M3 Amphibious Rig

The so-called by the manufacturer Amphibious Bridging and Ferrying System M3 ( the British name is: M3 Amphibious Bridging vehicle or short M3 Amphibious Rig ) is as a floating fly bridge a highly mobile four- wheel drive vehicle with all-wheel drive and all wheel steering.

From the Bundeswehr, which uses the vehicle as the only army in the German speaking, the vehicle is referred to as Amphibious Bridging and About Put M3 vehicle.

Description

It replaced the previous amphibian M2 Alligator and how these for rapid construction of floating bridges ( coupled together ) or ferry (single or coupled ) used to allow wheeled and tracked vehicles, the transition over waters which do not otherwise, such as with the armor on the fly bridge "Beaver ", can be overcome. Depending on the location, eliminating the time-consuming construction of temporary bridges. However, a use in the immediate enemy fire area can not take place because the vehicles are very sensitive to bullet. In this case, must be resorted to another approach after all. The crew was reduced to three soldiers in comparison to the previous model of four.

The construction of a 100 m long floating bridge to the eight vehicles are needed, can be done in about 15-20 minutes of staff to be at least 24 soldiers needed.

Manufacturer of the colloquial " Amphibian M3 " said vehicle is General Dynamics European Land Systems GmbH (former ironworks Kaiserslautern ), a subsidiary of General Dynamics.

The development of the M3 began in 1984 and, after extensive testing by the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement and subordinate Wehrtechnische completed in Koblenz ( swimming test ) 1992 services WTD 41 in Trier ( driving tests ) and WTD 51. The order was placed then in August 1994 with the first deliveries to the troops in 1996. Procurement was in 1999, three years after the retirement of the last M2 to be completed. The stock of amphibious bridge and setting vehicles was over by the restructuring of the Bundeswehr significantly reduced, dissolved or reclassified the corresponding battalions and set the only 30 vehicles to two companies first when heavy engineer battalion 140 in Emmerich. After its dissolution, the transfer was made to Minden to heavy engineer battalion 130 The Bundeswehr internal name for the device is Amphibious Bridging and About Put M3 vehicle.

Another 38 M3 are in the " 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron "of the" 28 Engineer Regiment " of the British forces used in Hameln.

Technical Description

It is a vehicle in aluminum construction, consisting of three main components:

• The main floating body on which the driver's cab, the crane, and the control state are integrated. This also contains the propulsion system for use on land and on the water.
• Two hydraulically swiveling side of floating body with the hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering the ramp parts.
• Three ramp parts that serve to connect the individual vehicles to ferry and bridge, the formation of the bridge deck as well as on - or off ramp.
• A hydraulic deck crane, which is needed to lay the ramps.
• A fully automatic tire pressure control system
• A hydraulic level control of the landing gear
• A fire extinguishing system
• Bilge pumps

Due to the retractable wheels, the Transitmaß can be maintained for rail transport. Likewise, the air transportability in the transport aircraft of the USAF Lockheed C-5 and McDonnell Douglas C-17 is possible.

Operation

The vehicle is driven in both land and in water transport ( in contrast to the amphibian M2) only in one direction. The windscreen is thereby protected by a baffle plate. The helm station is located on the rear, while the crane is mounted on the cab.

The conversion of the land to the water drive requires no major preparations more. Water to drive the two longitudinally mounted on the main floating body side floats are hydraulically pivoted and locked. If space on land do not allow this, the unfolding can also be done on the water. To increase the ground clearance of the wheels when the water ride are drawn to 90 % in the main floating body. The two water jet propulsion systems are bug- and rear side housed, so that movements (also cross- drive) are possible in all directions.

For on-board equipment includes three parts ramp ( per 8.35 m length) that can be used as a link to other vehicles or as ramps of land per vehicle. This ramp parts are moved with an onboard crane. As soon as this is no longer needed, it is pivoted transversely to the vehicle and locked there.

Flow rates of up to 2.6 m / s can compensate for the M3 through its own driving force. Above ( up to max. 3.5 m / s), the anchor must be used. Depending on the circumstances, either the port anchor (1 per vehicle) are employed, or the anchoring is done from the shore.

Ferry service is possible with a vehicle, and coupled together with several vehicles. The coupling is "narrow" (vehicle to vehicle) or " far " (with the inserted between the vehicles parts ramp ) depending on the needs or circumstances. The payload of a single ferry is 20 t. When used as a multiple ferry are (100 for wheeled vehicles MLC 70 for tracked vehicles and MLC) approved payloads of up to 63.5 tonnes, making the battle tank Leopard 2A6, Challenger 2, Leclerc or M1A2 Abrams can be set. In bridged mode higher load classes apply.

In bridged mode, the vehicles are weitgekuppelt, the bridge length is (theoretically) unlimited.

Each company has a construction equipment set, consisting of tools, spare wheels, grip trains and all the necessary means for anchoring the country, as well as a mountain axis to salvage a failed vehicle. Additional equipment is milgl on a truck 7t, the necessary additional ramp to the bridge operating parts tracked on a double axle.

Specifications

Combat missions

Of the British armed forces, the M3 was combat- moderate first time, the British share of the Operation Iraqi Freedom used as part of "Operation Telic ". As of March 25, 2003 M3 vehicles put the " 412 Amph. Engr. Tp ( V), 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron, 28 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers ' 3 Commando Brigade of the parts on the Shatt -Al - Basrah waterway, and thus enabled the continued forward movement in the city of Basra.

Then, still waters transitions were made possible in the field of Rumallah oil fields, which three howitzers AS90 could be supplied to support the " 16 Air Assault Brigade ."

User

• Germany Germany, Bundeswehr
• United Kingdom United Kingdom, British Army
• China Republic of China Republic
• Singapore Singapore
• Brazil Brazil