Blown bridges are a serious obstacle for troops who have to cross water in the event of war. The situation is particularly critical in open terrain, where enemy fire is a constant threat. In view of the current security situation, the Dutch army is preparing for just such scenarios. This is why units rehearsed an emergency situation this week as part of a large-scale river crossing.
As part of the deployment to an exercise in the Czech Republic, soldiers and vehicles had to cross the Rhine between Kalkar and Emmerich. Although the existing bridges remained intact, they were deliberately not used. Instead, the crossing was made using ferries and a temporary pontoon bridge.
The exercise “required precise cooperation between various parts of the 43rd Mechanized Brigade and sappers”, according to a recent press release from the Dutch armed forces. Within 48 hours, units were ferried across using a pontoon bridge element that served as a floating ferry.
Destination: “Stampeding Bison”
In the meantime, the land forces have moved on to the Czech Republic, where the large-scale exercise “Stampeding Bison” is taking place. More than 1,000 soldiers are competing against an equally equipped training force. The focus is on large-scale battles under the most realistic conditions possible – with the aim of further increasing combat readiness.
