Early War bridging equipment

German weapons, vehicles and equipment 1919-1945.

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Ron Klages
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Post by Ron Klages »

Tony,

Here is some data that can partially answer your question.

There is a small booklet published by Schiffer Military History titled BRIDGEBUILDING EQUIPMENT OF THE WEHRMACHT 19.9-1945 by Horst Beiersdorf hat you should look for. Go to the Schiffer web site.

Best regards

Ron Klages





Military Bridging Equipment


• A MATERIAL

Whole pontoons carried on Pontoon Wagon Pf. 8 and Pontoon Wagon Pf. 9, horsedrawn, makeshift motorized, or motorized.

With the equipment of a bridge column, rowed ferries could be built of:
2 pontoons with 5 planks and simple attachments with load limit of 3 tons
2 pontoons with double attachments with load limit of 4 tons
3 pontoons with 9 planks and double attachments with load limit of 7 tons

There were 26 pontoons to a bridge column and each was 8 meters long, 1.5 meters wide and 0.85 meters tall.

There was a trestle device with 8 wood spars each 4.11 meters long, 0.1 meters wide and 0.32 meters tall. 16 trestle legs were required, also wood, 4.5 meters long and 10 to 15cm thick

There were 8 shore planks of wood 4.1 meters long and 56 crash planks 4.75 meters long. These linked the shore planks with the trestle spars

There were 140 spike planks that were 6.1 meters long and 0.1 meters wide and 0.15 meters tall. They were laid from pontoon to ponotoon.

Finally there were 630 planks, made of wood, ythat were 3.75 meters long, 0.26 meters wide and 0.035 meters thick that made the roadway over the pontoon bridge.

• B MATERIAL

Half pontoons carried by Trestle Wagon Pf. 10, Pontoon Wagon Pf. 11 and Ramp Wagon Pf. 12, motorized and horsedrawan was possible.

The bridges consisted of a fixed and a floating part; supports in the fixed part are trestles, in the floating part half or whole pontoons, depending on the type of bridge: ramp parts or crossing parts linked the fixed and floating parts of the bridge. Bridges that are built only on fixed supports are called trestle bridges.

With the equipment of a Bridge Column B, the following can be built:

8 ton bridges to a length of 83 meters
16 ton bridges to a length of 54 meters

Possible bridge widths are:

Trestle and pontoon stretches to 3.14 meters
Ramp parts to 3.14 meters

8 ton bridges were built on half-pontoons
Trestle and pontoon stretches had 8 stretch carriers, 2 rack carriers, 2 ubnderpieces and a simple covering
Trestle stretches had 12 stretch carriers, 2 rack carriers and 2 underpieces
Pontoon stretches had 124 stretch carriers, 4 rack carriers and 3 underpieces

From Bridge material B the following ferries could be built:

4 ton ferries
8 ton double ferries
8 ton simple ferries
16 ton ferries

These ferries could be:
Motor ferries special boats carries were available
Rowed ferries
Trail or cable ferries

The equipment of a Bridge Column B consisted of:
16 half-pontoons
8 trestles
2 ramps
8 shore-planks
8 crossing rails-16 ton
2 motorboats

• C MATERIAL

Allowed bridges and ferries to be built up to loads of 4 tons. The following could be built:

Landing stages on small float sacks
Landing stages on half-pontoons up to 70 meters
Bridges on whole pontoons up to 140 meters
2 ton ferries
4 ton ferries
single special ferries
double special ferries
4 ton bridges
special bridges of 84 meters with 42 meters of it floating

• K n.A. material

Consisted of ready made box carrier device for heavy loads up to 16 tons and tracked vehicles to 20 tons.

With a half-platoon material one could build :
1 bridge of 16 ton load limit with 19.2 meter support width or
1 bridge of 16 ton load limit with 14.4 meter support width or
1 bridge of 16 ton load limit with 9.6 meter support width or

With a full-platoon material one could build :
1 bridge of 16 ton load limit on floating intermediate supports with
38.4 meter length or
33.6 meter length or
28.8 meter length or
24 meter length or

with the materials of a fulll column then one could build
1 bridge of 16 ton load limit on floating intermediate supports including a double block of 78.8 meters in length

• D MATERIAL

Bridging material for reconnaissance units that could be carried in trucks

• G MATERIAL

Bridging devices for mountains

• H MATERIAL

Heavy self-carrying bridges with pontoon support that was taken over from the Austrian and Czech Armies.

• I MATERIAL

Device for heaviest loads with pontoon support

• IZ MATERIAL

light dismantable bridges, self-carring, loaded on trucks

• sS MATERIAL

heavy ships’ bridge

• T MATERIAL

Czech bridge device. Whole pontoons, carried on trestle or pontoon wagons, horsedrawan or motorized.

