Free Whisky Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 (edited) In my next Youtube video I'll be taking a closer look at the CMBN Market Garden scenario "Counterattack at Son", which I believe was created by @ASL Veteran. The "Counterattack at Son" scenario map has two bridges on it across the river Dommel. One that can hold tanks, and a foot bridge. The following has been written in the Designer's Notes about the foot bridge: "I was uncertain as to whether the small bridge across the Dommel that is located south of the canal was large enough to hold vehicles. The modern bridge there appears to have wheel tracks across it that would be suggestive of vehicles passing over it. The area immediatly west of the bridge didn't appear to have any roads and indicated that perhaps the bridge was not suitable for heavy vehicles. In the event, I decided to make the bridge a footbridge since I knew for certain that the attack from the previous evening was conducted down the Tow Path alongside the canal. It seemed logical that if the small bridge could hold vehicles that it would have been used for the evening attack (the day before) and since that attack went down the down path, that leaned towards the southern bridge being unsuitable for tanks or armored vehicles". I assume that when the designer says he's seeing wheel tracks, he is referring to images of the bridge as seen on google earth. So today I visited the scenario location to shoot some footage for the video, and ofcourse I also went to see this bridge to find out if it would support a tank or not... What I found looked like a somewhat improvised construction, yet build with steel for support. Unfortunately I'm a dimwit when it comes to engineering and I have no idea how strong something like this would be. Now, who here among us would like to like to chip in and tell me whether you think this bridge could hold a Panther tank? Any interesting details about why you think so would be appreciated! The bridge may have been replaced by a newer one, but my theory is that if it was replaced, they would have put one back that was at least as good as the old one - so if this one isn't strong enough, then the bridge in 1944 probably wasn't either. The width was about 2,7 meters/ 9 feet. (better image quality and a few more pics:) https://freeimage.host/i/tFOK0uhttps://freeimage.host/i/tFOfUbhttps://freeimage.host/i/tFOC5xhttps://freeimage.host/i/tFO2s9https://freeimage.host/i/tFOobVhttps://freeimage.host/i/tFOzzB Edited October 16, 2022 by Free Whisky 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commanderski Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 A Panther tank weighs about 45 tons or so and was about 10 feet, 9 inches wide. The bridge may hold up to wheeled traffic but not to tank traffic. I don't think this would hold up to a Panther crossing over it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckdyke Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) I have seen a Panther Tank it is far too wide for this bridge. At least I know I appreciate the designer's motive, I would have made the spot a wading crossing for infantry only. I found the bridge to be a little buggy. Edited October 17, 2022 by chuckdyke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Whisky Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 Ah, yes... No need to speculate if it could support the weight of a panther if one doesn't fit on it! Thanks, this is most helpful and would seem to settle it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckdyke Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 12 hours ago, Free Whisky said: Ah, yes... No need to speculate if it could support the weight of a panther if one doesn't fit on it! Thanks, this is most helpful and would seem to settle it! Yes 3.27 meters. Panther tank - Wikipedia 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckdyke Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 It could take the width of a MarkII. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Whisky Posted October 18, 2022 Author Share Posted October 18, 2022 18 minutes ago, chuckdyke said: It could take the width of a MarkII. I have it on good authority that there were no Panzer Mk II's around Son on the 20th of September . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckdyke Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 Meijel Mayhem is in October 1944 that is Just a little to the south in the Peel region. Just play around with the rarity and Bob is your uncle. Even the 75 mm Sd Kfz would have been useful. I won the scenario but a lot of Germans didn't make it home lol. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warts 'n' all Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 A great series of photos. I think that it is safe to say that if any Panther had attempted to cross that bridge it would have ended up face down in the water. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckdyke Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 The Flakpzr IV is also 20cm too wide. Try to put a bulldozer on a flatbed and you know what I mean easy to slide sideways. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Whisky Posted November 5, 2022 Author Share Posted November 5, 2022 The mystery has been solved 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted November 5, 2022 Share Posted November 5, 2022 Very well produced and fascinating video. Thank you! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSarge Posted November 5, 2022 Share Posted November 5, 2022 Well done on the video! Very high quality and educational to boot, I'll have to revisit that battle. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artkin Posted November 6, 2022 Share Posted November 6, 2022 Excellent video!!!!! The first was great but I feel like this one was even better. This makes me want to switch sides and start learning about the Western front. Funny how the authors got back to you but the "tour guides" hadn't. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warts 'n' all Posted November 8, 2022 Share Posted November 8, 2022 Well worth a watch. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Whisky Posted November 8, 2022 Author Share Posted November 8, 2022 On 11/6/2022 at 1:53 PM, Artkin said: Funny how the authors got back to you but the "tour guides" hadn't. One of the tour guides said on his site that he could also be hired to do research for documentaries and such. Perhaps he felt that I was trying to get a freebie by just emailing a question . Wouldn't have hurt to respond though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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