WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

Spent yesterday mapping at Westleton. By the end of March I hope to have the main Kruschen site mapped at Westleton so may be able to start  making some sense of the data collected so far. However I will probably not have time to map the bit of the Kruschen site remaining at Dunwich. There will also be mapping to complete at Westleton in areas not part of the Kruschen site. Three features of some curiosity mapped today. Firstly  three pits created by deepening an existing old boundary ditch. I am not sure of the age of the boundary ditch but it is certainly not any time recently! Above: Map of a crawl trench system along with three pits dug by deepening an existing boundary ditch (shown by the dotted line). The crawl trench is of interest in that its is the first I've seen which incorporates a V shaped weapons-slit. Photo shows pit dug in existing boundary ditch. Secondly a series of slits dug alongside the anti-tank ditch. Above: Plot of slits alongside the anti-tank...

Either the weather or other things have prevented me from getting out and recording in the field so it's  a good opportunity to post Part 3 in the Earth Moving equipment thread. This post will concentrate on some of the attachments for the base RB machine used by the Army for defence works etc.  Dragline This was considered to be the most universal equipment. It consisted of a long boom, or jib, and specially designed drag bucket. It is not positive in action but is rapid in operation. It requires a great deal of skill to operate.  The bucket is thrown (or cast much the same way as in an angler casting a fly) by swinging the jib with the bucket held well up. The hoist and drag ropes were released allowing the bucket to fall forward of a vertical line from the top of the jib. The swing of the jib was checked at a point in line with the fall of the bucket. The drag rope was wound in dragging the bucket forwards to the base of the jib. It could only be operated in soft mat...

This post will look at the excavator. The base machine built by Ruston Bucyrus was the standardised  machine  used by the British Army during WW2. The normal base machines used were: 10 Roston Bucyrus 19 Roston Bucyrus 22 Ruston Bucyrus 37 Ruston Bucyrus The RB 10 and RB 19 were normally employed in the field due ease of mobility. The RB 22 and 37 were considerably heavier and required special transport to move. Above: Roston Bucyrus 19 Base Machine All were powered by a diesel oil engine. The RB 19, 22 and 37 were started by compressed air - a small petrol driven donkey engine operating a compressor. The RB 10 was equipped with an electric self-starter assembly. 10 RB Type of Engine: 3 VRON Horse Power: 30 Weight of Base Machine: 9 tons Ground Pressure lbs./sq.ft.: 1,440 Rated Capacity of Bucket: 3/8 cu.yd. 19 RB Type of Engine: 3 VRON Horse Power: 55 Weight of Base Machine: 17 tons Ground Pressure lbs./sq.ft.: 1,650 Rated Capacity of Bucket: 5/8 cu.yd. All the machin...