CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, conducted improved ribbon bridge training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 14. The training will familiarize Marines with the engineering and logistical procedures of assembling and maneuvering the bridge with heavy cargo.
The IRB is an improved version of the standard ribbon bridge with the capability to support transportation of heavy military loads across rivers and small bodies of water. The new bridge is able to cross waters with currents of approximately 8 feet per second.
“This is new equipment,” said 1st Lt. Devin Delaney, Bridge Company commander. “The old equipment didn’t have the same hauling capacity. You had to use more bays to house the same amount of equipment. These have a higher capacity and displace more water to put larger vehicles on there.”
Marines received first-time, hands-on experience during a construction training exercise in February. Since then, combat engineers have been training to become more efficient with the equipment.
Lance Cpl. Jeff Collins, combat engineer with Bridge Company, 7th ESB, said the bridge was assembled by combat engineers for training. Marines transported two logistics vehicle system replacement vehicles.
Marines used three bridge direction boats for support. Two boats were directly attached and used to accelerate and maneuver the bridge. The bridge is directed by a Marine designated as bridge master who communicates and directs where to go.
Currently, only 7th ESB and 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., have and train with IRBs.