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3. CHAPTER

USES OF FLOATING BRIDGE

3.1. WORLD WAR 2

Pontoon bridges were used extensively during World War II, mainly in the European

Theater of Operations. The United States was the principal user, with Britain next.

3.2. UNITED STATES

In the United States, combat engineers were responsible for bridge deployment and

construction. These were formed principally into Engineer Combat Battalions, which had
a wide range of duties beyond bridging, and specialized units, including Light Ponton

Bridge Companies, Heavy Ponton Bridge Battalions, and Engineer Tread way Bridge
Companies any of these could be organically attached to infantry units or directly at

the divisional, corps, or army level.

American Engineers built three types of floating bridges: M1938 infantry footbridges,

M1938 ponton bridges, and M1940 tread way bridges, with numerous subvariants of each.
These were designed to carry troops and vehicles of varying weight, using either an

inflatable pneumatic ponton or a solid aluminum-alloy ponton bridge. Both types of bridges

were supported by pontons (known today as "pontoons") fitted with a deck built of balk,
which were square, hollow aluminum beams.

3.3. AMERICAN LIGHT PONTON BRIDGE COMPANY

An Engineer Light Ponton Company consisted of three platoons. Two bridge platoons, each
equipped with one unit of M3 pneumatic bridge, and a lightly equipped platoon which had

one unit of footbridge and equipment for ferrying. The bridge platoons were equipped with
the M3 pneumatic bridge, which was constructed of heavy inflatable pneumatic floats and

could handle up to 10 short tons (9.1 t) this was suitable for all normal infantry division

loads without reinforcement, greater with.

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