• Bässler Bridge

Bridge material with swinging trestle as fixed support, loaded on trucks.


Some TOE info:

KStN. 733 Br.Kol. B(mot.) dated 1.10.1937

Stab with
1x le.PKW with 1 officer and 1 enlisted man
3x motorcycles with 1 NCO and 2 enlisted men

1.Platoon (Pontoon) with
1x le.gl.PKW with 1 officer and 1 enlisted man
1x motorcycle with 1 enlisted man
8x m.gl.LKW with 2 NCOs and 16 enlisted men
8x Pf.11 trailer
4x SdKfz 6 m.Zg.Kw. with 1 NCO and 9 enlisted men
4x Pf. 10 trailer
1x m.gl.LKW with 3 enlisted men
1x SdAh. 13 trailer with 1 boat

2.Platoon (Pontoon) with
1x le.PKW with 1 NCO and 1 enlisted man
1x motorcycle with 1 enlisted man
8x m.gl.LKW with 2 NCOs and 16 enlisted men
8x Pf.11 trailer
4x SdKfz 6 m.Zg.Kw. with 1 NCO and 9 enlisted men
4x Pf. 10 trailer
1x m.gl.LKW with 3 enlisted men
1x SdAh. 13 trailer with 1 boat

Ergänzungs Platoon with
2x motorcycle with side car with 2 NCO and 2 enlisted man
1x le.LKW with kitchen and 3 enlisted men
1x m.gl.LKW with fuel drums and 3 enlisted men
2x m.gl.LKW with 2 NCO and 7 enlisted men
2x Pf. 12 trailer
1x m.gl.LKW with 4 enlisted men
1x SdAh 15 trailer(ferry cable)

Train Section with
1x le.LKW with 1 NCO and 2 enlisted men

The bridging equipment carried was:
16 half-pontoons
8 trestles
2 ramps
8 shore planks
8 crossing rails-16 tons
2 motorboats
1 ferry cable on a spool

If the trilers were horse drawn then each double axle wagen required 6 horses


KStN. 737 Br.Kol. K(mot.) dated 1.10.1937

Stab with
1x le.gl.PKW with 1 officer, 1 NCO and 1 enlisted man
3x motorcycles with 1 NCO and 2 enlisted men

1.Platoon (Pontoon) with
1x le.gl.PKW with 1 officer and 1 enlisted man
1x motorcycle with 1 enlisted man
12x m.gl.LKW with 3 NCOs and 26 enlisted men

2.Platoon (Pontoon) with
1x le.gl.PKW with 1 officer and 1 enlisted man
1x motorcycle with 1 enlisted man
12x m.gl.LKW with 3 NCOs and 26 enlisted men

Ergänzungs Platoon with
2x motorcycle with side car with 2 NCO
1x le.LKW with kitchen and 2 enlisted men
1x le.LKW with 3 enlisted men
1x m.LKW with 3 enlisted men

Train Section with
1x le.LKW with 2 enlisted men


KStN. 734 Br.Kol. C(mot.) no date

Stab with
1x le.PKW with 1 officer, 1 NCO and 1 enlisted man
2x motorcycles with 2 enlisted men

1.Platoon (Pontoon) with
1x motorcycle with sidecar with 1 NCO and 1 enlisted man
3x m.gl.LKW with 1 NCO and 6 enlisted men
3x Pf.15 trailer
3x SdKfz 6 m.Zg.Kw. with 9 enlisted men
3x Pf. 14 trailer

2.Platoon (Pontoon) with
1x motorcycle with sidecar with 1 NCO and 1 enlisted man
3x m.gl.LKW with 1 NCO and 6 enlisted men
3x Pf.15 trailer
3x SdKfz 6 m.Zg.Kw. with 9 enlisted men
3x Pf. 14 trailer

Ergänzungs Platoon with
2x motorcycle with side car with 1 NCO and 1 enlisted man
1x le.LKW with kitchen and 4 enlisted men
1x le..LKW with 1 NCO and 3 enlisted men

Train Section with
1x le.LKW with 2 enlisted men
Ron Klages
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little complement........................

Brückenpanzer IV.

As per the K.St.N.716 (dated 1.3.1940) the third company of each Pi Btl belonging to the ten panzer divisions, was to be organized as an armored company with its 3rd Platoon outfitted with four bridge-layers. The Pi Btl 37, 38, 39, 89 and 49 (1. Pz, 2. Pz, 3. Pz, 5. Pz and 10. Pz) with Brückenpanzer IV and the Pi Btl 79, 57, 58, 59 and 86 (4. Pz, 6. Pz, 7. Pz, 8. Pz and 9. Pz) with Brückenpanzer II.

