Today in WW II: 30 Jul 1940 President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, is imprisoned by Soviet agents and deported to Russia.  More ↓
30 Jul 1944 Operation Bluecoat begins, an attack by British Second Army supporting breakout in Normandy, aimed to secure the Vire junction and high ground of Mont Pinçon [30 Jul-7 Aug].
30 Jul 1945 USS Indianapolis [CA-35] torpedoed by Japanese submarine, sinks in 12 minutes killing 300 immediately, leaving 900 men in shark-infested waters without lifeboats; only 316 rescued 4 days later.
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US Marine Corps Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) Mk-18 Rear Body Unit (RBU)

The MK18 RBU combines with the MK48 Front Power Unit to form the ribbon bridge transporter variant of the Logistics Vehicle System (LVS). The MK18 consists of a modified MK14 container hauler trailer with a lifting gear assembly mounted at the rear and a winch assembly mounted on the front of a split/pivotal bed. The MK18 is capable of self-loading and unloading the Ribbon Bridge Set and ISO/ANSI cargo containers through the use of hydraulic cylinders, pulleys and winches. Prior preparation of the trailer is not required for loading and unloading of ISO/ANSI containers but for the Bridge Set, the MK18 must be reconfigured by adding additional attachments. The reconfiguration for bridge loading and unloading requires approximately 25 to 30 minutes preparation time.The MK18 can be operated by remote control from a distance either in the container or bridge mode.

The full nomenclature of the Mk18 Rear Body Unit is Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK14, MOD 0, NSN 2320-01-324-5915. Mk-18A1 is NSN 2320-01-393-0293.

Tabulated data for the LVS Mk-18 Rear Body Unit:

Length 304.5 in
Width 96 in
Height 74.76 in
Square 160 sq ft
Cube 800 cu ft
Curb weight 21,800 lbs
GVW 86,300 lbs
Wheel base MK48/18 260 in
Ground clearance 12 in
Fording depth 60 in w/o prep
Electrical 24 v, neg gd, powered by FPU
Brakes Air, linked to FPU

The Mk-18 RBU has a 238x96 inch deck (158.67 sq ft), with load capacity of 25,000 lbs cross-country, 40,000 lbs highway. The MK-18A1 has an improved loading and off-loading mechanism with a Front Lift Adapter (FLA) rising from the middle of the vehicle.

Source: Marine Corps publication TM 11240-15/4B, August 1994.

Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK18, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-6, Page 3-12
Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK18, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-6, Page 3-12.

Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK18A1, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-7, Page 3-14
Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK18A1, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-7, Page 3-14.

USMC Bridge Company Alpha Mk48/18A1 LVS Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler on the riverbank after offloading a FBM Babcock Marine MKII Bridge Erection Boat (background), Memphis Floating Bridge site, near Al-Ubaydi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, 28 September 2004
USMC Bridge Company Alpha Mk48/18A1 LVS Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler on the riverbank after offloading a FBM Babcock Marine MKII Bridge Erection Boat (background), Memphis Floating Bridge site, near Al-Ubaydi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, 28 September 2004.

Mk48/18 LVS Ribbon Bridge/Container Haulers load ISO containers en-route to Estonia, at the Bjugn pre-positioned storage cave facility. Members of the Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade Off-load Preparation Party position equipment in support of Baltic Challenge '97, 2 July 1997
Mk48/18 LVS Ribbon Bridge/Container Haulers load ISO containers en-route to Estonia, at the Bjugn pre-positioned storage cave facility. Members of the Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade Off-load Preparation Party position equipment in support of Baltic Challenge '97, 2 July 1997.

USMC 9th Engineer Support Battalion uses a Mk48 LVS with Mk-18A1 Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler trailer unit to load a 400-gallon Expeditionary Refueling System, Dogu Beach, Pohang, South Korea, 30 October 2000
USMC 9th Engineer Support Battalion uses a Mk48 LVS with Mk-18A1 Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler trailer unit to load a 400-gallon Expeditionary Refueling System, Dogu Beach, Pohang, South Korea, 30 October 2000.

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