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Old 28th October 2019, 12:41
Lagarto Lagarto is offline
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Were the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges passable for tanks?

Recently, while reading at Wikipedia about Operation Tonga, I've found the following statement: "Gale [the CO of the British 6th Airborne Division] knew that the capture of the bridges would be critical for the resupply and reinforcement of his division, but he did not know that the bridges were incapable of supporting tanks". Now, that was news to me!
I seem to remember that the first tanks didn't arrive in the paras' besieged bridgehead on the east bank of the Orne until 10 June, and by that time the Brits had built a Bailey bridge spanning the Orne and the adjacent canal (correct me, please, if I'm wrong).
So, is it really true that the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges were not passable for tanks?
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Old 28th October 2019, 12:56
MarkRS MarkRS is offline
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Re: Were the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges passable for tanks?

https://erenow.net/ww/goodwood-over-...tlefield/4.php
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Old 28th October 2019, 13:23
Lagarto Lagarto is offline
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Re: Were the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges passable for tanks?

Okay, so - as far as I understand - the Orne bridgehead was reachable for tanks only after the pontoon bridge, code-named London, was completed on 8-9 June, while the Pegasus Bridge was available for tanks much later (preparatory for operation Goodwood in mid-July), only after it was reinforced to Class 40 standard? Am I right?

Last edited by Lagarto; 28th October 2019 at 14:06.
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