War Department

Fixed Steel Panel Bridge Bailey Type: TM 5-277 War Department

The Bailey Bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II and saw extensive use by both British and American military engineering units. It had the advantages of requiring no special tools or heavy equipment to construct. The wood and steel structural elements were small and light enough to be carried in trucks, and lifted without requiring the use of a crane. The bridges were strong enough to carry any military load, including tanks. Stories of Bailey Bridges being built and erected during the Second World War are legendary. By the end of the war, the US Fifth Army and British 8th Army had built over 3,000 in Sicily and Italy alone. Today, they continue to be vastly used in civil engineering construction projects and to provide temporary crossings for people and vehicles. Created in 1943, this technical manual reveals a great deal about the Bailey Bridge's design and capabilities. Intended as a manual for those charged with bridge construction, it also details many aspects of bridge maintenance and traffic control. Originally labeled restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.