Admiralty scaffolding, also known as Obstacle Z.1 or sometimes simply given as beach scaffolding or anti-tank scaffolding, was a British design of anti-tank and anti-boat obstacle made of tubular steel. It was widely deployed on beaches of

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and

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during the invasion crisis of 1940-1941. Scaffolding was also used, though more sparingly, inland.

Design and use

Of a number of similar designs, by far the most common was designated obstacle ''Z.1''. This design comprised upright tubes high and apart, these were connected by up to four horizontal tubes. Each upright was braced by a pair of diagonal tubes, at about 45°, to the rear.Beach Scaffolding Defence; Trial
WO 199/1618
''The Catalogue'',

The National Archives National archives are central archives maintained by countries. This article contains a list of national archives. Among its more important tasks are to ensure the accessibility and preservation of the information produced by governments, both ...

wide sections were assembled then carried to the sea to be placed in position at the half tide mark as an obstacle to boats. However, trials found that a 250-ton

barge Barge nowadays generally refers to a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. The first modern barges were pulled by tugs, but nowadays most are pushed by pusher boats, or other vessels ...

at or an 80-ton trawler at would pass through the obstacle as if it were not there and a trawler easily pulled out one bay with an attached wire rope. Tests in October 1940, confirmed that tanks could only break through with difficulty, as a result Z.1 was adopted as an anti-tank barrier for beaches thought suitable for landing tanks. As an anti-tank barrier it was placed at or just above the

high water Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tables ca ...

point where it would be difficult for tanks to get enough momentum to break through the barrier. In some places, two sets of scaffolding were set up, one in the water against boats and one at high water against tanks. The problem of securing the barriers on sand was overcome by the development of the "sword picket" by Stewarts & Lloyds – this device was later known at the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong *Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Traf ...

as the "Wallace Sword". Barriers varying in length from a couple of hundred feet to three miles were constructed consuming 50% of Britain's production of scaffolding steel at an estimated cost of £6,600 per mile (equivalent to £ today). Despite this, many miles of Admiralty scaffolding were erected using more than of scaffolding tube. After the war, the scaffolding got in the way of swimmers, subsequently it was removed for scrap and remaining traces are very rare, but occasionally revealed by storms.

Design and use

See also

References

Notes

General references

Collections

Further reading