Bridging the gap

The $7.3 million, Acrow suppport bridge is designed to handle all types of military traffic, from Landrovers to Abrams. Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper

Engineers construct the CSMBS.

By Sgt Sybelle Foxcroft

A NEW $7.3-million Combat Support Modular Bridge System (CSMBS) is being tested at SME and may be added to the current bridging inventory.

DMO purchased 10 of the 51m sets, each capable of accepting 30 tonnes, or being reconfigured to support 70 tonnes, from US company Acrow, which has also sold sets to US and Israeli forces.

Testing of the CSMBS is part of the first phase of the Land 139 Project.

DMO Land 139 Project Manager Maj Rick Mollmann said the bridge is being tested to see how it will measure up to the work required in the Australian military environment.

“The Army is conducting acceptance testing and evaluation, which involves the trialing of the new bridging components, made up of two sets of bridging – a single pier set and a walk way set,” he said.

“It was delivered from the US and it is undergoing test action. Soldiers from Land Command and SME are constructing and trialing it to make sure this new bridging suits our functional needs.”

OIC bridging at SME Sgt Roland Whitehead said the new bridge would be constructed over a wide gap and live tested under heavy weight.

“The structure will be tested to span over a gap 30m wide, with a low loader weighing 69-and-a-half tonnes crossing over it,” he said.

“This bridge is a larger version of the older Bailey Bridge and is said to be able to hold an Abrams tank.”