Twynham hut: Difference between revisions
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The Twynham hut was developed for the [[War Office]] by the [[Military Engineering Experimental Establishment]] in 1959.<ref name=hansard/> It was intended as a replacement for the corrugated steel curved-roof [[Nissen hut]] that was first introduced in 1916.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Julie |last2=Chiei |first2=Chris |title=Quonset Hut: Metal Living for a Modern Age |date=2005 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |location=Berlin |isbn=978-1-56898-654-8 |page=49 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Quonset_Hut/hnT0tvuAh_gC |language=en}}</ref><ref name=cyprus/> The Twynham hut was intended for similar use, as a temporary accomodation structure in field conditions and emergency situations. The design was jointly agreed with all three armed services: The [{British Army]], [[Royal Navy]] and [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name=hansard/> |
The Twynham hut was developed for the [[War Office]] by the [[Military Engineering Experimental Establishment]] in 1959.<ref name=hansard/> It was intended as a replacement for the corrugated steel curved-roof [[Nissen hut]] that was first introduced in 1916.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Julie |last2=Chiei |first2=Chris |title=Quonset Hut: Metal Living for a Modern Age |date=2005 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |location=Berlin |isbn=978-1-56898-654-8 |page=49 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Quonset_Hut/hnT0tvuAh_gC |language=en}}</ref><ref name=cyprus/> The Twynham hut was intended for similar use, as a temporary accomodation structure in field conditions and emergency situations. The design was jointly agreed with all three armed services: The [{British Army]], [[Royal Navy]] and [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name=hansard/> |
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The Twynham hut was constructed from aluminium and gavanised steel and had a pitched roof.<ref name=cyprus/> The standard hut was {{convert|64|ft|m}} long but it could also be constructed in half ({{convert|32|ft|m|disp=comma|adj=on}}) and quarter ({{convert|16|ft|m|disp=comma|adj=on}}) lengths, with the front bay remaining unchanged. It could also be lengthened and in most installations in the field {{convert|96|ft|m|adj=on}} and {{convert|128|ft|m|adj=on}} units were common.<ref name=62eng92>{{cite journal |title=The Institution of Structural Engineers Joint Meeting with the Institution of Royal Engineers |journal=The Royal Engineers Journal |date=March 1962 |volume=76 |issue=1 |page=92 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1962-March.pdf}}</ref><ref name=67eng113>{{cite book |title=The Royal Engineers Journal, Volume 81, issues 1-2 |date=1967 |publisher=Institution of Royal Engineers |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Royal_Engineers_Journal/Xco2AQAAIAAJ |language=en|page=113}}</ref> The huts were formed from {{convert|8|ft|m|adj=on}} [[Bay (architecture)|bays]], shorter than similar huts, which allowed for a greater wind and snow loading to the roof and for use of soils of lower [[bearing capacity]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Institution of Structural Engineers Joint Meeting with the Institution of Royal Engineers |journal=The Royal Engineers Journal |date=March 1962 |volume=76 |issue=1 |page=94 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1962-March.pdf}}</ref> One [[ Royal |
The Twynham hut was constructed from aluminium and gavanised steel and had a pitched roof.<ref name=cyprus/> The standard hut was {{convert|64|ft|m}} long but it could also be constructed in half ({{convert|32|ft|m|disp=comma|adj=on}}) and quarter ({{convert|16|ft|m|disp=comma|adj=on}}) lengths, with the front bay remaining unchanged. It could also be lengthened and in most installations in the field {{convert|96|ft|m|adj=on}} and {{convert|128|ft|m|adj=on}} units were common.