Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces Help Construct Bridge

IRAQ

06.26.2008

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Robinson 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 17

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By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenny Ragland
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion

IRAQ - From the blue Euphrates River, the tan bluff looked ominous as the huge shiny blade of the Seabee bulldozer pushed over the edge, shoving the first load of dirt down for the roadway to the new bridge site. Three bulldozers, two excavators, various graders, loaders, and dump trucks helped work the big dig, the largest project Naval Mobile Construction Battalion has worked during their deployment to Iraq, so far.

Together with the U.S. Army's 814th Multi-Role Bridge Company, the Marine Corps' 3rd Combat Engineering Battalion, Mabey-Johnson Bridge Company and the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, NMCB 17 worked to complete the 301 meter long Mabey Johnson Float Bridge in Baghdad, Iraq. The completed bridge, in support of Multi National Force-West lines of communication, enables the support of coalition operations in the area between the Euphrates River and Lake Thar Thar to the east. In support of this, Seabees also placed over 986 linear feet of aggregate/road base.

Seabees from NMCB 17 began the project by undertaking the tremendous earthmoving task. The west bluff was massive and required over 78,000 cubic yards of excavation and nearly 6,000 cubic yards of backfill. They constructed two embankments, a boat launch ramp, and two 1,200 foot long access roads down the bluff to the river. Next, they went to the east side and prepared a single embankment for the bridge centerline. While that was going on, Seabees transported the bridge pontoons and bridge parts, and once at the site, began welding the support I-beams to the pontoons.

The 814 MRBC began their task of assembling the bridge, and with the assistance of a Seabee excavator, they launched the various sections into the river. Finally, the groups completed the last section, putting down the tail access onto the east side.

"It is amazing to see how much earth you Seabees have moved," said Rear Admiral Richard Cellon, Commander of the First Naval Construction Division, as he looked at the huge cut down the bluff. When he stood on a large parking area between the embankments, he commented on how large a project this was and how proud he was of his Seabees.

"You are making excellent progress," said Rear Adm. Cellon. "I hear nothing except positive things about all you are doing."

As the 814 MRBC began work on the bridge section assembly, Seabee welders began work on the huge project ahead of them.

"We completed over 1,700 feet of welds," said Steelworker 1st Class Gregory Harsha. "And that's not including the double and triple welds we had to make when the gaps were large."

The pontoons were launched two at a time into the river and moored to the west side Hesco embankment. The I-beams were already temporarily mounted to the pontoons and the Seabees broke off the temporary angle braces to measure and position the beams for permanent welding attachment. As the Seabees completed a double pontoon assembly, the 814 MRBC would have a bridge section ready to launch onto them.

Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Spencer, equipment operator, used an excavator bucket to hold onto the tail portion of the bridge as the Soldiers of the 814 MRBC completed the assembly and bearing plate positioning for the first section.

"It's not a hard job," said Spencer. "I just move the bridge section where they want it."

Spencer used his excavator bucket to help with the next sections also. After the Soldiers completed each section assembly, they would add on a tail portion for the excavator to hold onto. Next they would put rollers under the section, allowing the excavator to slowly move the bridge over the pontoons to bolt the bridge section and pontoons together. Then the excavator would release the tail section, the Army boats would hold the floating section in position and the Soldiers would begin dissembling the tail portions. Lastly the boats would maneuver the completed section into position to hook onto the previous bridge section.

The tail portions had to be disassembled over the water, resulting in tools occasionally being dropping into the river. One Soldier was the company swimmer assigned to dive down in the shallow depths and find them.

"We climb and hang onto the sides of the bridge sections with full gear on," said Army Pfc. Crystal May. "Guys can't help but drop things occasionally."

Problems the coalition force had to deal with were low water levels and algae clogging up the propulsion and cooling intakes of the Army bridge erection boats. NMCB 17's Lt. Donald Petersen, OIC for the bridge project, coordinated this effort with local Sheik Hasseer Kahtan. Helping to fix that were three small boats of Iraqi fishermen, using long rakes to break-up the algae. The river current would then take the algae pieces downstream away from the boats.

"We like to work with the U.S.," said Abdullah Jossum. "Is – good thing."

Just upstream from the new bridge are old foundations of an ancient water wheel irrigation system. Standing tall, the tan brick supports arch over the water and look like they were part of an old bridge foundation.

"They were never for a bridge," said Peterson. "They mounted a vertical water wheel that brought up water for irrigation of the nearby fields."

Looking to use the river's power to turn horizontal water wheels was Marine Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Lowe, of Regimental Combat Team 5. He measured the current under the bridge with the Navy's old nautical knot measuring system.

"I drop the empty water bottle into the river with the knotted rope attached," said Lowe. "If the knots on the rope pass through my hand faster than one every 1.5 seconds, then that means the river has a three knot current. The Euphrates current is just a little faster than that, so it will certainly be enough to turn the horizontal water wheels in the Gorlov Helical Turbine Generators."

The Gorlov turbines will attach to the center section pontoons and use the river current to turn the horizontal water wheels. They will generate electricity for irrigation or whatever use the Iraqi government or coalition forces might want. With four pontoons in the center group, there could be up to eight generators, four on the up-river and four on the down-river sides.

"The center of the river is the only location where there is enough water depth and current to properly turn the turbines," said Lt. Petersen. "The other pontoons are in the shallower part of the river by the shoreline where the current is slower."

Warrant Officer Lowe commented on how safe and eco-friendly the turbine generators are.

"These hydro-turbines are very environmentally friendly," said Lowe. "The Iraqis could power whatever they wanted to with very minimal impact to their local ecosystem."

Visiting the completed bridge was, Marine Major General John F. Kelly, commanding general of Multi-National Forces West.

"This was a genuine coalition forces effort," said Maj. Gen. Kelly talking about the large project. "Everyone pitched in to do their part."

The major general asked some local Iraqis to be the first local citizens to cross the new bridge. On the walk across he asked an Iraqi man for his help in the struggle against the insurgents.

"We need your help against al-Qaida," said Kelly. "You (Iraqi citizens) and the Iraqi army will have to eventually take over the protection for this bridge."

The local Iraqi man answered back with the response the general was looking for.

"We're with you," said Mohammed Rashid. "We are so glad to be able to cross the river."

As the major general prepared to leave, he made the effort to especially thank the Seabees for all of their work and gave several of them coins.

"I always hear tremendously good things about you guys," said Kelly. "The work you do helps us in the coalition forces and the local Iraqi people so much. We really appreciate all that you do."