This is not for Bud, for he already knows THIS STUFF, but for our viewers. As always, I like to present information to educate our readers, and myself.

http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=533409

From Michael Brodhead, historian at Army Engineer Office of History, Alexandria, VA

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Caveats: NONE

 

Dear Marion,

 

Sorry to report that we have nothing on the Danforth anchor. Eric had

nothing either. I hope that there is an answer at Fort Leonard Wood.

 

Mike

--------------

I've also gone through a ton of documents, including the entire month of March 1945 from the National Archives (regarding the Rhine River crossing), and nothing there either. Thought that would be a good place to find mention, for the documents also include several equipment lists, but...

My dad was in the 2828th Engineer Combat Bn. after the war was over but was in the 188th Engineers (not part of the VI Corps) during the war and took part in the crossing of the Rhine. I have attached a copy of 3rd Army Crossing of the Rhine. It mentions anchors on pages 15 and 22 but not by specific name.

You may want to suggest to your friend that the military engineering term is “ponton” with two o’s not three. That is the term used throughout the attached, my dad’s Engineer Field Notebook and it was the term we used when I was in the Engineers, too. Spell check keeps trying to “correct” me and Bud may simply be a victim of misguided technology.

Thanks for all you do to remind the current generations of what The Greatest Generation did.

Thanks,

Don

I would suggest putting up a query on the forums at www.uboat.net The site has expanded tremendously, and has lots of information about all things naval in WWII, not just U-Boats.

 

Pat Winship

Bud and several of us (including Don Prasse) have been corresponding via email the last week or so, but here is the latest from Bud. Some great news!!!!

Dear Marion & Don –

 

Just to let you know -

 

I may have hit pay dirt in my quest to find data about use of anchors in setting PONTON bridges!

 

Found a listing of technical manuals in one or another Combat Engineers website and went to WORLD CAT, an international library catalog.

 

Found the following and have requested them on interlibrary loan through my local library.

 

TM 5-273 – 25 Ton Ponton Bridge – 145 pages

TM 5-275 – Pneumatic Ponton Bridge – 60 pages

 

Hopefully there will be something to confirm use of Danforth anchors.

 

I’ll let you know.

 

 

Appreciatively,

 

Bud

OH WAIT! I was just reading about anchors in my FlashPoint paperwork (after actions of the crossing at wallach, red, white and blue beaches. I'll go back and reread them tonight and post as soon as I can.

I just reread that. I don't know WHAT information he's looking for, but the Danforth is still a VERY common anchor. It folds flat, pops open on contact and then you drag to anchor on the bottom and winch in the boat. Kind of like an underwater entrenching tool !

I think what I have in my documents is numbers of anchorts used and placement, but no diagrams. Certainly FT LWood would have placement information concerning drift and strategy. Otherwise, it's kind of common sense.

Yes, he is looking for wwii documentation, which mentions the use of these type of anchors for river crossing, etc.

K. Digging through my papers now.

OK I've gone through all my construction photos and battle photos and none of them SHOW an anchor, even in storage in the ponton. They are all already deployed and all you see is the achoring line extending beneath the water.

In the Operation Flashpoint after action documents I found the following, which my help Ft. LWood Narrow down the TYPE of anchor used. Heck, they taught them how to properly deploy and set them, CERTAINLY there are some illustrations around somewhere.

This is the area of Wesel and Wallach Germany, Red, White and Blue beaches. ( 30th Inf Div, 79th Inf Div, 1148 engr grp,1103 engr grp, 1143engr grp, 1117 engr grp, 1142 engr grp, 202ecb, 258 ecb, 280 ecb,171 ecb, 234ecb,989 treadway bridge co, 17 armed engr bn-trdway bridge co - co E, 180 engr hv pon bn, 554 engr hv pon co, 73 engr L pon co, 1355 engr dp trk co, 747 tk bn (minus co D-operating lvts)

========================

Treadway Bridge, M-2,20016 anchors used in a normalanchor system - no cross stream cable. ( you'd think with that many used, some would have turned up in SOME internet document about being found during dredgings, NOPE)

Heavy Ponton Bridge, anchors used were of various weights from 200-600 pounds These were salvaged from barges in canals along the Maas River. Anchor system was later reinforced by bailey crib anchors. (LARGE van sized wire boxes filled with whatever they could find that wouldn't fall out, dumped in the river and used as weights/ anchors)

Thanks Carol. I know he appreciates all our efforts.

On the light M3 ponton bridge, the main achorage was a shore to shore cable that the rafts were anchored to. In certain situations only 2 30-lb Danforth anchors were used, 1 on each hinge raft ( rafts closest to shore ).

An online copy of technical manual- TM 5-275, Pneumatic ponton bridge M3 dated April 19, 1943 can be found here:

http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29951/m1/1/

The List of Equipment - Unit of Pneumatic Ponton Bridge M3

Anchor, Danforth, 30 -lb..... basic quantity: 2; spares: 0; Total: 2

Anchor, kedge, 100-lb........basic quantity: 14; spares: 4; Total: 18

Page 30, Note 2: If bridge is long and current is strong, upstream anchors ( one per hinge raft and float assembly ) are used instead of the upstream anchor cable, and are cast from the assault boat by the upstream anchor section.

http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29951/m1/1/

-- attachment is not available --

Page 30, Note 2: If bridge is long and current is strong, upstream anchors ( one per hinge raft and float assembly ) are used instead of the upstream anchor cable, and are cast from the assault boat by the upstream anchor section.

http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29951/m1/1/

I looked for that FM the other day online and all I found was where you could buy them. Funny that it should be found in the University of North Texas library online as that is a) the college from which I graduated, and I was on their site yesterday! Incidentally, the name of the univeristy was changed in the early 90's to UNT from North Texas State University which explains the NTSU stamped on the front cover.