Foreign tank bridge layers for Ukraine
Soviet-made bridge layer destroyed in 2014. Photo by Lostarmour.info
Foreign partners transfer or promise the Kyiv regime military equipment of various classes and types. In particular, engineering machines with various functions and tasks are supplied. So, in recent months, a limited amount of tank bridgelayers, and new ones are expected in the near future. It is not difficult to understand how Ukrainian formations will use this technique.
initial situation
With the collapse of the USSR, independent Ukraine received a large number of various armored vehicles and engineering vehicles. According to known data, she got up to several dozen bridge layers MTU, MTU-20, etc. on the chassis of the T-55 tank. At a minimum, some of this equipment was still serviceable, but other vehicles were in storage.
As you know, for the entire period of independence, the Ukrainian tank industry has shown extremely modest results. New combat vehicles were being developed, but full-fledged production could not be established. Ancillary areas were generally forgotten due to lack of resources. As a result, engineering units continued to use available Soviet-made samples.
Since 2014, bridge layers of various types have been used to a limited extent within the framework of the so-called. ATO to ensure the movement of other units. The Lost Armor resource reports that one such vehicle was destroyed by the people's militias. Other losses cannot be ruled out.
German bridge layer Biber. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Germany
MTU-20 are still in use today. We know about their intended use. In addition, at the end of February, there were reports of a simple restructuring of bridgelayers into protected ammunition transporters. They provide the supply of artillery units, but lose the ability to guide crossings.
Thus, the Ukrainian army in the past had a small number of tank bridge layers. This seriously limited the possible maneuverability of troops on rough terrain and their ability to overcome various obstacles. In recent years, the existing fleet of vehicles has been reduced with understandable consequences, and its prospects are obvious.
foreign aid
At the end of July 2022, the Bundeswehr command announced another package of military-technical assistance for Ukraine. It was going to include various weapons and equipment, mainly for auxiliary purposes. So, for the first time, Germany decided to allocate tank bridge layers to the Kyiv regime.
It was reported that in the near future, 16 Biber-type bridgelayers and an unnamed number of bridge structures for them will be sent to Ukraine. These machines were produced in the seventies and were built on the chassis of the main tank Leopard 1; the German army received more than a hundred of these products. The operation of the Bibers continues to this day, but their numbers have been seriously reduced. No more than 20-22 vehicles remain in the engineering units, and a similar number is in storage.
"Bieber" from the first batch in Ukraine, December 2022. Photo by Telegram / BMPD
Preparation of engineering vehicles for transfer took some time. The German side announced the delivery of Biber bridgelayers only in mid-October. Subsequently, fragmentary information was received about the appearance of such equipment in the combat zone and the use to guide crossings. However, apparently, the Kiev regime is in no hurry to actively use the received "Beeber".
At the end of February, Germany formed a new aid package. It included 9 more Biber bridge layers and folding bridges. A month has passed since the announcement, but the transfer of equipment has not yet been reported. They will probably reach Ukraine in the coming weeks or even days.
In early March, the United States announced similar assistance to the Kyiv regime. The Pentagon was going to transfer to Ukraine a variety of engineering equipment and equipment, incl. tank bridge layers M60 AVLB (Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge). The number and timing of delivery of these machines were not reported.
AVLB products, which are in service with American engineering units, are made on the chassis of the old M60 tank. Available is approx. 220-230 of these vehicles, and they still remain the most massive bridge layers in the US Army. Probably, without prejudice to its troops, the Pentagon can provide up to several dozen M60 AVLB vehicles for delivery in the coming weeks.
Methods of Use
Soviet and NATO bridgelayers available to the Ukrainian formations are used in the combat zone as necessary and if possible. With their help, various tasks are solved, and not only those related to overcoming obstacles and ensuring the mobility of troops.
American bridge layer M60 AVLB. Photo by the US Department of Defense
The existing MTU-20 and Bieber bridgelayers are primarily used for building crossings. They lay bridge structures over obstacles and ensure the movement of troops. At the same time, the crossing often exists only for a limited time. The laid bridges are detected by Russian intelligence, after which they become targets for high-precision weapons.
Thus, it is reported that with the help of bridgelayers, Ukrainian formations are trying to maintain communication with units in the city of Artemovsk. What kind of armored vehicles and bridge structures are used there is unknown. However, all of them are successfully hit by guided weapons.
It is noteworthy that bridgelayers without bridge structures do not remain idle. They are reportedly converted into transport vehicles and used in logistics. Such a restructuring is a forced measure, but it has certain advantages. Due to it, it is possible to keep virtually useless armored vehicles in service and even benefit from them.
Until recently, Ukrainian formations had a limited number of Soviet-style bridge layers. They have received up to 25 German-made Bibers in recent months and are now expecting an unknown number of American-made M60 AVBLs. The prospects for such an engineering park are generally understandable and predictable.
AVLB is laying the bridge. Photo by the US Department of Defense
The Kiev regime has long been announcing some kind of counteroffensive, and now it is being promised almost from day to day. In such an operation, not only combat, but also auxiliary equipment should be used. It is quite possible that the existing and promised bridge layers will be used in preparation for the offensive.
Obviously, bridge layers should be used in specific areas of the terrain where natural or artificial obstacles are present. This means that their appearance on the site can be predicted and action taken. Attempts to establish a crossing can be suppressed by any fire means, as a result of which the bridge structure and / or its carrier will be destroyed. In addition, Russian troops can hit the bridge at the time of the passage of equipment.
Apparently, the result of such events will be the exhaustion of the stock of bridge structures of all types, as well as the destruction of part of the bridge layers. The remaining armored vehicles, unsuitable for solving the main task, can be rebuilt to perform new functions - as is already being done. The enemy will receive new transport, although this does not compensate for the loss of opportunities to organize crossings. In addition, transport is also not immune from destruction in one way or another.
General trends
Thus, the engineering units of the Kyiv regime face the same problems as other formations. The existing fleet of armored vehicles to solve all the problems suffered serious losses, and now they are trying to make up for them with foreign supplies. At the same time, all the main risks remain, and the newly received engineering vehicles will sooner or later repeat the fate of those previously in service.
Correction of this situation in the current conditions is not possible. Ukraine no longer has its own production of armored vehicles, and the supply of foreign models does not cover all needs. As a result, the promised offensive must face various risks, incl. in the context of troop maneuverability and overcoming obstacles.
Information