Today in WW II: 10 Sep 1943 Germans occupy Rome, post troops around Vatican City; Mussolini becomes head of state in German-occupied Northern Italy.   

M-945 Truck, Chassis, 5-ton, 6x6

The M-945 Truck, Chassis, 5-ton, 6x6 is part of the M-939 Series of 5 ton 6x6 trucks. Details of the history, model numbers, and configurations of the M939-series of trucks are on the linked page.

There are three variants in the M945 series:

  • Truck, Chassis, 5-ton 6x6, M945 (NSN 2320-01-050-4894)
  • M945A1 Bridge Section Transporter and launch vehicle (NSN 2320-01-205-2668).
  • M945A2 Generator truck, Electrical Power Plant III, power plant of the Patriot missile system (NSN 23230-01-230-3261)

The Ribbon Bridge/Raft is an interconnecting system of floating bridge sections consisting of ramp and interior bays. A complete bridge set of 10 interior bays and two ramp bays spans a gap of 76.4 meters. Each bay can be transported, launched and retrieved from an M945A1 6×6 truck. Bridge sections are transported folded, and they are then launched from the transporter at the shoreline (photo, below). Once positioned, bridge crewmen, using bridge erection boats, lock them together in the water. Ribbon Bridge sections for the M945A1 were built by Systems & Electronics, Incorporated (formerly Southwest Mobile Systems).

130th Engineer Brigade M-945A1 5-ton 6x6 Bridge Section Transporter and launch vehicle places an assault float bridge section into the Sava River, Bosnia, 30 December 1995
130th Engineer Brigade M-945A1 5-ton 6x6 Bridge Section Transporter and launch vehicle places an assault float bridge section into the Sava River, Bosnia, 30 December 1995.

M-945A1 5-ton 6x6 Bridge Section Transporter and launch vehicle
M-945A1 5-ton 6x6 Bridge Section Transporter and launch vehicle.

M945 5-ton 6x6 truck. Photo courtesy Cariboo 6x6
M945 5-ton 6x6 truck. Photo courtesy Cariboo 6x6.