The Mabey Logistic Support Bridge (LSB) combines the advantages of the 'Commercially Off The Shelf' (COTS) Mabey Compact 200 bridge system with special components developed specifically for the military user to produce a military bridge system that has been used very successfully by many military establishments during a number of conflicts around the World.
The specially developed military components include rapid build, highly adjustable variable slope ramp systems; special ground beam assemblies; and heavier transverse beam sections to cater for specific military loading conditions. The Mabey LSB can be configured to carry loads up to Military Load Class (MLC) 80T Normal, 110W Caution and to cater for a wide variety of civilian load conditions including vehicles with low ground clearance. The standard decking finish of the Mabey LSB is a 'Durbar' chequer plate finish that enables tracked vehicles to cross without causing damage.All main structural components are hot dipped galvanised to ensure a long life with minimal maintenance.
All design is carried out using established Mabey in-house procedures using truss construction and other design properties derived from a combination of Finite Element analysis, conventional design techniques and full scale load testing.
The primary mission of the Mabey LSB is for use on Main Supply Routes to upgrade these for heavier traffic, replace damaged civilian bridges, release assault and general support bridges and to provide a long span floating bridge capability. Like many of the other
The Mabey LSB is an unrivalled military bridge system. It is in service with the British, Swedish and Spanish armies, has been purchased by many of NATO's other forces including the German, Portuguese and Irish armies, and has been used extensively in theatre by the US Army and US Navy.
The Mabey LSB has the following specific characteristics:
4.2m Extra Wide single lane roadway width
Clear spans in single storey construction between 9.144m (30ft) and up to 60.96m (200ft) in any multiple of 3.048m
Modular design with different configurations catering for various dry and wet gap crossing lengths
Multi-span bridges can be built over standard modular fixed and floating supports
Built using tried and tested cantilever launch method
Optional external pedestrian footwalks available
Bridges can be built on 'green field' sites with no preparation using special 'ground beam assemblies'
Equipment can be transported into theatre in conventional 6m (20ft) and 12m (40ft) ISO containers and on 6m DROPS/PLS 'flatracks'
Can be built using in-service construction equipment (e.g. field cranes and tracked / wheeled excavators)
Easily dismantled and returned to stock after use
Rugged design with long fatigue life
The Mabey LSB is a proven military bridge system which has successfully replaced many countries' ageing stocks of original Bailey and Heavy Girder bridging.Reliability, Safety and Maintenance studies were carried out on behalf of the British Army before the Mabey LSB was taken into service and system manuals have been published and are available for immediate use.
The Mabey Bridge LSB team is available to provide any design and other technical advice required and to provide input into build and other training programmes.As an established military contractor, Mabey Bridge has proven practical and professional experience of ongoing work at home and on operations with NATO and other forces throughout the World. With inservice status in a number of NATO countries and unique experience of shipping its bridging into many conflict zones around the World including Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, Mabey Bridge's military team has become the logical choice to support the battlefield engineer for this type of bridging.
The Mabey Logistic Support Bridge (LSB) is the latest version of Sir Donald Bailey's original Bailey bridge which saw significant service in World War II. It combines the original benefits of the Bailey Bridge – rapid erection, simple to build, robust modular design and fully interchangeable standard components – with modern materials, new decking and ramp systems and re-designed connections to produce a versatile bridge system that can span up to 60.96m and carry the latest military and civilian vehicles using significantly fewer components.
Single span LSB in service in Iraq
Mabey LSB consists of a small range of standard parts: Panels, chord reinforcements, transoms, decks, bracing members, ramps, grillages and ground beams. These can be constructed in a variety of different configurations allowing the construction of a wide range of bridge spans to carry a variety of different loadings.
Zubaydiyah Floating Bridge (230m), Iraq
Mabey LSB has been used to successfully open up supply routes in a number of recent conflicts including Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
