Natural barriers, particularly water gaps, have constituted since antiquity formidable obstacles hindering the advance of armies, forcing them to either withdraw empty-handed or make a leap in the dark and try to cross barrier. In the latter case, the troops will be in their weakest state and open to heavy losses under snipping fire. However, advanced equipments have recently been made available to overcome such natural obstacles, extending industrial bridges in a record shot time. This allows the forces to safely cross the barriers and provide logistic support at the operations theater.
The following article deals with military bridges and their strategic importance.
Military bridges:
A military bridge is simply defined as an industrial bridge made up of two or more parts that may be linked together by special links. Manually or automatically operated ,they allow the bridge to be extended over two banks and folded after the completion of the assignment. It is strong enough to bear the passage of military hardware and equipment. It could be transported by huge trucks or wheeled vehicles to the intended site.
The development of bridges is relatively new, dating back to no more than one century.
Industrial bridges were used in their initial structural form during the two world wars. Despite their humble earlier structure, they played a pivotal role in many war fronts. The engineer units have succeeded in building such bridges in rugged areas over wide rivers and in Europe’s plains.
In tandem with the development of weapons, equipment and fighting techniques, military bridges also witnessed massive development. In 1971, the first medium guider bride (BGM) was produced ,applying the standard analogue unit principle. It was made up of strong or light aluminum ingots allowing the extension of the bridge over 200-meter-wide gaps within few minutes.
Various types:
There is a wide range of bridges, classified according to their following roles:
•Assault bridges: designed for use by vanguard units when mandated by terrain. Formerly, they were extended on tank hulls after removing their turrets to provide freedom of movement. Presently, wheeled vehicles are used for this purpose. Most important among assault bridges is the (PTA2) type which has the ability to adapt to various circumstances. It is comprised of two parts (spans), each 14.3-meter-long. They could be used jointly or separately as the case warrants. The bridge can sustain a load of (MLC80 or 80 tons) for tracked vehicles and MLC100 for wheeled vehicles. Another type is the airborne assault bridge (AMAB). Comprised of two 10.5-meter-long spans, it can sustain an average load of MLC35. The power distribution box (PDB) type is comprised of three spans, 9.7-meter-long each. One of the fruits of German-Dutch cooperation, the latter type is extended on a tracked vehicle equipped with a highly sophisticated monitoring, command and distance measurement system. This is in addition to a thermal photographic system and a camera for night time extension of the bridge or during inclement weather. It is also equipped with a highly advanced protection system for the vehicle and its crew. Add to this the truck- mounted PAR 70 escort bridge. Scissor-shaped, 19.5-meter-long and 4-meter-wide, it is extended in no more than 6 minutes by a 3-man team and can sustain a column of the French locklear tanks.
•Floating bridges for crossing rivers, narrow gaps and natural or man-made ditches: figuring high among them is the airborne portable ferry bridge (BFOPA). Produced in 2004, it was further modernized in subsequent years. The British army relies on this type as it is suitable for light units. Also its standard parts could easily be transported by air or by ship. It could also be used as a bridge or ferry. The floating wheeled bridge (MFP), or military foot bridge, is comprised of a group of floating spans, each 10-meter-long, 4-meter-wide. Resting on girders, it weighs 7,000 kilograms, and could be used as a ferry and it takes less than 7 minutes to spread. The M3 Bridge is made up of a host of units, eight of them 100-meter-long each could be spread in less than 15 minutes. Its total weight is 52-58 tons. The German army relies heavily on this type of bridges. The improved BRI floating bridge is spread on a truck. The girders are pre-adjusted and on entering water, they open automatically and are pushed by a towing boat to be connected with other 100-meter-long, 6.75-meter -wide girders. The 2-part, rapid construction bridge (SBER) is spread on a truck with its lower part sliding out of the rear part of the truck, then the upper part is lowered so that the two parts link together at a level suitable for the passage of military vehicles and equipment. The complete, automatic operation takes no more than 3 minutes. The Soviet heavy bridge (MMT) is designed for crossing of up to 100-meter-wide, 5-meter-deep water barriers. It is strong enough to bear 60-ton heavy vehicles. Tactical bridges and the provision of logistic support services: they are designed to provide permanent or semi-permanent services, allowing vehicles’ use for extended periods of time, carrying supplies and equipment to vanguard ground troops. These include the dry support bridge (DSB-M-18), spread by an 8-man team of engineers in some 90 minutes. The US army presently relies heavily on this type of bridges. Another type is the Russian armored bridge (MTV 90-MTU 72) and the towed support bridge (PAR 70). Transported and spread on a special truck, it is 19.5-meter-long with an average load capacity of (MLC 70). Its exemplary use is for evacuation and peacekeeping operations in rocky terrain regions.
Modern technologies:
The last few years have witnessed the development and production of advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency of military bridges and their extension in a record short time. The technology approved methods for extending bridges include:
-Vertical suspended method: the bridge head rests on the first bank, and then it is lifted from its pad and moved in the direction of the opposite bank until it is fixed on a safe resting point. Such a method is usually used for short-span bridges.
-Sliding method: the parts of the bridge are successively pushed on a plate placed in the middle of the bridge location. When work is completed on the farthest section, the spans are pushed towards the nearest section. The plate serves as a connection point for the two sections of the bridge.
-Scissor method: this is the most commonly used method for 2-large sections bridge. The Royal British corps of engineers recently used two highly sophisticated trucks to extend scissor bridges. The Trojan and Titan trucks could extend a bridge over a 26-meter-wide gap in 2 minutes and could operate in mine fields. Although weighing some 60 tons, the truck could achieve a speed of 56-kilometers per hour.
Norway’s ministry of defense has announced its decision to use an advanced electronic system for extending bridges manufactured by KMW. The ministry’s director of purchases department said due to this system the Norwegian armed forces will be a trailblazer in this sector. Countries adopting the system include Belgium, Finland, U.S., Greece, Singapore, Spain and South Africa.
KMW has begun the development of the system opting for e-control and thermal photography technologies. Also, CNM group announced the commencement of development of a chain of portable bridge systems, mainly based on modern technology.
By: Husni Abdul Hafez