Today in WW II: 9 Feb 1941 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill appeals for arms shipments from the US: "Give us the tools, and we will finish the job".  More ↓
9 Feb 1943 Allied forces capture Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter (CBT)

The M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter (CBT) is one of the US Military family of Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT). General information about the HEMTT series is found on the linked page.

The common bridge transporter has four primary missions:

  • Transport and launch ribbon bridges
  • Transport bridge boats
  • Transport heavy dry support bridges
  • Perform the functions of a 8 to 10 ton PLS truck

The CBT is a modified M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System (LHS), which is a HEMTT cargo truck with a Palletized Load System (PLS) style load handling system. It has special flatracks for carrying bridge components, like the M15 Bridge Adaptor Pallet (BAP) and the M14 Improved Boat Cradle (IBC). The flatracks allow the CBT to transport and transload on to a PLS trailer. Every bridge load is palletized so that any CBT or PLS-compatible vehicle could carry, deliver, or reposition palletized bridge loads.

The M1977 Common Bridge Transporter (CBT) also carries Ribbon Bridge Interior Bays, Ramp Bays and Bridge Erection Boats.

The NSNs for the HEMTT M1977 CBT variants are:

  • M1977 w/winch NSN 2320-01-443-8023
  • M1977 w/o winch NSN 2320-01-442-1940
  • M1977A2 w/winch NSN 2320-01-492-8219
  • M1977A2 w/o winch NSN 2320-01-492-8218
  • M1977A2R1 w/winch NSN 2320-01-492-8229
  • M1977A2R1 w/o winch NSN 2320-01-492-8228

US Army Multirole Bridge Companies (MRBCs)

The Common Bridge Transporter is an essential component of the Army's new Multi-Role Bridge Company (MRBC). The MRBC combines the roles of previous float and fixed bridge companies to perform their missions with less manpower and greater flexibility. In early 2003, the U.S. Army Program Manager for Bridging began fielding two new bridge systems to the MRBCs:

  • Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB)
  • Dry support bridge (DSB)

Both bridge systems are integral components of the MRBC’s objective capability. The Army designed MRBCs to give commanders a flexible and adaptable unit that can accomplish both float- and fixed-bridge missions. The MRBCs are 100 percent mobile -- every bridge load has a prime mover -- and take advantage of product standardization. The Army ordered 498 HEMTT M1977 Common Bridge Transporter (CBT) trucks in 2001 to upgrade the MRBCs as the trucks were delivered in 2002-2006. The 459th Engineer Company was the first unit in the Army to receive the CBT.

M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter and PLS trailer with M18 Dry Support Bridge bridging system on the flat racks
M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter and PLS trailer with M18 Dry Support Bridge bridging system on the flat racks.

M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter (CBT) and PLS trailer, Army National Guard 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company, Bismarck, ND, 11 February 2003
M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter (CBT) and PLS trailer, Army National Guard 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company, Bismarck, ND, 11 February 2003.

M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter used by 502nd Engineers to build an assault bridge over the Euphrates River, Iraq, December 2004
M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporter used by 502nd Engineers to build an assault bridge over the Euphrates River, Iraq, December 2004.

M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporters and PLS trailers used by 502nd Engineers to build an assault bridge over the Euphrates River, Iraq, December 2004
M1977 HEMTT Common Bridge Transporters and PLS trailers used by 502nd Engineers to build an assault bridge over the Euphrates River, Iraq, December 2004.