thedawnpatrol Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Can anyone tell me if British Military Vehicles used in this country during WW2 had to show Bridge Weight Plates, or was it just abroard ? Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 If it's any help, my WOT2 truck was fitted with a Bridge Plate by Ford before it left the factory in 1943. I have an IWM photo of a brand new WOT2 (same contract as mine) at Dagenham with a Bridge plate fitted. I also have photos of WOA2 cars and they all have bridge plates fitted. Please note that all the bridge plates are blank yellow and seemed to have had the number painted on by the unit it was issued to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGREDONE Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 So what would be the correct number(s)-markings for a jeep and trailer? Cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 A jeep and trailer is usually 3/2 Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGREDONE Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 A jeep and trailer is usually 3/2 Jules Thanks for the info, just one stupid question which I shall kick myself when you tell me..but what does 3/2 donate in old money? Is it weight 3 tons and 2 tons? as that seems very heavy indeed....stop laughing at the back, I have issues! Cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Bridge plates are the total weight of the vehicle plus total load in American tons (yes even for British Vehicles) rounded up to the nearest ton. The 3-2 weight would be the weight in tons (3) of a Jeep plus trailer plus load and the (2) is the weight of the Jeep plus load. The 3 would be above the 2 and all vehicles that normally towed a load, such as Field Artillery Tractor, would be thus marked. There was an official booklet issued to give the correct weight, but in practice it seems to be whatever the Officer said it should be. To give you some idea, a WOT2 is 4592 pounds plus 1680 pounds load, which is 6272 pounds total weight. In American tons this is 3 tons 272 pounds, which rounds up to 4 tons. Ford WOT2 trucks in WW2 had a Bridge plate of 3 or 5, according to original photos. This information is for Wartime vehicles. I don't know if this was changed post-war. Can anyone else help here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 I don't know if this was changed post-war. Can anyone else help here? Robert this is the history of bridge classification over the years that I have pieced together from official documents. In 1909 it seemed to be the responsibility of a general staff officer at the approach to a bridge to give instructions to commanders of units about the suitability of the crossing. By 1911 the responsibility of giving the bridge a load classification passed to the engineers in the unit constructing the bridge. They were required to indicate at each end of the bridge the greatest permissible load. The examples below take little account of motor transport: “Bridge to carry infantry in fours” “Bridge to carry infantry in file” “Bridge to carry guns not heavier than 18-pr” “Not for animals” “Bridge for all arms. No road engines” By 1924 a simpler classification was in use: “Foot-bridges”- Infantry in single file. “Pack-bridges” - Infantry in single file, cavalry in single file, pack animal transport. “Medium bridges” - Infantry in fours, cavalry in half-sections, horsed transport, cars, armoured cars, light & med artillery, 3-ton lorries & all ordinary MT up to 5½-ton axle load. “Heavy bridges” – Heavy artillery, tractors & MT up to 16-ton axle load, tanks up to 18 tons. “Super-heavy bridges” – Axle loads & tanks in excess of above loads. By 1935 the classification in use was refined further: “Assault”- Infantry in single file. “Pack” - Infantry in single file, cavalry in single file, pack animal transport. “Light” - Infantry in fours, cavalry in half-sections, vehicles & weapons with forward units, horsed transport, horse & field artillery, cars, ambulances, lorries & AFVs max 4½-ton weight. “Medium”-All loads normally with a division, 4-whld MT up to axle load of 5.7 tons, 6-whld vehicles max axle load 3.6 tons or a rear bogie of 7.2 tons. “Heavy” - All loads normally with an army in the field. All 4-whld MT, 6-whld MT up to axle load of 8.25 tons or bogie load of 16.5 tons, tracked vehicles with sprung tracks up to 19.25 tons, provided track bearing length is not less than 13 feet. “Super-heavy”- Vehicles whose weights exceed “Heavy” By 1939 all bridges where classed according to the maximum weight of a vehicle in tons giving the following Classes 5, 9, 12, 18 or 24. It should be noted that bridges classes apply not just to fixed bridges but to pontoons bridges as well. Notes on M.T. Administration W.O. Code No.11060 issued in November 1954 suspended Bridge Classification Signs in the U.K. In overseas theatres this sign could still be used at the discretion of the C-in-C and G.O.C-in-C. where considered necessary. In fact such classification was only ordered in Bridge Classification Signs (Overseas Only) W.O.Code No.8229. Although vehicles at that time were classed in multiples of 1 ton, it was not just the laden weight. They were calculated from data which included the load capacity, tyre sizes etc. Bridges classes were extended as follows: 5, 9, 12, 18, 24, 48, 50, 60, 70. Bridge Load Classification (STANAG 2021) Introduced 1960-63 The bridge load classification was said to originally have represented by the rounded up weight of the vehicle in tons. "The new system relates to the characteristics of the vehicle which includes overall weight, number of axles, distance between axles, axle load (unladen & laden), tyre size, ground clearance etc and bears no direct relationship to the former system." It must be remembered that is a STANAG, which is a NATO Standard applicable to many countries. The UK had already taken some account of factors other than weight. What changed in the U.K. was that the mechanism for calculating a figure was more comprehensive and