basic bridge is made from
just 10 structural parts; panels, transoms, bracing frame, raker,
stringers (button and plain), end posts (male & female), ramps and
bearing plates. It can be self launched from one shore out to cross a
span of over 180 feet. Except for the counterbalancing mass and pushing
power required for the longer spans, a Bailey can be build and launched
solely by manpower. No mechanical equipment or cranes required. Bloody
marvelous!
--
Paul Roberts
Scale Tech Distributing
Contract Model Makers
tankmodeler@home.com
http://www.tamcotec.com/proberts/ |
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