Staghound with strange bridging equipment, Italy 1944

Hi guys

Does anybody know what this bridging gear is fitted to this Staghound in Italy 1944? Does anybody know its full name and official use pls?

I thought some kind of infantry assault bridging but maybe its simpler? Obstacle crossing ramps for the armoured car(s) maybe?



Does anybody have any more photo's?

Thanks

Smudge

 

Sure that I have seen this before - if not on here then try Maple Leaf Up forum.
Noel

 

One of the family of trackway bridging equipment. These were standard engineer stores (not carried by engineer units but could be drawn from store if needed). From the mid 1930s there were several versions in either 12 foot or 20 foot lengths. They were simply positioned the correct distance apart for the vehicle that was to use it.

Rarely seen but they do appear in training pamphlets. I think this one is post war.

Mike.

 

Hi Mike

Thanks...that helps

Smudge

 

My late Fathers 4th Recce Regt were re-equipped with Staghounds in Italy.
They took them to Greece in January1945 when they were pulled out of the Gothic line and sent to Greece to help the Greek Government overcome the Communist uprising.

The Staghounds were too big and heavy for the Tracks in Italy and Greece and therefore were not very successful.

The bridging Equipment would not be used by any Recce Staghound as far as I believe.

Nothing mentioned about carrying bridging material in the Osprey publication on Staghounds.

Regards
Tom

 

Seems to be the 12 foot assault bridge. See here for more photos:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1373791965/12%27+Assault+Bridge+info+request

Michel

 

In that other thread, Dick Taylor remarks that he could not find anything about these bridges in that excellent tome on British bridging 'One more river to cross'. I hate to contradict him, but they are mentioned under the heading of Track (or Trackway) bridges, both 12 (several) and 20 foot versions. However, there are no pictures, so we are not much better off. If anyone is interested, the limited information is on pages 186 and 187, with some development info (with pics) on pages 140 and 141.

Chris

 

Thinking they might be unit stores, rather than RE, I had a look at the field engineering pamphlet of the Field Service Pocket Book. Nothing in the 1939 edition but 1944 was more promising.

The source is Field Service pocket Book Part I Pamphlet No. 7 Field Engineering 1944.

Hope that gets you all out of a hole

 

And from the Trux data on here:

 

Hi all

Once again thanks for the help. Idler that scan is perfick thanks.

Cheers

Smudge

 

Looking at the photo and the detail of the 3 types on the thumbnail.
What was the weight of a Staghound as in the top photo?
Then which variety of bridge is it?
Looks to me like the first one at Class 5 and the later comment says Trucks Carriers and Lorries up to 3 ton 4x4

Just thinking the staghound may just be pushing the weight limit.

 

According to the Details I have to Hand a Standard Staghound is 30,705lb combat loaded.

Regards
Tom

 

As a Staghound was around 18' long, you wouldn't get the full weight of the vehicle on the bridge so maybe they could get away with it?

Or perhaps they were just used as heavyweight sandchannels?

 

You may be correct in that assumption as what I have read the Staghounds were not really suited to the mountain tracks of Italy and Greece as they were too heavy and caused damage to the tracks they drove along.

The 4th Recce War Diaries state that captured and abandoned German vehicles were put into use in Greece and this included some 8 wheeled armoured cars.

Regards
Tom

 

This is a 'Handy Bridge' and if you do a search on IWM with that descriptor it'll turn up a number of other images. It seems to have been developed, from earlier Trackway equipment, sometime in 1940 and was in use by September 1941. There is another photograph knocking around with an AEC Mk.III, in NWE 1944/45, with one of these tied to the side. Very little known about TBH.

Find an object | Imperial War Museums