Sommerfeld Tracking
Encyclopedia
Sommerfeld Tracking, named after German expatriate
engineer, Kurt Joachim Sommerfeld, then living in England, was a lightweight wire mesh type of prefabricated airfield surface. First put into use by the British in 1941, it was a wire netting stiffened laterally by steel rods. This gave it load-carrying capacity while staying flexible enough to be rolled up.
Nicknamed "tin lino
", Sommerfeld Tracking consisted of rolls 3.25 metre wide by 23 metre long. Mild Steel rods threaded through at 9 inch intervals gave it strength. The rolls could be joined at the edges by threading flat steel bar through loops in the ends of the rods.
Sommerfeld Track was used extensively by the Royal Air Force
in the Second World War
to make runways at their airfields, as it could be deployed quickly.
(also known as Coco Peat
) or coconut matting laid down. The Sommerfeld track was unrolled over the ground, pulled tight by a tractor, bulldozer, or similar vehicle, then fastened to the ground with angle-iron pickets. A typical runway made of Sommerfeld tracking was 3000 feet (914.4 m) by 156 feet (47.5 m).
It would appear that this method did have some limitations and there are various reports of airfields being out of use during heavy rainfall due to mud, and the fact that the track would lift out of the ground. There are also anecdotal reports of it causing damage to aircraft, such as wheels being torn off.
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
engineer, Kurt Joachim Sommerfeld, then living in England, was a lightweight wire mesh type of prefabricated airfield surface. First put into use by the British in 1941, it was a wire netting stiffened laterally by steel rods. This gave it load-carrying capacity while staying flexible enough to be rolled up.
Nicknamed "tin lino
Linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil , pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.The finest linoleum floors,...
", Sommerfeld Tracking consisted of rolls 3.25 metre wide by 23 metre long. Mild Steel rods threaded through at 9 inch intervals gave it strength. The rolls could be joined at the edges by threading flat steel bar through loops in the ends of the rods.
Sommerfeld Track was used extensively by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to make runways at their airfields, as it could be deployed quickly.
Use
The ground was cleared and, if swampy, a layer of coirCoir
Coir is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, mattresses etc. Technically coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. Other uses of brown coir are in upholstery...
(also known as Coco Peat
Coco Peat
Coco peat , also known as coir pith, coir fibre pith, coir dust, or simply coir, is made from coconut husks, which are byproducts of other industries that use coconuts...
) or coconut matting laid down. The Sommerfeld track was unrolled over the ground, pulled tight by a tractor, bulldozer, or similar vehicle, then fastened to the ground with angle-iron pickets. A typical runway made of Sommerfeld tracking was 3000 feet (914.4 m) by 156 feet (47.5 m).
It would appear that this method did have some limitations and there are various reports of airfields being out of use during heavy rainfall due to mud, and the fact that the track would lift out of the ground. There are also anecdotal reports of it causing damage to aircraft, such as wheels being torn off.