7th Engineer equipment moves by river barge for the first time since 2019

Photo By 1st Sgt. Jacob Connor | A U.S. Army Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) assigned to the 7th Engineer Brigade gets prepped before being lifted by a crane to be loaded on a barge during a barge transportation operation supporting Saber Guardian 25 in Passau, Bayern, Germany, on May 21, 2025. River vessels provide the U.S. Army with a tactical advantage by using waterways instead of standard air, rail, or linehaul methods. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt Jacob Connor) Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict.  

PASSAU, BAYERN, GERMANY

05.21.2025

Story by Capt. Thomas McCarty 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

PASSAU, Germany- U.S. Soldiers from the 260th Movement Control Team, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, initiated a river deployment of critical 7th Engineer Brigade bridging and support equipment to Constanța, Romania on May 21, 2025. This deployment of equipment is part of the build-up for Saber Guardian, a key exercise within Defender Europe 25- and marks the beginning of a multinational exercise that will feature a large-scale wet gap crossing, showcasing NATO’s ability to project combat power across natural obstacles deep into eastern Europe.

This movement marks a significant milestone not only in preparations for Saber Guardian but also in demonstrating how U.S. and allied forces of today can utilize Europe’s dense river networks to transport heavy equipment faster, safer, and at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional methods like rail or convoy.

Projecting Power by River

The Danube River is at the heart of this mission — a natural transportation route cutting through the middle of Europe. River barge transport allows for the movement of vast amounts of engineer assets, such as bridging material and tactical trucks, without excessive wear on highways and reduced risk to transport time from traffic or civilian disruption.

Sgt. Michael Cedeno, a transportation management coordinator with the 260th MCT, highlights how movements via river vessels also provide distinct tactical advantages over road convoys.

“A barge has a cover, so that helps a lot when it comes to keeping a movement discreet and not keeping too many eyes on the equipment,” said Cedeno. “Also, it is very effective when it comes to time, as when using a river, the water is very calm, and there is usually no change to the arrival date when transporting the equipment.”

These “brown water” operations are a signature of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s expeditionary approach to war. River highways offer relatively uncluttered movement corridors, which offer a strategic boost in moving large formations into contested or logistically challenging regions, especially as Defender Europe exercises continue to mirror large-scale combat operations.

A Bridge to the Future

The movement of 7th Engineer Brigade equipment to Constanța is the lead-up to a wet gap crossing that will be one of Saber Guardian’s flagship events. The exercise will test the brigade’s ability to rapidly emplace modular bridging systems across a water obstacle in a simulated combat setting, with the intent of enabling the advance of NATO forces.

This will not only display tactical engineering skill but also be an essential simulation of bridging operations. In regions dominated by rivers, being able to cross quickly, securely, and with strength can be the difference between operational success or failure.

Strategic, Scalable, and Economical

Beyond its tactical implications, river transportation has broader significance. Transferring hundreds of tons of engineer equipment in barge form spares enormous amounts of fuel, vehicle mileage and wear, and operating expenses while releasing precious rail capacity for armored divisions or high-priority cargo.

Additionally, river transportation provides the unique ability to move combat power closer to the fight in landlocked countries. 2nd Lt. Zachary Buchy, a logistics officer with the 260th MCT, emphasizes this point.

“With river transportation, we can rapidly set the theater more inland versus conducting Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement (RSOM) at a port and pushing units via commercial linehaul,” said Buchy. “We are able to move combat power in different ways, and this provides greater access.”

The Passau-Constanța corridor, slicing through multiple national borders along the Danube, is also an exercise in interoperability and cooperation between NATO partners in customs operations, port operations, and river traffic management — another overlooked but critical dimension of large-scale operational readiness.

Looking Ahead

With nearly 10,000 soldiers participating in Defender Europe 25 and dozens of joint exercises across land, air, and sea domains, the river mobility of the 7th Engineer Brigade’s equipment is not just logistics — it’s a message. It shows how the U.S. Army and its NATO partners are endeavoring to innovate to offer freedom of movement and operational maneuverability across the continent.

As equipment heads toward Romania and the 7th Engineer Brigade finalizes preparations for their wet gap crossing in June, this logistical mission is a clear reminder that in Europe, rivers are not just obstacles—they are roads of combat power projection.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2025
• Date Posted: 05.26.2025 10:11
• Story ID: 498677
• Location: PASSAU, BAYERN, DE
• Hometown: GRAFENWOEHR, BAYERN, DE