WWII Small Box Girder (SBG) bridge emplaced during the Normandy landings in June 1944 by the 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers using modified Churchill AVRE tanks. Weighing 4 tons and rated up to 40 tons loading capacity, the 34ft-long hinged assault bridge proved itself capable of conveying heavy Allied forces vehicles across a 30ft gap (e.g. bomb crater, anti-tank ditch), or up and over a seawall. Another of “Hobart’s Funnies”, innovative tank conversions for deployment on D Day undertaken by the 79th Armoured Division under the command of Major General Percy “Hobo” Hobart. [1885–1957].
New tooling assault bridge, A-frame legs, pulleys, steel girder gearbox. Workable cable-drawn bridge with raise & lower movement. Other detailed parts include petard mortar, armour plates, metal-sprung suspension system. Choice of markings for 5 Assault Bridge Units (ABG).