<ref name=62eng92>{{cite journal |title=The Institution of Structural Engineers Joint Meeting with the Institution of Royal Engineers |journal=The Royal Engineers Journal |date=March 1962 |volume=76 |issue=1 |page=92 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1962-March.pdf}}</ref><ref name=67eng113>{{cite book |title=The Royal Engineers Journal, Volume 81, issues 1-2 |date=1967 |publisher=Institution of Royal Engineers |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Royal_Engineers_Journal/Xco2AQAAIAAJ |language=en|page=113}}</ref> The huts were formed from {{convert|8|ft|m|adj=on}} [[Bay (architecture)|bays]], shorter than similar huts, which allowed for a greater wind and snow loading to the roof and for use of soils of lower [[bearing capacity]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Institution of Structural Engineers Joint Meeting with the Institution of Royal Engineers |journal=The Royal Engineers Journal |date=March 1962 |volume=76 |issue=1 |page=94 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1962-March.pdf}}</ref> One [[ Royal Pioneer Corps]] lieutenant-colonel likened the huts to a [[Meccano]] set.<ref>{{cite journal |title=A Military Gypsy 1945-1978 |journal=The Pioneer |date=October 2010 |page=41 |url=http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/newsletters/2010_Oct_Newsletter.pdf}}</ref> |
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The half-length hut provided a floor area of {{convert|640|sqft|m2}} and weighed {{convert|5.25|long ton|tonne}}. When packaged for transport the overall weight was {{convert|16|long ton|tonne}}; the hut was intended to be man-portable and erected by a team of 10 soldiers.<ref name=66eng121/><ref name=cyprus/> The unit was erected on a {{convert|4|in|cm|adj=on}} deep concrete foundation with a volume of {{convert|12|cuyd|m3}}.<ref name=66eng121/> A heavier duty version was constructed for use in the tropics, which weighed {{convert|0.85|long ton|tonne}} more and required a larger foundation of {{convert|14.6|cuyd|m3}}.<ref name=66eng121/> The [[design life]] of both variants was 20 years.<ref name=66eng121/> In 1966 a Twynham hut was estimated to cost £5.47 per square foot (£58.87 per square metre) including transport and installation costs.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Specialist Team Re (Construction) in Aden - 1966 |journal=The Royal Engineers Journal |date=September 1967 |volume=81 |issue=3 |page=236 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1967-September.pdf}}</ref> |
The half-length hut provided a floor area of {{convert|640|sqft|m2}} and weighed {{convert|5.25|long ton|tonne}}. When packaged for transport the overall weight was {{convert|16|long ton|tonne}}; the hut was intended to be man-portable and erected by a team of 10 soldiers.<ref name=66eng121/><ref name=cyprus/> The unit was erected on a {{convert|4|in|cm|adj=on}} deep concrete foundation with a volume of {{convert|12|cuyd|m3}}.<ref name=66eng121/> A heavier duty version was constructed for use in the tropics, which weighed {{convert|0.85|long ton|tonne}} more and required a larger foundation of {{convert|14.6|cuyd|m3}}.<ref name=66eng121/> The [[design life]] of both variants was 20 years.<ref name=66eng121/> In 1966 a Twynham hut was estimated to cost £5.47 per square foot (£58.87 per square metre) including transport and installation costs.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Specialist Team Re (Construction) in Aden - 1966 |journal=The Royal Engineers Journal |date=September 1967 |volume=81 |issue=3 |page=236 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1967-September.pdf}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 16:27, 11 December 2020
The Twynham hut
Description
The Twynham hut was developed for the War Office by the Military Engineering Experimental Establishment in 1959.[1] It was intended as a replacement for the corrugated steel curved-roof Nissen hut that was first introduced in 1916.[2][3] The Twynham hut was intended for similar use, as a temporary accomodation structure in field conditions and emergency situations. The design was jointly agreed with all three armed services: The [{British Army]], Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.[1]
The Twynham hut was constructed from aluminium and gavanised steel and had a pitched roof.[3] The standard hut was 64 feet (20 m) long but it could also be constructed in half (32-foot, 9.8 m) and quarter (16-foot, 4.9 m) lengths, with the front bay remaining unchanged. It could also be lengthened and in most installations in the field 96-foot (29 m) and 128-foot (39 m) units were common.[4][5] The huts were formed from 8-foot (2.4 m) bays, shorter than similar huts, which allowed for a greater wind and snow loading to the roof and for use of soils of lower bearing capacity.[6] One Royal Pioneer Corps lieutenant-colonel likened the huts to a Meccano set.[7]