Sources: http://atf40.forumculture.net/t2357p60-1-pz-division
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/panzer4.htm
http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn7166mar40.htm
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... sc&start=0
TOP: Foto orig.Wehrmacht Brückenpanzer Panzer IV + Balkenkreuz.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
A brückenpanzer IV.........................
A brückenpanzer IV.........................
image012.jpg (24.43 KiB) Viewed 11108 times
image014.jpg
image014.jpg (32.25 KiB) Viewed 11108 times
German soldiers inspecting a brückenpanzer IV; it was armed with a MG in the fron of the hull..............
German soldiers inspecting a brückenpanzer IV; it was armed with a MG in the fron of the hull..............
image016.jpg (27.07 KiB) Viewed 11108 times
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more........................

Brückenpanzer IV.

Sources: http://atf40.forumculture.net/t2357p60-1-pz-division
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/panzer4.htm
http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn7166mar40.htm
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... sc&start=0
TOP: Foto orig.Wehrmacht Brückenpanzer Panzer IV + Balkenkreuz.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
A brückenpanzer IV during its transport .....................
A brückenpanzer IV during its transport .....................
image003.jpg (41.87 KiB) Viewed 11075 times
A brückenpanzer IV on the move ..........................
A brückenpanzer IV on the move ..........................
image005.jpg (22.51 KiB) Viewed 11075 times
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little correction in post..........

Those vehicles showed in the previous post were in fact infantry assault ladder-layer (Infanterie-Sturm-Steg), also on the chassis of the tank Pz.Kpfw. IV.

Thanks Bert for shedding light on this :wink:. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more........................

Brückenpanzer IV.

Sources: http://atf40.forumculture.net/t2357p60-1-pz-division
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/panzer4.htm
http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn7166mar40.htm
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... sc&start=0
TOP: Foto orig.Wehrmacht Brückenpanzer Panzer IV + Balkenkreuz.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
image016.jpg
image016.jpg (39.06 KiB) Viewed 11060 times
image017.jpg
image017.jpg (31.78 KiB) Viewed 11060 times
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; after a while a little more........................

Brückenpanzer IV and III?.

Seeing the first two pictures, it seems to me there were two types/models of bridges......

Sources: http://atf40.forumculture.net/t2357p60-1-pz-division
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/panzer4.htm
http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn7166mar40.htm
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... sc&start=0
TOP: Foto orig.Wehrmacht Brückenpanzer Panzer IV + Balkenkreuz.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
image002.jpg
image002.jpg (28.42 KiB) Viewed 10800 times
image004.jpg
image004.jpg (36.05 KiB) Viewed 10800 times
and this was mounted on a Pz Kw III chasis....a prototype?
and this was mounted on a Pz Kw III chasis....a prototype?
image006.jpg (26.81 KiB) Viewed 10800 times
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; after a while a little more........................
Brückenpanzer IV and III?.

Seeing the first two pictures, it seems to me there were two types/models of bridges......
First Brückenlegerpanzer IVb............................
Second Brückenlegerpanzer IVc............................
Third Krupp prototype

Brückenpanzer II.

Sources: http://atf40.forumculture.net/t5182p15- ... 0-mai-1940.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Brückenleger II (bridge-layer) of Pi. Btl 58 of the 7. Pz Div in France 1940; in the background a Ladunsleger Pz Kw I Ausf. B with "Galgen" (extendible and pivoting arm for laying explosive charges)....................................
Brückenleger II (bridge-layer) of Pi. Btl 58 of the 7. Pz Div in France 1940; in the background a Ladunsleger Pz Kw I Ausf. B with "Galgen" (extendible and pivoting arm for laying explosive charges)....................................
image033.jpg (31.05 KiB) Viewed 9835 times
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more........................

Brückenleger II.

Sources: in the pictures.

Does anyone have more information on Brückenleger II Ausf. D/E in the light divisions? Cheers. Raul M 8).
Attachments
A Brückenleger II based on a Pz Kw II Ausf. D/E (so it belongs to a Light Division during the Polish campaign) .................................<br />http://forum.valka.cz/files/brucke_ii_ausf.d_134.jpg.
A Brückenleger II based on a Pz Kw II Ausf. D/E (so it belongs to a Light Division during the Polish campaign) .................................
http://forum.valka.cz/files/brucke_ii_ausf.d_134.jpg.
image035.jpg (33.81 KiB) Viewed 9788 times
In this case, in the background, a Brückenleger II based on a Pz Kw II Ausf. A/B/C............................................. http://forum.valka.cz/files/2002563876788522730_rs_195.jpg
In this case, in the background, a Brückenleger II based on a Pz Kw II Ausf. A/B/C............................................. http://forum.valka.cz/files/2002563876788522730_rs_195.jpg
image037.png (355.21 KiB) Viewed 9788 times
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; something more, speaking of Brückenleger IV........................

