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.