John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, recently inquired about the funding provided by the UK and Germany to the Wide Wet Gap Crossing defence procurement project.

TheMinister of State for the Ministry of Defence, James Cartlidge, replied that no joint funding has been provided yet as the contract is not committed.

The UK has spent £1,543,868 on the related TRITON project, while the German funding amount cannot be disclosed.

The information came to light in response to a Parliamentary Written Question.

John Healey, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, asked:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding (a) the UK and (b) Germany have provided to the Wide Wet Gap Crossing defence procurement project.”

James Cartlidge, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, responded:

“The Joint UK-German programme to replace the current Wide Wet Gap Crossing capability is yet to commit to contract, so no funding has been provided jointly to date. The associated UK Project, TRITON, has spent £1,543,868 to date on requirements analysis and harmonisation with the German project, Schwimmschnellbrücke 2. We are not in a position to disclose the amount Germany has provided.”

What is TRITON?

TRITON aims to deliver a modular, scalable and configurable bridging and ferrying system to enable Military Load Classification 100 (Tracked) and MLC 130 (Wheeled) crossing of wet gaps over 40m.

TRITON is an Equipment delivery project under the Next Generation Wide Wet Gap Crossing (NG WWGC) Programme led by Army Headquarters (AHQ), under Manoeuvre Support.

The Ministry of Defence say that the project fulfils a NATO commitment to provide a WWGC capability and will be operated by the Royal Engineers as part of a Multi-National Bridging Battalion.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719382)
1 year ago

Plenty of cooperation going on between the two of us at the moment it seems.

“LONDON (Reuters) – Britain and Germany will work together on the next phase of development for advanced armour-piercing tank ammunition, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said, adding that they were also open to other countries joining the cooperation.

“The standardised ammunition will not only benefit battlefield collaboration with many of our NATO allies, but has important export potential for UK and German defence industry partners,” Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in the statement on Thursday.”

Expat
Expat (@guest_719400)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Also Poland just signed a big contract with MBNA.

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719402)
1 year ago
Reply to  Expat

Good spot, looks very promising!

“LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) – The UK arm of European missile maker MBDA on Friday agreed a 1.9 billion pound ($2.37 billion) deal with Poland to provide it with a British-designed air defence system, the British government said.

“I am delighted that the UK and Poland’s deep and historic defence ties take another step forward with the signing of the largest ever UK defence export deal with Poland,” British defence minister Ben Wallace said in a statement.”

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke (@guest_719411)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

It shows that CAMM is a great product with oodles of potential and that RN and, dare I say, army made a great choice.

Now let’s hope this is for the CAMM-ER version.

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719440)
1 year ago

Fingers crossed! Worth reading if you have time.

LINK

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_719815)
1 year ago

Indeed, it seems to be a winner. I wonder if the present cold launch cells would take CAMM-ER ( in the type 23)..if not it would seem to be a no brainier to ensure that the type 26 and Type 31 cells could take it. After all it would end up turning every RN ASW and GP escort into a second string area defence platform, taking pressure of the weak-point of only have six type 45s.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke (@guest_719816)
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

The launcher is just a bit longer. As they are not terribly long to start with I don’t think it is a big deal. As I’ve speculated before I’d like to see Co tribe rides CAMM / CAMM – ER on Bays / Albions (easy because of ARTISAN radar and CMS) / Tides / FSSS. CAMM does not need local control it just needs a vector and coordinates. These can be sent over LINK16 from anything with a decent radar. That way the area denial and self defence is increased as T45 doesn’t have to use up A30 shots to… Read more »

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_719821)
1 year ago

Yes it would make a lot of sense for the RN to really lever the hell out of the sensor agnostic nature of CAMM as well as the cheap and easy nature of the cold cells…having it on the high value RFA ships would make a lot of sense, especially with the amphibians who will spend a lot of time playing around in the littoral. It would also give them a lot more protection against small boat attack in enclosed and crowded sea lanes.

Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon (@guest_719407)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Doesn’t say, but is this WFEL?

Graham Moore
Graham Moore (@guest_719430)
1 year ago
Reply to  Gavin Gordon

WFEL (was Fairey Engineering) are known for making military bridges, such as Medium Girder Bridge (MGB) and the Dry Support Bridge, but not this type.
The equipment described in the article is clearly intended to be a replacement for the German-designed and built M3 Amphibious Bridge and Ferry Unit, as used by UK and Germany.

Last edited 1 year ago by Graham Moore
Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon (@guest_719507)
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

OK, thanks to you both.
Rgs

Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon (@guest_719408)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

The bridging I meant!
Rgs

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719409)
1 year ago
Reply to  Gavin Gordon

I found this, the project name may have changed? WFEL NOW SOLE BIDDER FOR PROJECT TYRO – UK MOD MILITARY BRIDGING PROJECT “The withdrawal of a second contender to supply both Armoured and Tactical Bridging Systems for the British Army’s TYRO project, means that UK military bridge designer and manufacturer WFEL is now the sole bidder. Project TYRO aims to provide UK Heavy Forces with Close Support Bridge (CSB) and General Support Bridge (GSB) capabilities for the British Army’s Royal Engineers (RE) to cross wet and dry gaps, both on the battlefield and in emergency and disaster relief situations. The… Read more »

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719410)
1 year ago
Reply to  Gavin Gordon

I found this, the project name may have changed. “The withdrawal of a second contender to supply both Armoured and Tactical Bridging Systems for the British Army’s TYRO project, means that UK military bridge designer and manufacturer WFEL is now the sole bidder. Project TYRO aims to provide UK Heavy Forces with Close Support Bridge (CSB) and General Support Bridge (GSB) capabilities for the British Army’s Royal Engineers (RE) to cross wet and dry gaps, both on the battlefield and in emergency and disaster relief situations. The TYRO requirements are for Close Support Bridges (CSB) to be deployed, launched and… Read more »

Graham Moore
Graham Moore (@guest_719432)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Dedicated wet bridging is currently provided by the German designed and built M3, which is basically an amphibious truck that can operate with ther units as a ferry or floating pontoon bridge. UK and Germany use the M3, and the project mentioned is clearly intended to replace the M3. So nothing to do with Project TYRO.

