The Roadblock Report

Roadblock project:

Introduction
Roadblock report
Roadblock database

Pillboxopedia

Pillboxopedia is a jargon-busting tool of terms relating to UK anti-invasion defences of World War Two.

Buoys

Small concrete roadblock obstacle comprising a truncated cone with domed base. A hollow shaft down the centre allowed the buoy to be manhandled using a crowbar. Buoys were deemed of little value by 1941 and cylinders seen as a better solution.

Cylinders

Reinforced concrete cylindrical obstacles with a shaft down the centre in which could be inserted a crowbar for manhandling, or a picket for barbed wire. Cylinders were 90cm high and 60cm wide and deployed in groups of three as a more effective alternative for buoys.

Pimples

Small anti-tank block in the form of a truncated pyramid. Pimples were used to extend anti-tank obstacles and roadblocks and were intended for use on soft ground.

Sockets

Concrete-lined shafts dug into road surfaces into which rails or RSJs (hairpin or straight) could be inserted to form a roadblock. When not in use, a wooden cover was placed over each socket.

Background to the Report

The Roadblock report was compiled in 1941 and is a survey of all roadblocks in the East Sussex Divisional Area.

It appears that a lack of accurate records sparked the survey in order to establish the current situation and how much material would be required to bring all blocks up to a set standard.

Such lists of roadblocks that existed were copied and sent out to commanders in each of the four sectors as arranged by 55 Division, namely 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'Northern' Sectors, who were then to correct the list for their area and state whether each block was still required or redundant.

The returned lists lead to each block location being visited and a record made of every single cylinder, buoy, hairpin rail and sockets etc across the Divisional area. The idea was to then remove materials from the redundant blocks to bolster the current ones, it being felt that fewer (but stronger) blocks would be a better strategy.

This is why this report is so significant; it's the only document I've found to date that gives even a slight impression of the 'complete' situation of any defence type at a given time across the entire area I'm studying. I use 'complete' with inverted commas as permanent barricades across streets are not included (I know of about 80 of these from other sources); it appears that just those blocks to be closed on 'Action Stations' were included in the report.

The standard roadblock design

The standard of roadblock being aimed at was as follows:

Four rows of bent rails or bent RSJs (also known as hairpin rails, these were inserted into concrete sockets set into the road surface)
Two rows of cylinders on both sides
Gaps on the flanks protected by rows of pimples.

Although buoys were deemed of little value by 1941, it was felt that they could be used to increase the number of obstacles at blocks in 'North' Sector, which was not a priority area. It was also felt that buoys left at redundant roadblocks might also be moved to block roads by well-meaning civilians or even fifth columnists in the event of invasion.

Taking a plan and elevation diagram from the report, I reconstructed this design of roadblock in Google Sketchup; an image is shown below; the video above will walk you through the roadblock obstacles in 3D.

Hibbs, Peter The Roadblock Report (2010) Available at: http://www.pillbox.org.uk/projects/roadblocks/report.asp? Accessed: 06 September 2010

The information on this website is intended solely to describe the ongoing research activity of The Defence of East Sussex Project; it is not comprehensive or properly presented. It is therefore NOT suitable as a basis for producing derivative works or surveys!