Chart of Military CranesMilitary cranes are used for construction activity, similar to their civilian roles, as well as military-specific duty such as artillery barrel replacement, ammunition handling and other assignments. See also Wreckers.
Military Use of CranesIn the U.S. military, Engineer units use a wide variety of cranes as lifting and loading equipment. The cranes are of three basic types: crawler, truck mounted, and wheel mounted. They are capable of operating various attachments. The 12 1/2-ton crawler cranes and 20- to 25-ton truck- and wheel-mounted cranes are capable of operating with hook, 3/4-cubic yard clamshell and dragline, concrete bucket, wrecking ball, and 7,000-pound diesel-operated pile driver. The 40-ton crawler crane is capable of operating a hook, 2-cubic yard clamshell and dragline, and a 12,000-pound diesel-operated pile driver. In addition, crawler cranes are capable of operating backhoe and shovel front attachments. The 25-ton truck-mounted crane is hydraulically operated, whereas the 20-ton truck- and wheel-mounted cranes and crawler-mounted cranes are hoist/drum operated. The truck- and wheel-mounted cranes are employed by units that have material-handling and excavating capability to support combat support missions. The crawler cranes are employed by construction support units that have a primary mission to operate quarries or construct port facilities. Crawler cranes are authorized in the U.S. Army equipment platoons and quarry sections of the Engineer Construction Support Company, Engineer Equipment Maintenance Company (Combat Heavy), Engineer Port Construction Company, and in various Engineer Teams. The 25-ton hydraulic crane is found in the same TOEs. The 20-ton wheel-mounted crane is authorized in the Engineer Combat Battalion (Corps), Engineer Bridge Companies, and in supply/support TOEs. U.S. Navy and USMC usage is similar but adapted to the service-specific needs of the U.S. Naval Construction Force (SeeBees) or Marine Corps Combat Logistics Engineers for building airfields, emplacing pads for vertical/short take-off and landing aircraft, clearing landing zones, creating fuel berms, and general construction. This section adapted from: FM 5-104 General Engineering. Chart of Military CranesIn this chart of military cranes, click on the photo link to go to the page of photos and information for the specific vehicle.
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