History of the Half-Ponton Bridge Boat or "Bailey Boat"
Our favorite boat is the Military Ponton Bridge Half Section. They have a Spoon Bow, High Chin, and railing around the exterior for carrying these in combat. These 685 lb aluminum boats were made to link with others and add planking to create bridges across rivers.
These aluminum boat platforms have the roominess and stability to be whatever you want them to be.
THEY ARE LITERALLY A BLANK CANVASS and I consider each UgliBoat owner and
fabricator to be an artist.
They are built sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of combat, and have proven their metal with anything we have put them to test on.
We will either buy them from you or post them on this site for you.
SEE BELOW FOR HISTORY AND MILITARY DETAILS
The following is directly from the field manual for these Light tactical rafts (LTRs) and bridges :
The aluminum alloy half-ponton has an effective length of 18 feet 6 inches, is 6 feet 8.5 inches wide, and 2 feet 10 inches high. The bow of each half-ponton is raised approximately 7 inches higher than the stem to prevent the ponton from swamping when rafting in swift currents. The half-ponton weighs approximately 650 pounds and has a displacement of 6.25 tons. Two half-pontons are joined stem to stem to form a whole ponton which supports the light floating bridge or raft.
CHAPTER 4 - IMPROVED FLOAT BRIDGE (RIBBON)
Allocation of Ribbon Equipment
Considerations for the Tactical Employment of Ribbon Equipment
Ribbon Rafting Operations
Ribbon Bridging Operations
CHAPTER 5 - M4T6 FLOATING BRIDGES AND RAFTS
Allocation of M4T6 Equipment
Transportation and Loading of M4T6
Considerations for Tactical Employment
M4T6 Rafting Operations
M4T6 Bridging Operations
These 1146 pages chronicle two years of articles for military engineers.
There are several sections of interest that include articles and pictures of
PDF PAGE 898 Picture of footbridge across Marne built by Yankee Division
PDF PAGES 906-908 Instruction of Engineer Troops in Ponton Bridge Construction
Picture of bridging Heavy Pontoon into position
PDF PAGES 1022-1030
Development of Heavy Ponton Equipage for Increased Army Loads of the Future
This article tested the differences between Wood, Steel and
Aluminum Pontons excelled in the following categories:- Lightweight - Resistance to time and elements - Construction
approximating boat lines - Immediate availability of service - Ease of
loading & unloading - Ease of transporting - Ferrying capacity -
Displacement capacity -
PDF PAGES 1068-1073
For and Aft of the infantry - The 6th Engineers in the American Offensive of
This article has some good wood and steel ponton bridge pictures
PDF PAGES 1086-1090
The Engineer R.O.T. Camp of 1921 at Camp Humphries VA.
This article has some pictures of various footbridge pontons