THE 11TH MECHANISED INFANTRY BRIGADE CROSSES THE EBRO RIVER ON A FLOATING BRIDGE

Tracked vehicles must not turn in areas where a large amount of pebbles accumulate, as on river banks, in order to avoid damage to the running gear.  It was precisely terrain of these characteristics that 11th Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Extremadura” drivers had to face during the Ebro river crossing exercise that took place on 15th November, in the vicinity of Sobradiel (Zaragoza).

The members of the 12th Pontoneer and Engineering Specialities Regiment installed at this site a PTF MAN Floating Bridge –the only floating bridge model that equips the Army-, which required a 14 hour set-up.  They used 14 pontoons to reach a length of 126 metres, with a configuration capable of supporting weight up to 80 tonnes.

Crossing over it were 49 vehicles in all, among them Leopard main battle tanks, Pizzaro and TOA Infantry combat vehicles, which made a crossing in each direction.

It has been a decade since an exercise of this scope was executed with the PFT MAN floating bridge, and the result was advantageous for both parts.  On the one hand, the armoured and mechanised vehicle drivers could practice river crossing, which is a complex operation that requires the application of specific procedures; on the other, the pontoneers could put their skills in setting up these structures to the test.

The following day another bridge crossing took place within the framework of the beta type exercise undertaken by the 11th Mechanised Infantry Brigade on "San Gregorio" Training Centre. The Brigade’s Tactical Group, constituted with core troops from the 1st Battalion of 6th Mechanised Infantry Regiment "Saboya", for its advance had to cross two watercourses and did so with the help of a forward Dornier bridge that the 12th Pontoneer and Engineering Specialities Regiment deployed at two positions.