Large Water Obstacle Crossing - Indian Army

[Daredevil]

I always wonder how Indian Army would move across various canals during a potential Indo-Pak war.

How tanks, logistics, trucks, BMPs, infantry, artillery etc move across the water canals or rivers during war in the face enemy fire?. Apart from canal bridges and mobile bridges what other mechanisms are used to move across. I want to document the existing and potential capabilities of Indian Army for doing this.

I came across a nice demonstration video of canal/river crossing by Russian Armed forces which was the reason to start this thread.

River Crossing Exercise -- Форсирование водной преграды - YouTube

Please post all such information here.

 

[Daredevil]

DRDO Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System

Sarvatra is a truck-mounted, multi-span, mobile bridging system developed by Research and Development Establishment (R&DE) of Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian army. Its nodal production agency is Bharat Earth Movers, Bangalore.

The Sarvatra is a 75 meters long multi-span mobile bridging system consists of five scissors bridge made of aluminum alloy having span of 15 meters each mounted on separate mobile platform. Each mobile platform is a modified Tatra 815 VVN 8 x 8 chassis drive-able from both ends by having an additional small cabin with required driving controls. Further a microprocessor based control system is utillised to deploy and operationalise the entire system in less than two and half hours.
When the 15 meter long scissors bridge is opened out it is fitted with adjustable trestles to enable a number of units to be used to bridge wet and dry gaps. All five sections are laid to provide a total bridge length of 75 m providing a roadway of four meters. The bridge is launched/recovered from either end. With the help of telescopic legs, the height of the bridge is adjusted from 2.5 m to 6 m so that it is not easily visible from far.

The Sarvatra project was sanctioned in 1994 and completed development in October 1999 at a total cost of Rs 230 million. It was approved for production in March 2000 after trials. The Sarvatra will replace the East European PMS Bridges, in service of Indian army which require 57 Tatra vehicles to bridge 100 metres. In contrast, the Sarvatra, with just five Tatra trucks, bridges 75 metres. At Rs 600 million per set, the PMS costs almost thrice as much as a Sarvatra.
A 20 m variant of Sarvatra bridge system capable of bridging a gap of 100 meters have also been developed.

Specifications

Load Class: MLC-70
Single Span Length: 15/20 m
Multi-Span Capability: 75/100 m
Roadway Width: 3.45 m during transportation; 4 m during use
Span Height: 2.6 m to 6 m
Construction time: 150 minutes
Crew: 1 driver + 3

BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR - Volume 4(5)

 

[Daredevil]

Arjun BLT (Bridge Layer Tank)

A bridge layer tank (BLT) based on the Arjun chassis has also been displayed by the DRDO. Developed in cooperation with Indian industry, this bridge layer is deemed superior to the T-72 based units, as it can handle a larger load and uses a "scissors type" bridgelaying method, which does not raise the bridge high up into the air, and hence make it visible from afar. India's main battle tank, Arjun, has taken the "avatar" of a bridge laying tank (BLT). The R&DE(E) did this by replacing the tank's gun and turret with the bridge launcher. The bridge is cantilevered over chasms or across rivers to cover a distance of 26 m with a width of 4 m. The BLT-Arjun carries two halves of a bridge. At a wet or dry gap, the launcher slides the two parts and docks them to each other in such a way that the far end of the second half touches the other bank. The BLT then crosses the bridge, turns around, retrieves the bridge after undocking its two halves, folds it and is ready to move with the armoured column.

Defence engine


DRDO Exhibition BLT - ARJUN - YouTube

 

[Daredevil]

T-72 BLT (Bridge Layer Tank)

BLT mounted on a T-72 tank chassis



Crew: A team of 3 personnel, including the driver, with complete NBC protection.

Length & Width: 22 metres span and 4 metres wide, with each track way 1.64 metres wide.

Material: Light weight, high strength, weldable, self-ageing, aluminium zinc-magnesium alloy (RDE-40).

Bridge Weight: 8800 kg (19,404 lbs).

Launching: Electro Hydraulic (high pressure) scissoring type of launch.

Launch Time: Approximately 3 to 5 minutes, using either manual or automatic launch.

Modes of Launch: Manual, electro-mechanical and automatic.

Armament: Space is limited aboard the vehicle and thus the only armament on-board are the crew's personal weapons, a machine gun for air defence and a multi-barrel smoke discharger. The vehicle has the option of fitting a KMT-6 mine plough in the front.

