ESB Heavy Lift Requirements

Abstract

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) has produced many examples that illustrate the abysmal heavy lift situation within USMC Engineer Support Battalions (ESBs). For example, in one instance during OIF I, Bridge Company C, 8th ESB crossed the Line of Departure in over 30 rented Kuwaiti trucks because there were not enough tactical vehicles available on which to load its heavy equipment and bridging components. Additionally, the Marine Corps' most capable heavy-lift asset possesses a limited off-road capability and is unable to carry certain types of ESB equipment. For these reasons, the Marine Corps should add Heavy Equipment Transporters (HETs) or HET M1000 trailers to the Engineer Support Battalions' motor transport inventory to provide the battalions with the ability to move any piece of organic heavy equipment and mass the engineer effort anywhere on the battlefield. Although purchasing HETs or M1000s would be costly, the ultimate gains in efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and increased ESB capability would be well worth the money spent.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA505965

Entities

People

  • Chad Darnell

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bearing Capacity
  • Command And Control
  • Construction Materials
  • Engineers
  • Iraqi-War
  • Logistics
  • Maintenance
  • Maintenance Costs
  • Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Equipment
  • Tactical Vehicles
  • Task Forces
  • Transport Ships
  • Transportation
  • United States
  • Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Military Science