The forges are of the patterns A and B issued by the ordnance department.
Advance-guard Equipage.—The trains of this equipage are composed of 4 ponton divisions, each of which consists of 8 ponton-, 2 chess-, and 2 trestle-wagons.
The load of the ponton-wagon consists of 7 balks, 16 chess, 2 side frames, 1 cable, 1 anchor, and a ponton-chest containing 1 ponton cover, 14 transoms, 5 paddles, 2 scoops, 2 mallets, 20 lashings, 2 boat-hooks, 1 scoop-shovel, and 8 rack-sticks.
The chess-wagon contains 50 chess and 2 spare ponton covers.
The trestle-wagon carries 14 balks, 1 trestle complete, 1 abutment sill, and 1 coil of 3-inch rope and 1 of 1-inch rope.
The forge is forge A of the ordnance department.
When necessary, this load may be reduced by transferring a part of the tools and coal to a forage-wagon.
The ponton-wagon carries all the material necessary for constructing a complete bay. The division may, therefore, be increased or diminished by one or more ponton-wagons without disorganizing it. When a forced march is to be made, and it is desirable to lighten the loads, the chess may be removed from the ponton-wagons, the rope from the trestle-wagons, and the load of the chess-wagons may be reduced to 40 chess. The number of the latter wagons in this case must be increased to five.
The tool-wagon is loaded with the necessary tools, materials, etc., suitable to the advance-guard equipage.
There are four methods of constructing a ponton-bridge: by successive pontons; by parts; by rafts; and by conversion.