Posted: 07 March 2008 at 18:03 | IP Logged
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HI All
Thanks to all who helped in my original request, and to show I was working on what I said here is the answer to my own question which I managed to find eventually .
Abortive attempt to destroy Road Bridge over River Waal at Nijmegen.
The road bridge over the river Wall had been captured by the US 82nd Airborne division in September 1944.
Assault frogmen had already made a unsuccessful but daring raid on the rail bridge. However the defenses around bridges where strengthened by rigging four net barriers across the Wall upstream from the bridge. The operation began on the night of 12/13th January 1945. when the Germans released 240 mines in four waves. These where to destroy the net barriers and where to be followed by twenty (20) Bieber. Each with there periscopes camouflaged to resemble floating nests. These Bieber where to fire torpedoes fitted with hooks to catch the nets and make gaps in them Finally four (4) Bieber towed 600Lb explosive charges, which according to orders should be released to float down (or drift down) under the bridge. Each charge was fitted with a photo electric cell. As the charge floated beneath the bridge the change of light would trigger the charge and complete the night’s work of destruction. The operation was marked as a failure.
The official report reads:
Both banks of the Wall was held in strength by the Allies and, after the explosion of the mines the river was raked by gunfire. All four of the explosive devises where destroyed before they passed the net barriers.
Two (2) Bieber confirmed sunk, Two (2) lost.
Graham
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