The half-length hut provided a floor area of 640 square feet (59 m2) and weighed 5.25 long tons (5.33 t). When packaged for transport the overall weight was 16 long tons (16 t); the hut was intended to be man-portable and erected by a team of 10 soldiers.[8][3] The unit was erected on a 4-inch (10 cm) deep concrete foundation with a volume of 12 cubic yards (9.2 m3).[8] A heavier duty version was constructed for use in the tropics, which weighed 0.85 long tons (0.86 t) more and required a larger foundation of 14.6 cubic yards (11.2 m3).[8] The design life of both variants was 20 years.[8] In 1966 a Twynham hut was estimated to cost £5.47 per square foot (£58.87 per square metre) including transport and installation costs.[9]
By comparison a Nissen hut providing 570 square feet (53 m2) of space weighed just 2.32 long tons (2.36 t) and was around a quarter of the cost of a same-sized Twynham hut.[8][10] However the Twynham hut provided a greater standard of comfort and was aesthetically more pleasing; the Nissen hut also only had a design live of 10 years.[8][10] One Royal Engineers officer stated that the Twynham hut was more suited to dismantling and re-erection than the Nissens.[4] A Royal Engineers report of 1966 regarded the Twynham hut as well suited for long-term use in the tropics, but recommended that the Nissen, still held in large quantities in army stores, be preferred in temperate climates.[10][11] Because of its higher cost the Twynham hut was not recommended for short-term uses.[11]
The huts could be used as accommodation for personnel, as offices or as stores.[5] When used for personnel they could be fitted with air conditioning units, each of which weighed 1 long ton (1.0 t), and have false ceilings fitted.[12][13] In the store configuration additional partitions and internal doors could be fitted.[13] Internal furnishings were provided by the Ministry of Works.[1]
In service
The huts were trialled by 12 Pioneers on Cyprus in 1960 during the withdrawal of British forces to the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, in the lead up independence. Despite doubts over the eae of erection more than 400 were constructed in Cyprus, ending the use of tented encampments.[3]
In Aden a unit of the pioneers carried out a speed deontration in which they erected a 16ft Twynham hut in four minutes. The huts could be readily dismantled and reused as was done in 1966 with the end of the British deployment in Aden.[14]
They were still in use in 1982 when the formed part of the aircrew accomodation at Wideawake airfield during the Falklands War.[15]
References
- ^ a b c "Twynham Hut - Tuesday 15 December 1959". Hansard - UK Parliament Written Answers. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ Decker, Julie; Chiei, Chris (2005). Quonset Hut: Metal Living for a Modern Age. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-56898-654-8.
- ^ a b c d "The Pioneer". Newsletter of the Royal Pioneer Corps Association: 26. April 2016.
- ^ a b "The Institution of Structural Engineers Joint Meeting with the Institution of Royal Engineers" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 76 (1): 92. March 1962.
- ^ a b The Royal Engineers Journal, Volume 81, issues 1-2. Institution of Royal Engineers. 1967. p. 113.
- ^ "The Institution of Structural Engineers Joint Meeting with the Institution of Royal Engineers" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 76 (1): 94. March 1962.
- ^ "A Military Gypsy 1945-1978" (PDF). The Pioneer: 41. October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Which Hut?" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 80 (2): 121. June 1966.
- ^ "Specialist Team Re (Construction) in Aden - 1966" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 81 (3): 236. September 1967.
- ^ a b c "Which Hut?" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 80 (2): 120. June 1966.
- ^ a b "Which Hut?" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Journal. 80 (2): 122. June 1966.
- ^ The Royal Engineers Journal, Volume 81, issues 1-2. Institution of Royal Engineers. 1967. p. 122.
- ^ a b The Royal Engineers Journal, Volume 81, issues 1-2. Institution of Royal Engineers. 1967. p. 116.
- ^ "The Pioneer". Newsletter of the Royal Pioneer Corps Association: 29. April 2016.
- ^ Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (2014). Exocet Falklands: The Untold Story of Special Forces Operations. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword. p. 124. ISBN 978-1-78346-387-9.