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Old 19-04-17, 03:16 PM
nickg nickg is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Chatham
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general wade charges were dropped by cle container and collected at the drop zone - they were used on the bridge at St Samson (Troarn but a milr further on) however they were no used correctly they should have been laid in two linesto create a cut line that would drop the intervening section of bridge road away - however due to the amount of enemy encountered when passing throung troarn (8 sappers on one jeep and trailer along with a full trailer of general wade charges) it was decided my Maj Rosevere OC 3 Para Sqn RE that a hasty demolition would be made - the charges in the trailer were blown as they were - thi cratered the bridge on one span but did not complete the demolition. this was completed by 2 troop 3rd Para Sqn under Capt T Jukes later in the day with a defensive screen from 8 Para.
the jeep and trailer were commandeered from Lt Maquis RAMC of 224 Fd Amb on the road south of le Mesnil earlier, It was abandoned on the return journey when it became inextricably bogged down by the riverside

Camoflet charges were made by driving a pole down some 6 feet or so - then a few sticks of plastic explosive were pushed to the bottom and shot this created a cavity a foot or so in diameter. More explosive was then tipped down the hole ti fill the cavity and when that was shot there would be a very large crater in the track or road that would require a lot of time and material to make good. today the sappers create the initial hole using a shaped charge called a beehive which achievs the same thing but with much less effort
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