Comments: DRDO's Bridge Layer Tank (BLT) provides capabilities to negotiate natural and man-made anti-tank obstacles to an advancing tank column. It can lay its bridge instantly and recover the same from the far bank, after the entire tank column has crossed over. Capability exists to base it on any other tank of West or East European origin. The BLT can lay two types of bridge, i.e. a 20m scissors bridge with an MLC 60 load classification and a 22m scissors bridge, with an MLC 70 load classification. As per the 2002-03 report published by the Ministry of Defence, the first limited series production (LSP) order of twelve vehicles, mounted on a T-72 tank chassis, was placed by the Indian Army and six of these vehicles were ready for delivery. Currently under development is a variable span bridge, capable of bridging gaps from 10 to 22 meters, also based on the T-72 tank chassis.

 

[Daredevil]

Kartik BLT

Kartik is an armoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) designed and developed by CVRDE and Research and Development Establishment, Pune. It is a second generation Indian Bridge Layer Tank (BLT), first introduced in 1989.

Hull

It features an elongated Vijayanta Tank's hull with seven Bogie wheel stations, the same used for the M-46 Catapult integrated to a hydraulically operated bridge laying system.

Bridge

The Kartik AVLB uses a scissors style bridge of Eastern European design such as Polish/East German BLG-60. The bridge is folded for carriage and scissored out for usage and is deployed and recovered from the front of the vehicle. The 20 metres (66 ft) long 'KARTIK' 60 Military Load Class (MLC) bridge is 4 m wide thus one of the widest tank bridges in the world.The bridge can accommodate two-lanes traffic of jeeps and one lane traffic of 3 tonners, t-72s and BMPs. It is compact for transportation and fits in a space of 10.5 m length, 3.5 m width and 3.96 m height. To keep it light, RDE-40 Al alloy along with innovative geometry have been used . The use of high pressure hydraulic drives and actuators instead of electro-chemical drives give advantage of reduced weight. The high pressure hydraulic system gives the muscle power to lift the bridge in the folded climbing gradients or descending slopes.

The basic vehicle is powered by indigenously manufactured 6-cylinder, opposed piston, vertical in line, water cooled, two stroke CI engine with uni-flow scavenging coupled to a semiautomatic transmission with 6 forward and 2 reverse speed . suspension is provided by trailing arm type torsion bar with all road wheel stations the vehicle also has secondary torsion bars and double acting telescope shock absorbers in the two front and rear stations. Low ground pressure, adequate power-to-weight ratio improved suspension and final drive result in good mobility of the vehicle.

Armament

Air Defense Machine Gun is provided for effective ground and anti aircraft role. Blt crew has been provided with their personal weapons for self-protection.

Deployment

The multi-span assault bridge with fully decked roadway and foldable deck mechanism has been successfully developed and accepted by Indian army. As of 2003, India has produced 34 Kartik AVLBs

CEASE

The Canal Embankment ASsault Equipment (CEASE) is a special type of bridging system developed by the Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) (R&DE(Engrs)), Pune. It is suitable for high bank canals up to 4.5m. as encountered in India's western borders. As of 1998 user assisted technical evaluation of the system has been completed successfully. Six tracked vehicles of CEASE has been developed as variants of Vijayanta.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

I came across a nice demonstration video of canal/river crossing by Russian Armed forces which was the reason to start this thread.

When Warsaw Pact was the major threat to NATO in Europe (OPFOR), we considered Soviet Army to be very good at river crossings. I assume Russians Army still has the capability.

[PDF]http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/100-60.pdf[/PDF]

 

[Ray]

Ours is not a classical river crossing.

We have what is known as the Ditch Cum Bund.

It has different military and crossing connotations.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Ours is not a classical river crossing.

We have what is known as the Ditch Cum Bund.

It has different military and crossing connotations.

Addressed on page 205 of Rao's book.

Prepare Or Perish: A Study of National Security
By K. V. Krishna Rao

Prepare Or Perish: A Study of National Security - K. V. Krishna Rao - Google Books

 

[Bhadra]

Ours is not a classical river crossing.

We have what is known as the Ditch Cum Bund.

It has different military and crossing connotations.

Why sir,

you do not want to cross Sindh Dariya, Chenab and Satluj..... !!

Or Meghana River !!

