"Once Tunisia was taken the Seabees began a buildup at Bizerte. There they prepped steel pontoon boxes for their first use in combat at Sicily. This Seabee "innovation" was adapted for amphibious warfare. A pontoon box was standardized in size so multiple pontoons could be quickly assembled like to form causeways, piers, or rhinos. As such they could be used to meet the exigencies of amphibious warfare. The beaches of Sicily were considered impossible for an amphibious landing by both the Allies and Axis. The Seabees with their pontoons proved that was not true. The Germans were overwhelmed by the men and material that poured ashore over them.