Engineering equipment
Combat engineering is about mobility and counter-mobility. The Army’s engineering equipment solves problems, from bridging gaps to bomb disposal and vehicle recovery, it is the kit that keeps troops moving while limiting movement of the enemy.
Trojan armoured vehicle
Overview
Trojan is an armoured engineer vehicle designed to open routes through complex battlefield obstacles and clear a path through minefields.
Improved visibility is achieved by incorporating direct and indirect vision devices with low-light, image-intensifying and thermal imaging capabilities. The interior, and to some extent the exterior, of the vehicle has been designed around the crew station positions.
Trojan has the flexibility to support a wide range of operations, including humanitarian missions.
Dimensions
Length
8.3m
Width
3.5m
Height
2.5m
Equipment & Armament
Standard equipment includes a dozer blade, mine plough and an excavator arm.
A full-width mine plough can be mounted at the front to clear mines and a marking system can also be fitted. It can also carry fascines, to fill ditches, and tow a trailer-mounted, rocket-propelled, mine-clearing system.
Main armament | L7A2 GPMG |
Ammunition | 7.62mm x 51mm belt-fed |
Additional equipment | NBC protection system |
Specifications
Maximum speed
59 Kph
Engine
Perkins CV12 diesel engine
Combat weight
62,500 kg
Challenger armoured repair & recovery vehicle
Overview
The Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV) is a highly evolved armoured vehicle designed to recover and repair damaged tanks on the battlefield.
The vehicle has two winches, main and auxiliary, and an Atlas hydraulically operated crane capable of lifting a complete Challenger 2 power pack.
Dimensions
Length
9.61m
Width
3.62m
Height
3.13m
Specifications
Crew
3 + 2
Weight
61,200 kg
Armament
1 x 7.62mm GPMG, smoke dischargers
Additional Specifications
Maximum crane lift
6500 kg at 4.9m reach
Engine
1200bhp Perkins-Condor CV12
Maximum speed
59kph
M3 Amphibious bridging vehicle
Overview
The M3 amphibious rig can be driven into a river and used as a ferry or, when a number are joined together from bank to bank, as a bridge, capable of taking vehicles as heavy as the Challenger 2 main battle tank.
- it can deploy pontoons on the move, in or out of water
- it needs no on-site preparation to enter the water
- it can be controlled from inside the cab when ‘swimming’
- its control functions have been automated allowing the crew to be reduced from four to three.
A single two-bay M3 can carry a Class 70 tracked vehicle, where two M2s would have been required for this task with additional buoyancy bags. Eight M3 units and 24 soldiers can build a 100m bridge in 30 minutes compared with 12 M2s, 48 soldiers and a construction time of 45 minutes. The M3 is only 1.4m longer and 3,300kg heavier than the M2. It is still faster and more manoeuvrable on land and in water. A four-wheel steering facility gives a turning diameter of 24m.
Dimensions
Length
13.03m
Height
3.97m
Width
3.35m (side pontoons folded)
Specifications
Weight
24,500 kg
Max speed
80 kph
Max range
750 km
Terrier
Overview
The Terrier armoured digger is the Army’s most advanced engineering vehicle and it gives the Royal Engineers a state of the art capability that can be used to carry out a variety of tasks both in the UK and on future operations.
Despite weighing 30 tonnes, Terrier is an agile and versatile piece of equipment that can reach speeds of almost 50 mph.
Technology
It is fitted with five onboard cameras and thermal imaging technology, providing soldiers with a 360 degree surveillance capability that can be used day and night.
The technology used in Terrier is so advanced that the vehicle can be operated by remote control enabling soldiers to clear routes from a safe distance.
Able to transport up to 5,000 kg of material, Terrier has a range of interchangeable equipment such as a forklift and rock hammer that makes it highly adaptable. The vehicle can also be equipped with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun and smoke grenade launchers for use in combat.
CET replacement
Terrier replaces the Combat Engineer Tractor (CET), providing mobility support (obstacle and route clearance), counter-mobility (digging of anti-tank ditches and other obstacles) and survivability (digging of trenches and Armoured Fighting Vehicle slots). Terrier is faster, more mobile and has more effective armour and mine protection than the CET.
