thedrifter
02-07-06, 06:23 PM
8th ESB, 2nd TSB team up to cross New River via floating bridge
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Story by: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Feb. 7) -- Eighth Engineer Support Battalion and 2nd Transportation Support Battalion conducted multiple, joint bridging operations Jan. 25, in order to increase their knowledge and efficiency in gap-crossing operations.
Eighth ESB’s Bridge Company provided mobility support for 2nd TSB’s convoy exercise training by providing two types of bridges over two different wet gaps, according to 1st LT. Donnie M. Fricks of Pasadena, Texas, platoon commander, Bridge Platoon.
Not only did the company provide TSB a means to cross these gaps, they also increased the knowledge and efficiency of its Marines when they assembled a Medium Girder Bridge across Duck Creek and an Improved Ribbon Bridge raft across the New River.
“If there’s a gap someone needs to cross, we’re there,” said Lance Cpl. Brian Derby, an 8th ESB combat engineer. “Whether it’s a body of water or an interrupted land mass, we’re getting across.”
The MGB is used for both wet and dry gap crossing, while the IRB is only used for water crossings and can be assembled continuously or using a floating raft. Both bridges can be used at pre-existing bridge sites that may have been destroyed by the enemy or newly made sites chosen by the commander, according to Fricks.
“Duck Creek was a little bit more difficult than the typical gaps we cross in the fact that is was a restricted site vice the unrestricted and open sites the Marines have practiced on,” said Fricks. “It was restricted in the sense that we couldn’t just place all the bridge piece pallets right by the bridge assembly area, because there were trees on either side. There was limited room to maneuver and assemble the bridge, so we had to stage the pallets at a remote location.”
Despite the harsh conditions, the company had the bridge built in less than 48-hours, according to Fricks.
When trying to build a bridge in a short amount of time the logistics is always the most important factor, according to Fricks.
“We can make do with little or no site reconnaissance and the Marines will still make if happen,” said Fricks. “However, if we don't have the correct transportation and heavy equipment support, it increases the build time quite a bit. Luckily, we had great support during this past operation.”
Although training missions in a garrison environment may not require much site reconnaissance, because it is not vital to troop welfare or mission success, when doing their job in Iraq site reconnaissance becomes very important.
While forward deployed, the company mainly supports coalition forces by keeping the supply routes open to vehicular and foot mobile traffic, supports deliberate attack operations that require wet or dry gap crossings and provides bridge assessments through bridge reconnaissance, according to Fricks. Reconnaissance becomes an issue because they have to watch for such things as improvised explosive devices, land mines and enemy insurgents.
Overall, whether in the deserts of Iraq or the forests of Camp Lejeune, bridge builders have the same job – to get personnel and supplies across a gap safely, effectively and efficiently in order to support the Marine Corps mission.
“The operation over New River was a huge success,” said Fricks. “Every time we build these bridges, the Marines get better. It also gave many logistics and motor transport Marines an insight to another capability combat engineers can provide.”
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Story by: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Feb. 7) -- Eighth Engineer Support Battalion and 2nd Transportation Support Battalion conducted multiple, joint bridging operations Jan. 25, in order to increase their knowledge and efficiency in gap-crossing operations.
Eighth ESB’s Bridge Company provided mobility support for 2nd TSB’s convoy exercise training by providing two types of bridges over two different wet gaps, according to 1st LT. Donnie M. Fricks of Pasadena, Texas, platoon commander, Bridge Platoon.
Not only did the company provide TSB a means to cross these gaps, they also increased the knowledge and efficiency of its Marines when they assembled a Medium Girder Bridge across Duck Creek and an Improved Ribbon Bridge raft across the New River.
“If there’s a gap someone needs to cross, we’re there,” said Lance Cpl. Brian Derby, an 8th ESB combat engineer. “Whether it’s a body of water or an interrupted land mass, we’re getting across.”
The MGB is used for both wet and dry gap crossing, while the IRB is only used for water crossings and can be assembled continuously or using a floating raft. Both bridges can be used at pre-existing bridge sites that may have been destroyed by the enemy or newly made sites chosen by the commander, according to Fricks.
“Duck Creek was a little bit more difficult than the typical gaps we cross in the fact that is was a restricted site vice the unrestricted and open sites the Marines have practiced on,” said Fricks. “It was restricted in the sense that we couldn’t just place all the bridge piece pallets right by the bridge assembly area, because there were trees on either side. There was limited room to maneuver and assemble the bridge, so we had to stage the pallets at a remote location.”
Despite the harsh conditions, the company had the bridge built in less than 48-hours, according to Fricks.
When trying to build a bridge in a short amount of time the logistics is always the most important factor, according to Fricks.
“We can make do with little or no site reconnaissance and the Marines will still make if happen,” said Fricks. “However, if we don't have the correct transportation and heavy equipment support, it increases the build time quite a bit. Luckily, we had great support during this past operation.”
Although training missions in a garrison environment may not require much site reconnaissance, because it is not vital to troop welfare or mission success, when doing their job in Iraq site reconnaissance becomes very important.
While forward deployed, the company mainly supports coalition forces by keeping the supply routes open to vehicular and foot mobile traffic, supports deliberate attack operations that require wet or dry gap crossings and provides bridge assessments through bridge reconnaissance, according to Fricks. Reconnaissance becomes an issue because they have to watch for such things as improvised explosive devices, land mines and enemy insurgents.
Overall, whether in the deserts of Iraq or the forests of Camp Lejeune, bridge builders have the same job – to get personnel and supplies across a gap safely, effectively and efficiently in order to support the Marine Corps mission.
“The operation over New River was a huge success,” said Fricks. “Every time we build these bridges, the Marines get better. It also gave many logistics and motor transport Marines an insight to another capability combat engineers can provide.”