 

[Bhadra]

@Daredevil

what is the class of the Bridges ??

How can IA support one bridge on T-72, another on T-59, another on T- 90, another on chasis of Vijayanta and yet another on Arjun...

Why do not DREDOs understand it ?

 

[JBH22]

THE PROVING GROUND: A Bridge in an Hour


Russians are very good at river crossing I believe we can learn few tricks from them.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Silly questions.. , With blunder mistakes such as Indian dont operate T-59, PA does..

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T-55 BLT were designed when India had T-55, T-72 BLT were made when T-72 arrived & Arjun BLT made when Arjun arrived, Its easy for specific regiments to have specific BLT to reduce logistic strains, A regiment operating T-55 wont be using T-72 based BLT same for others..

Wassup with your D O D O bird ? ( Kidding )

@Daredevil

what is the class of the Bridges ??

How can IA support one bridge on T-72, another on T-59, another on T- 90, another on chasis of Vijayanta and yet another on Arjun...

Why do not DREDOs understand it ?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Very good Question, I think I just found the Answer ..

Why sir,

you do not want to cross Sindh Dariya, Chenab and Satluj..... !!

Or Meghana River !!

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Thanks for sharing, Lots of information there..

Addressed on page 205 of Rao's book.

Prepare Or Perish: A Study of National Security
By K. V. Krishna Rao

Prepare Or Perish: A Study of National Security - K. V. Krishna Rao - Google Books

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sir, I think Army is thinking about long crossing since 2004 ..

Ours is not a classical river crossing.

We have what is known as the Ditch Cum Bund.

It has different military and crossing connotations.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

227 meters Pontoon bridges for Army

The system is an equipment that lays a floating bridge by integrating pre-fabricated structures across water obstacles and marshy grounds to transport troops, material and military vehicles," explained BEML Chairman V.R.S. Natarajan. "The bridge spanning 227 metres can carry 60 tonnes capacity. It utilises a combination of BEML-Tatra vehicles along with a dozer blade, a mounted crane, a boat and a dolly,"

News behind the News

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You can put on these bridges one after another for kms..

For Example This is made by our neighbor :

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Amphibious Floating Bridge

This 42 tonne mammoth is the Amphibious Floating Bridge and Ferry System (AFFS) developed by the R&DE (Engineers) branch of DRDO, for the ferry of traffic across large and deep water obstacles. The 10m x 3.6m x 4m vehicle can covert to a fully decked bridge configuration of length 28.4 metres, in 9 minutes. Two more vehicles can be joined in tandem to form a floating bridge of length 105m, in 30 minutes. The bridge superstructure is integrated with floats (shown inflated) to provide stability and additional buoyancy. The vehicle has a maximum speed of 55 km/h on road, 40 km/h cross country and an aquatic mobility of 2.7 m/sec with twin pump jets. The vehicle is also capable of retracting it's wheels for use as a grounded bridge/ramp for high banks. This photograph was taken at the 2005 Republic Day Parade.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sarvatra Bridging System

Salient Features:

Load Class: MLC-70 - this means it can handle MBT Arjun
Single Span Length: 15/20 m
Multi-Span Capability: 75/100 m
Roadway Width: 3.45 m during transportation; 4 m during use
Span Height: 2.6 m to 6 m
Construction time: 15 minutes
Crew: 1 driver + 3

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Armored Amphibious Dozer

"The vehicle has a crew of two, consisting of the driver and operator who are seated back-to-back and are provided with a dual control system. Trials of the vehicle were completed during 1998-99 and it is now under final evaluation for acceptance. Standard equipment includes a hydraulically operated earth bucket,a winch, front mounted track with mine ploughs and a rocket propelled earth anchor. The rocket propelled earth anchor is used for self recovery and has a maximum range of between 50 metres to 100 metres depending on a number of factors. It is provided with an NBC system and in the future an autonomous version with a NBC system could be developed for use in hazardous areas. The equipment has immense potential in project sites and areas affected by natural disasters like floods, earth quakes, etc. It's winching, towing, amphibious, high mobility cross country performance, capability of loading and unloading of cargo and rugged design make it an extremely versatile equipment"

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Smaller & Medium Canals are cake walk for Arjun MK-1 / T-72M1 / INDIAN T-90S ..

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BMP-2 are natural Swimmers, They can even Swim over Seas..