Terrier is operated by a crew of two, or may be operated remotely in particularly hazardous environments. It can tow a trailer carrying fascines, track way and the Python minefield breaching system. This super digger can also be used to clear scattered mines, remove or enhance obstacles and establish routes while keeping pace with other armoured vehicles such as Challenger 2 and the Warrior.
Titan armoured bridge launcher
Overview
Titan is an armoured engineer vehicle designed to enable troops and vehicles to cross gaps of up to 60 metres by laying a selection of close support bridges. Along with Trojan it gives a common heavy armour fleet based on the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank chassis.
Titan can carry and lay the current range of in-service close support bridges, providing ground manoeuvre formations with improved capability, giving them greater flexibility.
Improved visibility is achieved by incorporating direct and indirect vision systems including low light, image intensifying and thermal imaging capabilities. The interior, and to some extent the exterior, of the vehicles
have been designed around the crew station positions.
Titan has the flexibility to support a wide range of operations, including humanitarian missions.
Spanning Systems
There are two basic spanning systems. The long span system allows for lengthening a 32 metre span to 44 metre using ABLE and the two span system which allows 2 x 32 metre bridge sets to be constructed by ABLE and secured in the middle by piers or floating pontoons, crossing a gap of up to 60 metres.
BR90 is supplied by BAE Systems. The future of BR90 is being addressed by Project TYRO.
Specifications
Weight
62500kg
Carries
BR-90 Close Support Bridges
Maximum Speed
59 kph
Additional specifications
Engine
Perkins CV12 diesel engine
Armament
Stowage for crewman-portable light anti-tank weapons, fitted with NBC protection system
MGB Medium Girder Bridge
Overview
The modular MGB Medium Girder Bridge can be deployed in minutes and has been used by coalition forces on operations worldwide and in civilian aid operations in disaster zones around the world.
The MGB meets the evolving needs for bridging equipment across a wide spectrum of requirements, from short irrigation channels, through ravines to large expanses of water. Highly transportable, rapidly deployed and adaptable, the Medium Girder Bridge is ideal for a wide range of military or emergency and disaster relief situations.
Following the recent review of the UK MoD's modular gap crossing capabilities, to draw together existing in-service capabilities into a single coherent capability, the Army is receiving a number of new Medium Girder Bridge sets, which can be configured in several different way to provide flexibility to the Commander on the ground.
Configurations include concurrent deployment of a 31-metre Double-Storey and a 5-bay Single-Storey version. The systems will be deployed by the Royal Engineers and will be available for use in both military operations and emergency disaster relief scenarios.
The MGB units are light, easily transported, can be constructed by hand and can be adapted for most tactical and rapidly deployable bridging requirements. Over 500 Medium Girder Bridging systems have already been procured by armed forces worldwide, notably the UK, USA and other NATO allies.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Dragon Runner
Dragon Runner is a lightweight, back-packable, multi-terrain robot capable of detecting a variety of devices without putting the operator in harm's way, which helps bomb disposal experts find and deactivate improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Acquired as part of the Army's Urgent Operational Requirements in support of Explosive Ordnance disposal (EOD) activity.
It is highly manoeuvrable, and when configured with a manipulator arm can dig around suspicious objects as well as pick them up and move them.
It also has the ability to place small charges to disrupt suspect devices, and further enhancements, including the incorporation of wire-cutters, have been implemented.
Dragon Runner has the ability to send video footage back to the operator at a safe distance thereby enabling troops to assess a situation prior to moving forward or entering a structure, potentially safeguarding lives.
Wheelbarrow
First introduced for operations in Northern Ireland, the Wheelbarrow Mk8b is the Army's primary Remote Control Vehicle (RCV) for use by Bomb Disposal Teams on Contingent operations. Following several upgrades during its time in service, the Wheelbarrow is due to exit service in 2020 and be replaced by a completely new RCV, Starter; Wheelbarrow has already been replaced on operations in the UK by Cutlass Wheelbarrow and currently supports the Air Assault Task Force, Lead Commando Group and the Lead Armoured Task Force and is held at high readiness to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice.
Through the course of its service the Wheelbarrow is believed to have saved hundreds of civilian and military lives.