german bridging equipment

[daveh]

I am interested in the types of bridging equipment used by the Germans in WW2 and how it was organised.

I believe that there was a range of bridging equipment designed to create bridges of different carrying capacity but I lack details. I assume bridging equipment of Panzer divisions was of a larger capacity than that of other units, is this correct?

Were new bridge types introduced to cope with the mid and late war heavier AFV eg Tigers and Panthers?

I have an organisation chart for a 1940 engineer battalion of an infantry division including a mot. bridging column. Has anyone similar details for later war bridging units and for those in Panzer divisions?

Thanks in advance

[Phil D.]

One bridge layer used by the Germans in World War Two that I know of is the Bruckenleger IV, based of the Pzkpfw. IV Chassis. Here is a link to it:
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz3.htm#panzer4
According to the arcticle, it says that it was used in Belgium and France in 1940, then Russia in 1941.

Here is a picture:


There is almost certainly more however, but this one is as far as I know. Hope this helps!

Phil

[tigre]

Hello to all ; 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 .

[tigre]

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

infantry assault ladder-layer (Infanterie-Sturm-Steg).

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.

Thanks Bert for shedding light on this topic . Cheers. Raúl M .

[SIS 5]

Hi Raúl,

thank You very much for posting these interesting pics. A little correction: on pic 014, 003 and 005 is not the bridge-layer on the chassis of Pz.Kpfw. IV, but the infantry assault ladder-layer (Infanterie-Sturm-Steg) with a multisectional extendable ladder (developed on the basis of a fire brigade ladder), also on the chassis of the tank Pz.Kpfw. IV. In the period from September 1939 to December 1940 none of the ordered infantry assault ladder-layers (Infanterie-Sturm-Stege) on Pz.Kpfw. IV was produced, but four of these vehicles were delivered around June 1941. They became the equipments of the 4th platoon of the 3rd company Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 39 of the 3rd tank division, taking part in the campaign in Russia.

Here the drawings of both vehicles by Doyle.

Regards

Bert

[tigre]

Hello to all ; thanks Bert for those drawings and shedding light on this . Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; 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 .

[tigre]

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

Brückenpanzer III?.

and this was mounted on a Pz Kw III chasis....a prototype?......

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 .

[Denniss]

Is that a Krupp MKA chassis?

[tigre]

Hello to all ; I think you've right Denniss. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Brückenpanzer IV.

Sources: E49 Brückenlegerpanzer IV Brückenleger Panzer 4 Stegpanzer tank TOP FOTO !!! eBay Auction.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; 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 .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more........................

Brückenleger in action.

Sources: in the picture.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more........................

Brückenleger in action.

Sources: in the pictures.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more........................

Brückenleger with Krupp system (pivot rigging) in action !

Sources: http://www.colleurs-de-plastique.com/fo ... porte-pont
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-24-20-00000032 ... 1305482769

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.