DSB | Dry Support Bridge

The World Leader in

Tactical Military Bridges

DSB
Dry Support Bridge
DSB
Dry Support Bridge

The Dry Support Bridge (DSB) is the new

generation of tactical military bridging.
Deployable by just eight soldiers and a
single launch vehicle, the DSB can get
traffic moving over a 46 metre gap in less
than 90 minutes. Its primary mission
is to support the momentum of attack.
Its secondary mission is emplacement
on main supply routes to the rear of the
combat zone to help keep military and
civilian traffic flowing. The DSB is made
from a specially manufactured lightweight
aluminium alloy under licence to WFEL.

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Above: A DSB has a military load
classification (MLC) of 120 at 46m.
Right: Spanning a 46m gap.

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The better military
bridging system
The DSB’s military load classification (MLC) of 120 at Development and testing
46 metres and width of 4.3 metres makes it one In the late 1990s, the U.S Department of Defense
of the most advanced tactical bridging systems identified a requirement for a new generation of
ever designed. tactical bridging systems that were rapidly deployable,
versatile, modular, reliable and user-friendly. Following
Covering wet or dry gaps up to 46 metres, the DSB the most high profile procurement contest in military
offers incredible operational flexibility and has already bridging history, WFEL was awarded a production
proven itself in the field following deployment in the order for the design of what was to become the DSB.
USA, Germany, South Korea and during Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Bearing the hallmarks of WFEL’s near century long
history of engineering excellence, early testing showed
WFEL has already supplied over 130 DSBs to a that the DSB was surpassing all the operational
number of military organisations around the world. demands placed upon it including 18,000 simulated
crossings without a single failure.

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Far left: A DSB being deployed in South Korea. Top Left: A U.S Army Oshkosh equipped with a DSB ready for rail transportation.
Bottom Left: a DSB launcher on a Rheinmetall MAN 10 x 10 fully armoured vehicle in testing. Above: DSB launcher being loaded
onto an Antonov for transportation.

After further tests at Fort Hood, Texas, the DSB was DSB launch vehicle
duly awarded M-18 type classification and declared A key requirement from the U.S Army Tank-
ready for full materiel release in 2003. Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM)
for the new bridging system was its ability to be
The U.S Army 74th Multi-Role Bridge Company deployed from an automated launch vehicle.
took delivery of the first ever set of DSBs which
were then successfully deployed during Operation WFEL designed, manufactured and integrated the
Iraqi Freedom. DSB launching system onto the U.S Army’s Oshkosh
M1075 10 x 10 chassis. Subsequently, it has been
adapted for use on a variety of other 10 x 10 vehicles,
offering further flexibility to the end user.

Both the crane and launching mechanism are

demountable for ease of transportation and the
unit’s compact dimensions have been achieved
using a unique fold-and-rotate design.

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 “Though the bridge was constructed
quickly, it’s no slapdash structure,
but a one-lane bridge that can hold
80 tons. The 7th Engineer Company
added another lane to the northern
bridge using the Army’s new Dry
Support Bridge. It took only eight
people to assemble. Turning the
bridges over to the Iraqi people was
one more step towards restoring the
economy and security of the region.”

Specialist Robert Woodward, reporting

on the Kazer Bridge Restoration in Iraq,
in The Military Engineer (USA).

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“The Dry Support Bridge is
revolutionary compared to the way
we’ve being doing bridging of this
type up to now, with fewer soldiers
required, less time to assemble and
disassemble, a greater MLC rating
and better transportability.”
LTC Tom Svisco, U.S Army Product Manager for bridging.

Clockwise from far left: Bridging as a commodity in Iraq; a DSB in Iraq; during
build sequence; a launching beam being deployed.

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DSB | Dry Support Bridge

Load configurations

The design of the DSB’s modules allows for the two outer girders
to fold underneath the integral deck units when stowed, providing
compact transportation.

During deployment, the outer girders automatically unfold to

reveal a pre-assembled 4.3 metre x 6 metre fully decked
bridge section. Decking and kerbing is integral to the bridge
sections, dramatically reducing the logistic burden.

