M3 Amphibious Rig
The M3 Amphibious Rig is a self-propelled, amphibious bridging vehicle and ferrying vehicle that is used for the transportation of tanks and other vehicles across water obstacles.
Development and service
M3
Originally developed by the German firm Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern, it succeeded the conceptually similar M2 made by the same company. Like its predecessor, the M3 traverses roads on its four wheels, deploying two large aluminium pontoons for buoyancy on water.The M3 is longer and heavier than the M2, with the M3 having a turn diameter of.
Development of the M3 began in 1982, with the final prototype being delivered 10 years later in 1992. A first order of 64 serial vehicles was made in 1994, and it entered service with the German and British armies in 1996. Since then, the M3 has also been adopted by several NATO and allied nations.
M3 EVO
The German Army selected the M3 EVO as part of the Schwimmschnellbrücke 2 programme to replace the M3 in service. The development starts in 2025, the Critical Design Review is scheduled for March 2027. The prototype is expected for 2029, and the serial production to start in 2029, with the final delivery for Germany in 2036.Operating concept
The M3 is self-deployable by road, operating as a 4x4 wheeled vehicle with a maximum road speed of. For amphibious operation, two large aluminium pontoons are deployed, unfolding them along the length of its hull. The crew exits the vehicle cab to maneuver the pontoon using controls located on top of the hull. In water, the M3 is propelled at speeds of up to by two pump jets that can be steered in 360-degrees.Multiple rigs can be joined together using long ramps, three of which are carried on each vehicle, to form a bridge or a ferry that can be used to cross a water obstacle. Eight M3 Rigs can be used to create a bridge which can be traversed by vehicles up to and including the heaviest main battle tank like the Leopard 2A6 and Challenger 2. Alternatively, just two M3 Rigs may be joined to create a ferry capable of carrying a similar load across much wider water gaps.
Combat history
Operation Telic
The M3 Amphibious Bridging Vehicle saw its first combat actions in Operation Telic, Britain's military operations in the Iraq War. From 25 March 2003, 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron, of 28 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers ferried elements of 3 Commando Brigade across the Shatt Al-Basrah waterway, enabling their continued advance on the Iraqi city of Basra. A subsequent riverine crossing at the Rumaila oil fields was also undertaken by the M3. This action transported three AS90 self-propelled howitzers in support of 16 Air Assault Brigade of the British Army.Operators
Current operators
M3 system
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