User:Jackehammond/sandboxes-Navy lighterage pontoons

Navy Lighterage Pontoons(NLPs) is type of pontoon developed in World War Two by the US Navy and used by naval construction teams (ie Seebees) and specialized US Army combat engineers on invasion beaches and shallow harbors to establish docks, wharfs, barges, floating cranes and other floating units off beaches and harbors where needed.

The concept for NLPs was first discussed in 1935, but it was in 1940 that the US Navy took the idea seriously and began development with testing just before the US entered World War Two. After the disaster of the Dieppe Raid in early 1942, and the idea of seizing a port in the face of modern coastal defences was proven next to impossible, the US Navy saw the vital importance of having NLPs and the naval construction teams trained and dedicated for just that role. The US Army soon followed with their own units.

The NL pontoons are constructed of hollow square welded steel boxes, that are assembled like children' wooden block toys which are connected by angle iron pieces, called stringers by special wedge pins. These blocks come in two shapes and sizes. The main floating box unit is rectangle-square and is 5 ft X 5 ft by 7 ft, the majority of any NL pontoon units are constructed of these. The second box is as the first box, only it is curved on one side and these boxes are used to make a bow on the front of the NPL, similar to a coal or grain barge like you see on rivers when required.