Brückeleger IV.

Initial attempts by the German Army to create a bridge laying tank using the Panzer I and II chassis soon showed that both these chassis were unable to cope with the weight that this entailed. In 1939 the Panzer IV chassis was selected for conversion. Two very different designs of bridge were trailed, one by Krupp, using a pivoting gantry, and one by Magirus, which used a sliding motion to deploy the bridge. The bridge laying tanks were issued to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 10th Panzer Divisions during 1940. In all 16 vehicles were mounted with bridging equipment by Magirus and 4 by Krupp. Nine-meter bridge had a 28-ton capacity. The vehicle was found to be too heavy for the suspension and the design was canceled. In late 1940, most were converted back to regular battle tanks. In January of 1941, Krupp completed 4 newer Bruckenleger IVc bridge layers. They saw service in 1941 in Russia with 3rd Panzer Division.

Sources: http://www.warandtactics.com/smf/panzer ... v-chassis/
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op= ... nt&id=2621
http://www.trumpeter-china.com/index.ph ... =1759&l=en

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
The two types of systems for launching bridges; I think the first figure is sliding (Magirus) and the second pivoting (Krupp) .................
The two types of systems for launching bridges; I think the first figure is sliding (Magirus) and the second pivoting (Krupp) .................
image010.jpg (39.65 KiB) Viewed 9743 times
The brückenleger in action in France 1940 ......................................
The brückenleger in action in France 1940 ......................................
image012.jpg (20.47 KiB) Viewed 9743 times
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; something more........................

Brückenleger in action.

Sources: in the pictures.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Two Brückenleger IV in France 1940; both with the pivoting system (Krupp) to launch the bridge .................<br /> Orig. TOP Photo Brückenlege-Panzer IV Brückenpanzer m. Kennung in Frankreich 1940
Two Brückenleger IV in France 1940; both with the pivoting system (Krupp) to launch the bridge .................
Orig. TOP Photo Brückenlege-Panzer IV Brückenpanzer m. Kennung in Frankreich 1940
image034.jpg (40.26 KiB) Viewed 9727 times
Brückenleger II in action around Lille - France 1940 ......................................<br />Orig. TOP Photo Brückenlege-Panzer II Tank Brückenpanzer '40 vor Frankreich LILLE
Brückenleger II in action around Lille - France 1940 ......................................
Orig. TOP Photo Brückenlege-Panzer II Tank Brückenpanzer '40 vor Frankreich LILLE
image036.jpg (33.22 KiB) Viewed 9727 times
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Prosper Vandenbroucke
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by Prosper Vandenbroucke »

Hello,
Here is a french one:
Somua-Coder_01.jpg
Somua-Coder_01.jpg (49.1 KiB) Viewed 9714 times
and some explanations:
http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/inde ... view&id=55

Sorry the text is in french language
Best regards from Belgium
Prosper :wink:
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Thank you very much Prosper, interesting :wink:. Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!. :up:
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: Early War bridging equipment

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; something more........................

Brückenleger in action.

Sources: in the pictures.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!. :up:
Attachments
Here I found a series of figures (incomplete, simple) but it serves to get an idea how the bridge was ​​launched by a tank with Krupp system (pivoting gantry); in the second figure of course the bridge moves along the rig and is placed in position....................<br />http://s57.photobucket.com/user/Martin_M26/media/brckenleger-IV.jpg.html
Here I found a series of figures (incomplete, simple) but it serves to get an idea how the bridge was ​​launched by a tank with Krupp system (pivoting gantry); in the second figure of course the bridge moves along the rig and is placed in position....................
http://s57.photobucket.com/user/Martin_M26/media/brckenleger-IV.jpg.html
image095.jpg (47.27 KiB) Viewed 9678 times
Brückenleger IV (Krupp System) launching the bridge (second figure) ................................. .....<br />http://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/tanks/germany/pz4_brukenleger.htm
Brückenleger IV (Krupp System) launching the bridge (second figure) ................................. .....
http://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/tanks/germany/pz4_brukenleger.htm
image006.jpg (40.79 KiB) Viewed 9678 times
Bridge in position (third figure) ........................................... <br />https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/5904100187_1f11ce253b_b.jpg
Bridge in position (third figure) ...........................................
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/5904100187_1f11ce253b_b.jpg
image008.jpg (41.13 KiB) Viewed 9678 times
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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