In 1944, the Canadian Army employed two types of portable bridge:  the Folding Boat Equipment Mk III or FBE bridge and the Bailey Bridge.  When engaging in an assault crossing of a river or canal, the first troops went across in 7-man assault boats.  After they had seized a bridgehead, the engineers began preparing an FBE ferry.  This consisted of two 20-man collapsable boats decked over and capable of carrying such loads as 6-pounder anti-tank guns, jeeps or carriers.  At the same time an FBE floating bridge was being prepared.  Once in place, it could carry such things as armoured cars, field guns and three-ton trucks.  If needed, further engineers would prepare a floating Bailey bridge that could carry tanks across the river.  All this equipment was carried by a Bridging Company , Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.

Folding Boat Equipment Mk.III came into use in 1939. As a ferry,  It could carry Class 5 loads using two folding boats and road bearers, as shown here rafting a Ford Station Wagon (right).  This was referred to as a 'single floating bay'.  Two were needed to carry Class 9 loads.  These rafts needed a dock or landing stage at both sides of the water obstacle.  Typical construction times were 20 minutes for the nearside landing stage, 40 minutes for the far side landing stage and 5 minutes for the raft.  These times were doubled at night.
	FBE was carried by the Assault Platoon and the FBE platoon of the RCASC Briding Company.  The assault platoon carried enough parts to build 5 Class 5 rafts.  The FBE Platoon could provide 200 feet of Class 9 bridge (left) 6 Class 5 rafts or 3 Class 9 rafts or 16 folding boats.    The photo shows a Morris MkV Field Artillery Tractor towing a 25-pounder and limber across a Clas 9 FBE bridge over the Beveland Canal.
Lorry, 4-ton, 6-wheel, FBE (right) Used in folding boat equipment platoon of RCASC  bridging company to carry 3 folding boats.  Same vehicle also carrys landing stage equipment

Engineers crossing river to prepare area for FBE bridge

Polish Engineers use FBE raft to move carrier