Marsden Matting

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Marsden Matting used for airfield construction during WWII at Alexai Point, Attu Island, Alaska.

Marsden Matting (also known as Marston mats after the airfield in Marston, Georgia where they were first used) is steel matting material originally developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the rapid construction of temporary runways and landing strips. Alternative names include landing mat, "perforated steel plating", or "pierced steel planking" (sometimes abbreviated as PSP).

Large quantities of matting were produced; approximately 2 million tons costing more than US$200 million (in the 1940s).[1] The matting was extensively used throughout the war for a variety of purposes, notably by U.S. Seabees (Construction Battalions) to construct numerous airfields in the Pacific Theater of Operations. At the end of the war a large amount of the material remained as war surplus and was pressed into use in various civil engineering applications such as road and bridge construction.

A single piece of Marsden Matting was a stamped steel sheet of exactly 120" long x 16" wide x 1" high (3048mm x 406mm x 25mm) by 1/8" (3.2mm) thick punched with tapered circular holes of approx 2.5" (64mm) diameter at regular intervals. The hole pattern for the sheet was 3 holes wide by 29 holes long. Between the outer and centre holes were 1" ribs running the length of the sheet which was the key component for giving lengthwise rigidity. The matting was fitted with both hooks and holes on each long side for allowing interlocking of the matting when laid. The short edges were straight cut with no holes or hooks. A clip was used to lock the hooks together, however in some situations the hooks were welded to the adjoining sheet. To achieve lengthwise interlocking, the mats were laid in a staggered pattern. Matting laid on Pacific islands would typically be covered with crushed coral.

The perforated design of the matting created strength and rigidity and facilitated drainage. As they were made from steel with a high manganese content, the matting was also highly resistant to corrosion. In various countries located in the Pacific Theatre, particularly New Guinea, matting still remains in use as fencing or roadway barriers, in some cases stretching for miles.