When stacked, two modules can be loaded into a standard

six metre ISO container, or carried on most PLS/DROPS or
six metre flat bed vehicles eliminating the need for specialised
transportation. Each loaded flatrack can also be transported
by air – having been certified for External Air Transportation
– under-slung beneath a CH-47 helicopter or other heavy lift
variant as well as by rail.
Above: A DSB bridge module being offloaded
In all configurations, trucks can be used in place of trailers from a PLS. Below: A fully-armoured
Rheinmettal MAN vehicle with DSB launcher.
if required.
Opposite: A vehicle and trailer transports bridge
sections in the standard U.S configuration.

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Standard 40m single bridge
configuration
The DSB launch vehicle and Launcher
trailer together with two other
support vehicles and trailers
can transport a single 40 metre
40m Bridge Set
bridge configuration.

Standard U.S configuration

For the U.S military a standard
Launcher
40 metre system is augmented
with two further PLS loads to
allow for greater flexibility and
the capability to deploy both a
40m Bridge Set
22 metre and 28 metre bridge.

Spare ends of bridge

allows construction of
a 22m and 28m bridge

46m configuration with

additional bridge module
and launch beam Launcher
A 46 metre system consisting
of a launcher vehicle, trailer and
three other support vehicles One 46m bridge
and trailers. It can also be
Or
transported on seven PLS
loads and is capable of building Two 28m bridges
a single 46 metre bridge, two Or
28 metre bridges or a 22 metre
One 22m bridge and
bridge and a 34 metre bridge.
one 34m bridge

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DSB | Dry Support Bridge

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Launching beam partially deployed

Bridge structure partially deployed

Bridge emplaced – launching beam ready to recover

Launching beam recovered

Launcher vehicle restowed

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 Left: A beam in position across a gap.
Below right: Bridge structure partially
deployed.

DSB Specification Application Launch vehicle manoeuvrability

Maximum clear gap 46m Road speed 88km/h straight line
64km/h NATO emergency
Span Range Up to 46m in 6m increments lane change manoeuvre
Military Load Classification Normal 80 (T)/96 (W) at 46m Cross country speed 30km/h
Maximum 120 (W) at 46m
Gradient 1 in 4
Road Width 4.3m
Angle of approach 40˚
Bank Heights +/- 3m at 40m
Angle of departure 60˚
Longitudinal bank slope 1 in 20 (reduced capacity at 1 in 10)
Lateral bank slope 1 in 20
Build Crew 8 Environmental tolerances – launcher

Launch Time Less than 90 minutes Operating air temp -29˚C to +49˚C

Launch vehicle Stowed (LWH): 12m x 2.98m x 3.985m Storage air temp -46˚C to +71˚C
Weight: 39,000kg
Relative humidity 3% to 95% non-condensing
Parallel Module Stowed (LWH): 5.95m x 2.44m x 1.1m
Deployed (LWH): 5.95m x 4.3m x 1.19m
Weight: 4,417kg
Environmental tolerances – bridge
Ramp Module Stowed (LWH): 5.95m x 2.44m x 1.1m
Deployed (LWH): 5.96m x 4.3m x 1.19m Operating air temp -46˚C to +49˚C
Weight: 4,080kg
Storage air temp -46˚C to +71˚C
End beam (LWH): 2.5m x 0.375m x 0.56m
Relative humidity 3% to 95% non-condensing
Weight: 357kg
Approach ramp (LWH): 4.09m x 0.42m x 0.19m
Weight: 86kg
Decking and kerbs Integral, part of bridging sections
Vehicles and trailers for 40m bridge Launch vehicle with trailer & 2 support
vehicles with trailers
Vehicles and trailers for 40m bridge Launch vehicle with trailer & 3 support
(U.S Army specification with added vehicles with trailers
capability to build two smaller bridges)
Vehicles and trailers for 46m bridge Launch vehicle with trailer & 3 support
vehicles with trailers

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The World Leader in
Tactical
Military Bridges
WFEL Limited
Sir Richard Fairey Road,
Heaton Chapel,
Stockport, Cheshire
SK4 5DY England
Tel: +44 (0)161 975 5700
Fax: +44 (0)161 431 3575
[email protected]
www.wfel.com

About WFEL

WFEL has supplied equipment and support to 40 armed

forces across the world for over four decades. Our
expertise – built on over a century of engineering excellence
and innovation – ranges from concept design
to full scale production of rapidly deployable, modern
bridging systems for use in military and disaster relief and
emergency scenarios. We also provide a full package
of value-added support services including training,
inspection, maintenance, repairs and spares,
both in the field and at our UK based engineering
site in Stockport.

© WFEL Limited 2018