Forces Combine To Ford The Danube

Army units from Germany and the U.S. joined forces in a training exercise to transport military equipment across one of Europe's biggest rivers.

The Danube is the second-longest waterway on the continent, second only to the River Volga in Russia; it flows from Germany's Black Forest through central and southeastern Europe into the Black Sea. Across its 1,750 miles it flows though ten countries.

But the mighty waterway proved an obstacle that took mere minutes to overcome when teams from the Bundeswehr and U.S. Army teamed up near ingolstadt in Germany late last month in an exercise to enhance proficiency and bolster interoperability.

As per a recent U.S. Army press release the newly activated 809th Multi-Role Bridge Company practised the river crossing with Pioneer Panzer “Badger” vehicles from the Bundeswehr's Engineer Corps.

More than 100 U.S. Army soldiers took part, deploying M30 Bridge Erection Boats to create a seven-bay pontoon floating bridge, known as an Improved Ribbon Bridge, to span the waterway.

“This is the first time that we have had the opportunity to work with our German allies by crossing their vehicles with our equipment,” said Capt. Michael MacGovern, the 809th MRBC company commander.

Staff Sgt. Juan Kitt, the 809th MRBC 1st Platoon section sergeant, said: "The standard for this type of operation is 22 minutes. We are shooting for 11-15 minutes. This includes the time to safely build or employ our equipment and safely offload the vehicle on the opposite riverbank.”

The operation was conducted at the central training facility for the German Army’s engineers, the Bundeswehr-Dienstleistungszentrum Ingolstadt Pioneer School.

“The goal is to use training events like these to build upon the relationship between the 809th MRBC and the German Army. We have scheduled and are planning future training events in November with the ultimate goal to begin tying in the capabilities of 809th to the larger U.S. Army and NATO exercises in the region,” added Capt. MacGovern.

• You can read more details about the exercise on the U.S. Army website