HELP IN INVASION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 27 June 1944, Page 5

HELP IN INVASION

Remarkable New Bridge (British Official Wireless.) (Received June 26, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, Jnce 25. Constructional details of the Bailey bridge are no longer secret. It is revealed that this bridge, the most remarkable in the history of military operations, can cross any gap up to 240 feet without the help of pontoons. With pontoons it can bridge much wider gaps. It will undoubtedly play a big part in the invasion of Europe by assisting our armies and supplies to cross rivers and gaps caused, by enemy demolitions. In its lightest form, technically known as a “single span.” the Bailey bridge can carry a load of 20 tons. Its construction can be doubled or trebled if needed to be ready to carry our heaviest tanks. The bridge fits together like a gigantic jigsawpuzzle. Each section is 10ft. long, and is made up of only 17 parts j Nine other parts are used to make the foundations. The heaviest part can be handled with ease bv six men. The Bailey bridge is first built on rollers on a bank and then pushed over the gap by the building crew without any mechanical aid. Each span as completed is pushed on rollers over the gap until the gap is completely bridged. Only one step is needed for each join. The nearest the Germans hare to anything comparable is a bridge whose parts in each section have to be fitted together with 24 nuts and holts. Our invasion forces are making full use of the bridge in Normandv. It has been used in North Africa and Italy with great success, onr sappers in Italy performing the feat of bridging a 300 ft. gap across the Trigno in 36 hours. The bridge is named after Donald Coleman Bailey of the Ministry of Supply, who played a leading part in its design and development.