U.S. Army: new bridge erection boats arrive to European theater.

Theater Logistics Support Center-Europe highlighted the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s objective of mission readiness with the coordination and arrival of new M-30 Bridge Erection Boats to the European theater, at Kaiserslautern Army Depot, Oct. 26.

Theater Logistics Support Center-Europe personnel offload new M-30 Bridge Erection Boats to add to the European Enduring Equipment Set at Kaiserslautern Army Depot, Oct 29 (Picture source: US Army / Brittany Jones, 21st Theater Sustainment Command)

Replacing the now obsolete Mk.2 model boats in the European Enduring Equipment Set, the new M-30 model provides Team 21 with greater capabilities to theater training and conflict, allowing for upgraded advantages in protections, reliability, powering, and maneuverability. Kevin Harris, TLSC-E accountable officer, collaborated with U.S. government agency Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support’s Product Manger Bridging and host nation counterparts to execute this mission. “In support of the mission, we are energized to display a tradition of service and adaptability,” Harris said. “These added assets give the 21st a strategic tool and freedom of movement for personnel and equipment when water lanes are employed. This operation enhances the U.S. and partners strategic depth in the European theater.”

The project took roughly two weeks to facilitate, once the boats made their arrival from cargo shipment to Kaiserslautern through vehicle transfer, utilizing TLSC-E’s enhanced mobility and logistic skills. PdM Bridging’s Michigan-based team of 10 civilians, managed by Maurice Peyton, integrated product support manager, and Frank Fleming, assistant product manager, supported the six-month planning process of transporting the assets from Denver and Canada to port, and the de-processing and inspection of the assets once in theater. “We hosted a 16-hour familiarization course for basic troubleshooting and basic operations with the local nation asset maintainers,” Peyton said. “Our goal is to make sure the equipment arrives in operational standard, train usage and new capabilities prior to hand-off of the equipment to the new unit and provide disposition of the older model’s boats.”

Fleming shared how the M-30 model brings readiness to the forefront of the military’s mission. “When we designed this boat, we really put a lot of focus on all of the ‘ilties’, reliability, maintainability, serviceability,” he said. “The new model will truly be more robust, easier to maintain, easier to operate. We expect the boats to have a life cycle of 30 years out in the field.”