EFA (mobile bridge)

The Engin de franchissement de l' avant (EFA ) is a four-wheeled unarmed bridge vehicle by the French company CEFA ( Chaudronnerie et forges d' Alsace) and Alstom DDF was developed and is manufactured or. It is used by the French Armed Forces since 1993, replacing the outdated Gillois vehicles. 39 units are currently used by France. A similar floating fly bridge is the Amphibian M3, which is used in the army.

Principle of operation

The EFA can be used as a bridge, as a ferry or as a raft, allowing the transport of vehicles up to a load class MLC 70, or a maximum of MLC 80, which includes, for example, the transport of the battle tank Leclerc. When converting to the swimming configuration, the side-mounted air cushions are inflated. However, this process takes only a few minutes. The EFA has two each 11.75 m long hydraulic ramps, which are attached to the front and rear side. These ramps facilitate especially in steep banks, the easy up and down movement of the vehicle to be transported.

Ferry

The ferry is a 96 sqm large transfer surface available, which can be loaded with a maximum vehicle load class MLC 70. Thus, an EFA- unit four Véhicule de l' avant blind, three -laden trucks, two AMX - 10, an AMX -30 or carrying a Leclerc main battle tank to the opposite shore. In total there are 10 hours in a Fährungen in a 100 m wide river possible. The drive in the water by means of two 360 ° rotating Schottel SPJ - 55 propeller. The respective power per pump -jet propeller is 110 kW.

  • Overall Length ( with extended ramps): 34.55 m
  • Width: 7 m ( with air cushions )
  • The lane width: 4 m
  • Loading area: 96 m²

Bridge

To build an integrated pontoon bridge over a 100 meter wide river are four EFA vehicles needed. The structure is also possible in about 15 minutes. Here, the individual vehicles are coupled to each other at the rear and bow sides. The long side of the vehicle bridge is thus transverse to the flow direction of the water. Overall, can cross the waters in bridge mode about 200 vehicles per hour. Again, the total weight of over vehicles crossing must not exceed the MLC class 70.

  • Length of a bridge module: 23,65 m
  • The lane width: 4 m

Specifications

  • Crew: 4 (commander, driver road, water, driver, crew member )
  • Length: 12,35 m
  • Width: 3.60 m
  • Height: 4 m
  • Weight: 43 tons
  • Range: about 600 km
  • Speed ​​Summary: on the road: 75 km / h
  • Off-road: 16 km / h
  • In the water: 3.8 m / s ( unloaded) and 3.1 m / s ( loaded with a vehicle load class MLC 70)
Bundeswehr AMX-30
308534
de