The Japanese Military’s Bridging Equipment

Type 92: Connecting Floats

When living in a country where road networks are well-developed, it is easy to overlook the geographic essence of rivers as natural barriers. The bridges we normally cross and take for granted surely diminishes such aspect, but this makes them prime targets during wartime, thereby hindering one’s military operation.

For this reason, any military would have at least some kind of equipment to traverse rivers, including pontoon bridges and vehicle-launched bridges.

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is no exception, having combat engineers and specialized equipment to quickly build temporary bridges.

JGSDF currently operates several types of these equipment, but the most notable ones are the Type 92 Pontoon Bridge (or Floating Bridge) and the relatively newer 07-Type Rapid Deployment Bridge.

• General Overview

The Type 92 was introduced alongside the Type 90 tank, and is basically a truck carrying a float that can be connected to form a pontoon bridge. By deploying several of these vehicles and covering them with road mats, they function as a make-shift bridge that can withstand tanks and other armored vehicles.

The key advantage is that it can be deployed regardless of water levels or riverbed conditions, though it is vulnerable to violent water currents, necessitating powerboats to anchor it against the flow.

Bridge made by the Type 92s (photo: JGSDF)

The entire bridging system consists of several trucks carrying the float sections, road mats, deployment devices, and powerboats.

The powerboats are launched first, followed by the float sections that automatically unfold into a length of 7.5m or 25ft. These are then connected by the powerboats, with the final step being the laying of road mats to complete the temporary bridge.

A single system can cover up to 104m or 340ft, and a skilled crew can deploy it in about three hours. During disaster relief operations, the floats and powerboats can be deliberately disconnected fro the river banks, thereby acting as emergency barges.

Type 07 For Faster Bridging

Should the situation require a faster response, the Type 07 Rapid Deployment Bridge will come into play.

Unlike the Type 92 Pontoon Bridge, the Type 07 is an armored vehicle-launched bridge, which lays beams across the riverbanks as the supporting columns.

The system succeeds the Type 81 Bridge Layer, and includes multiple vehicles for transporting the beams and other bridge sections, assisted by crane-equipped trucks.

It can build a 60m (200ft) bridge in under two hours, functioning regardless of water conditions and the riverbed’s topography.

Although it doesn’t match the full length of the Type 92, most rivers in Japan are shorter than 60m, making the Type 07 sufficient enough. On the other hand, it is more mobile and less complicated than the Type 92, making it suitable for Japan’s mountainous and disaster-prone landscape.

Bridge made by the Type 07s (photo: JGSDF)

Both bridges can support up to 50 tons, accommodating all JGSDF vehicles, including the main battle tanks, but perhaps what matters most is the speed required to build such crossings.

The Russo-Ukrainian War has taught armies across the world just how difficult it is to make river crossings under constant surveillance from enemy drones. We have seen entire Russian battalions being smashed by artillery fire when trying to cross pontoon bridges.

Therefore, rapidly deploying such temporary bridges and crossings before the enemy can respond seems to be more vital than ever.

In light of such reality, JGSDF’s training and the level of skill obtained from it, will certainly be the key to success.