pbhawkin Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Hi, What date did these markings appear on vehicles in WW2? regards peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I know that by 1909 it was 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 but this was not yet numerical. 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. Bridge classes applied not just to fixed bridges but to pontoon bridges as well. So if bridges were classed by 1939, presumably vehicles were marked up accordingly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 5 hours ago, fv1609 said: I know that by 1909 it was 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 but this was not yet numerical. 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. Bridge classes applied not just to fixed bridges but to pontoon bridges as well. So if bridges were classed by 1939, presumably vehicles were marked up accordingly? I seem to recall there was a publication for working out what the bridge could carry, not sure who was responsible for checking, may have it some where, if it was electronic its the kind of thing I would down load Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarland Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Explanation of the Bridge Class system can be found here: Think Defence - Bridge Load Classification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10FM68 Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 There was and will be. The Royal Engineers Pocket Book. RSME always included an exercise in doing precisely that on the various combat engineer courses. You would have to do it for a selection of bridges and it involved various measurements and calculations. Interestingly, some of the strongest are the oldest - I recall one stone bridge dating from medieval times working out at about Class 120 and even then, its only limiting factor was its width! But, to modern engineers this was shocking of course - building a bridge to carry a horse and cart which was so clearly over-designed! Perhaps some forum members will remember their days in BAOR where every bridge, culvert and sharp bend was faithfully recorded on "Road and Bridge" maps held by RE, RMP, RCT and so on to enable easy planning of convoy routes. Such obstacles were themselves marked with bridge circles showing limits for both single and double traffic. By and large, most vehicles, apart from heavy armour, could cope with most public roads, but I do recall that the 35-tonne Crusaders and the Coles MkV cranes were restricted - the latter due to its height - just over the standard 4m - the general minimum clearance for bridges on German roads. 10 68 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarland Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 http://hmvf.co.uk/topic/18859-ww2-british-vehicle-bridge-plates/ Have a look here - Clive and Richard Farrant have answered a similar query....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 7 minutes ago, Tarland said: Explanation of the Bridge Class system can be found here: Think Defence - Bridge Load Classification The link for the book would appear to be broken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz48 Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 If you interested in 39 to 45 Bridging vehicle classifications look out for a copy of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Surveyor said: The link for the book would appear to be broken Edited November 3, 2018 by radiomike7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbhawkin Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 thanks for the reply's, But the original question I am trying to answer is What date did they appear on vehicles ? Also, did RAF vehicles in the UK wear them and if so from what date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 The fitting of bridge plates to vehicles predates the out break of the second world war you can find photos of vehicles in the uk in 1939 with them fitted but if you look at vehicles with the BEF in France in the run up to DUNKIRK you will find little evidence of them in photo taken at the time also on any Pathe news reels shot in Belgium or France Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higginsboat Posted December 4, 2018 Share Posted December 4, 2018 (edited) Sorry not a answer but a pic of a Baily bridge! Edited December 4, 2018 by Higginsboat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAFMT Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 (edited) The RAF circulated a letter, "Yellow Discs on Vehicles", which I have yet to see (I hope it's in TNA somewhere), but I have references to it. It was dated 3/9/1939. Edited December 5, 2018 by RAFMT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbhawkin Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Thanks Bryan. That helps with a airfield diorama I am doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAFMT Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 It took a while for them to be applied to vehicles that weren't likely to leave to the airfield however. Things like tractors and such, you see photographs well into the war showing tractors without bridge markings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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