Last edited 1 year ago by Graham Moore
Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_719435)
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Exactly.

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719437)
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

I see thank you. When I read “the current Wide Wet Gap Crossing capability” and then both “Armoured and Tactical Bridging Systems” for the British Army I thought Tactical Bridging was to allow vehicles to cross over rivers etc.
WFEL 
https://www.wfel.com/content/uploads/2022/03/MGB-Page-link-2-960×960-1.jpg

Last edited 1 year ago by Nigel Collins
Graham Moore
Graham Moore (@guest_719443)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

You can put quick-build tactical bridging (like MGB, BR90, assault(AVLB) bridges) over a river as per your photo, just not a very wide river.
The project mentioned in the article is for wide wet gaps, the width of the Rhine or the Dnieper or some massive F/off lake.
[You can also put ‘slow-build’ heavy duty bridges over rivers, ie Dry Support Bridge etc but thats a different story and a different project]

Last edited 1 year ago by Graham Moore
Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719448)
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore
Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719445)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

WFEL will be discussing its range of rapidly deployable bridging systems on booth H6-410 alongside KMW. WFEL’s DSB Dry Support Bridge and the MGB Medium Girder Bridge are already held in inventory by many militaries worldwide.
https://www.wfel.com/content/uploads/2022/04/WFEL-EXTENDS-RANGE-OF-BRIDGES-FOR-MILITARY-DISASTER-RELIEF-AT-DSEI-2021-Aug21-1000×600-1.jpg

Farouk
Farouk (@guest_719545)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Hmmmmmm
https://i.postimg.cc/D0Wp5vy1/Opera-Snapshot-2023-04-28-223823-www-wfel-com.jpg
Just for the record Ive built a very large number of MGBs be they single span, double span,with span junctions and with pier and ive never ever seen wood used to prop up a bridge. , the correct remedy is to level the ground where the Bank seat beam assembly will sit.

Last edited 1 year ago by Farouk
Airborne
Airborne (@guest_719555)
1 year ago
Reply to  Farouk

See that’s why this site is amazing, SME geeks see, know and inform the others of just about everything! One day, I want to be like Farouk…….but better looking 😂👍!

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719447)
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Seems like the market to be in!

Companies Profiled in Military Floating Bridge Market report includes: CNIM, China Harzone Industry Corp., Ltd, WFEL Limited, Mabey Group, General Dynamics Corporation, Acrow Corporation, Europontoons, CEFA SAS, WFEL Limited, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Co. KG

LINK

Graham Moore
Graham Moore (@guest_719499)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Good info. The M3 and its predecessor the M2 were built by EWK in Germany. I visited there once in the M2 era. Great piece of kit.

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719442)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Post in error.

Last edited 1 year ago by Nigel Collins
Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon (@guest_719506)
1 year ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Thanks for interest, Nigel

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719574)
1 year ago
Reply to  Gavin Gordon

Always welcome!

Farouk
Farouk (@guest_719387)
1 year ago

The above picture is misleading regards the article as that’s a Biber Leopard 1 bridge layer which started been replaced in German service by the Leopard 2 based Leguan in 2017.

The Triton project is regards the replacement of the M3 rig. A wheeled floating vehicle, which on its own or joined with another can be used as a powered ferry, or it can be linked to numerous others to build a bridge, over a gap a bridge layer can’t cover.

Last edited 1 year ago by Farouk
Jacko
Jacko (@guest_719389)
1 year ago
Reply to  Farouk

And of course 23AES is stationed in Minden with the German Amphibious Regt already.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore (@guest_719406)
1 year ago
Reply to  Jacko

Yes indeed 23AES has been in Germany for donkey’s years, not specifically for this new project.
I remember them well when they were in Hameln as part of 28 Amph Engr Regt – I was the OC of their REME Regt Wksp.

Jacko
Jacko (@guest_719488)
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Very nice posting indeed😄 RHQ/Training wing for me 76/79,
Many a session in the Green Lantern😵‍💫

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_719575)
1 year ago
Reply to  Farouk

Which image? the one spanning a section of the bridge.

Jon
Jon (@guest_719478)
1 year ago

I’m sure there’s no connection with a certain temporary Scottish ferry requirement, but it did spring to mind. Anyone know if the MoD responded on the Corran Narrows request?

Airborne
Airborne (@guest_719553)
1 year ago

Is this another capability we let slip over the last 25 years as the Russians will soon be our capitalist friends?…..get a grip, get back this capability you clowns!

Frank62
Frank62 (@guest_719656)
1 year ago

“Pte Blogs, that’s not a “river”, it’s a WIDE WET GAP!”

Airborne
Airborne (@guest_719663)
1 year ago

I’ve come across a few nice ladies in Aldershot and Colchester who match that procurement project name!