now standardised with other NATO countries. The classification of bridges was also changed to take account of the effects that particular vehicles would have on the bridge. However the application of the system is the same as before, in that only a vehicle load class less or equal to the bridge load class number may cross the bridge. The load class number is based on vehicles travelling at normal convoy speeds at a spacing of 100 feet. The classification also relates to ferries, and takes into account an assessment of the state of the approaches to the crossing to produce an overall classification. There was no point in UK based vehicles having a Bridge Class displayed, as the Joint Service Road Transport Regulations JSP 341 states that: The UK will not prepare classification signs for civilian bridges and ferries in UK territory in peacetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 To add to Clive's informative post, I am sure that on an official publication somewhere i have seen that cars and other light vehicles under the lowest bridge rating (5 tons) had no requirement to show a figure, although they were fitted with plates. will have to try and find where this was stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) Yes Bridge Plates were used in the UK. This is the manual you need. Bridge Classification of Vehicles & Mechanical Equipment 1945 marked Confidential,[ATTACH=CONFIG]52062[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52060[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52063[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52064[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52065[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52066[/ATTACH] it has 55 pages of info for most types of Vehs / Tanks Ect. Here are just a few pages. Original Manual from my collection. Keith Edited October 9, 2011 by Morris C8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 This page has Cdn Vehs. click on photos to enlarge. The bridge class is on the far right of the pages. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Photos of bridge plates in the UK. SuCoe, & Austin with the odd bridge plate. last photo with 2 bridge plate.. photos from my collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Keith excellent thank you for posting that which is a missing link. I have repeatedly been told over the years by people who know about this era that in WW2 the maximum weight of the vehicle rounded up equated to its Bridge Classification. Yet I knew in the immediate postwar period a more sophisticated calculation was required. But here it is, proof that in WW2 this method of allocating a Bridge Classification was already in place & was not just a weight issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Here are two more manuals that may be of help, from my collection. 1st one. Operations part 1 Supplement October 1939 has a little info on bridge plates. 2nd manual 1944 Mechanized Movement by road, has a lot of good info on convoys. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 Thanks everyone thats answered my question, but if anyone else has any pictures of vehicles in the UK with bridge plates, please share them Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 This pic taken in East Anglia shows a USAAF 1 1/2T Chev truck, showing that when it came to bridge plates the USAAF were compliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Heres one I found, your'll recognise the young Lady. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Aparently the young lady loathed the K2. Thought they were gashtly things to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mh6x6 Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 can anybody tell me the outside diameter of the standard bridge plate as i am making a stamping die to make new ones for our military vehicles much apreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 they are nine inch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Having just come across this thread when looking for something else. Are bridge plates still in use or when stopped being used, if so what is now used Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 On 10/9/2011 at 10:30 PM, Morris C8 said: Yes Bridge Plates were used in the UK. This is the manual you need. Bridge Classification of Vehicles & Mechanical Equipment 1945 marked Confidential,[ATTACH=CONFIG]52062[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52060[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52063[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52064[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52065[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]52066[/ATTACH] it has 55 pages of info for most types of Vehs / Tanks Ect. Here are just a few pages. Original Manual from my collection. Keith Shame links no longer working Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 (edited) I will see if I still have the book with the info in. Keith Edited November 29, 2018 by Morris C8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 49 minutes ago, Morris C8 said: I will see if I still have the book with the info in. Keith Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert condick Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Hi, Bridge plates were fitted as soon as the army took poession of the vehicle, reprinted bookVehicle Making in the Middle East, has a list of what should be on the bridge plate, from www.robvanmeel.nl, book no 2006 regs Rupert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) there are images of vehicles still in the factory with the bridge plates attached one such is of AUSTIN K2 AMBULANCES on the finishing line at the factory it is quite true that the actual bridge classification number would be painted on as well as arm of service and div signs on receipt by the army Edited April 15, 2019 by wally dugan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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