More good news
Detection apparatus for mines. Manoeuvre Support Team [MST], part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to place a future contract with MineWolf Systems AG for an initial 12 month period with the options to extend for another 24 month period for the provision of In-Service Support for the Mini MineWolf 240 system.
Read more about Minewolf
http://www.minewolf.com/products/mini-minewolf-mw240.html
Grown up Lego bricks have featured twice on Think Defence;
Both of these featured relatively simple precast concrete blocks for rapid construction of simple structures, potentially very useful for deployed expeditionary infrastructure.
This proposed solution from Kite Bricks goes a step further, integrating more complex building blocks with robotic construction techniques.
Read more at Kite Bricks, click here
Earth bag construction (sand and clay) techniques are increasingly seen as a useful alternative to conventional building in low environmental impact projects and I wonder if there are applications in expeditionary infrastructure construction, field defences, flood defence, mortar pits and non equipment bridging projects.
The system shown in the video from United Earth Builders can do 300 feet per hour.
There are other fabric tube filling devices on the market.
Nothing wrong with conventional sandbags of course, they are cheap and easy to use, crucially, not needing any mechanical plant, fuel or skilled labour.
But they are slow and inefficient.
The Army does have a number of BCB Sandbagger filling frames in service
But evidently, not enough, traffic cones can help though!
Improvisation in action but a quick look on Youtube would show how filling 6 sandbags at a time is childs play 🙂
If one is a little more serious about sandbag filling there are many systems awaiting nothing more than an MoD Purchase Order.
As the fine readers of Think Defence know, bridges are a particular interest here at TD Towers.
One of the precursors to the famous Bailey Bridge was the much less famous Inglis Bridge, designed by Charles Edward Inglis.
In the last article I posted on the Inglis Bridge I noted there were only a couple in existence in the UK, a rather sad state of affairs for such an important piece of military heritage, one in Wales over the River Monnow and one over the Basingstoke Canal.
Both these locations have a long association with the Royal Engineers.
Which brings me to an email I had today from Derek at the RE Museum (another fellow bridge enthusiast) about their efforts to identify a bridge in Emmerich, Germany.
I am a volunteer in the R E Museum, We received an e-mail enquiry from a man who lives in Emmerich ,Germany asking for help to identify an Inglis bridge that was still in use over a river called The Wild. I have recently visited the bridge and found out it was built in late 1945 , Possibly by British Sappers and has now been declared a war monument by the German Government. It is in very good condition and is now restricted to 16 tons
Ant there it is, over the Die Wild at Spiker Weg is none other than an Inglis
Fantastic stuff
It looks very much like a MkIII, which completes the set.
Like Monmouthshire and Basingstoke, Emmerich as a long history of association with the Royal Engineers.
Thanks Derek
PS
Did you all get the pun in the title!
PPS
Could you drive a FRES SV Scout over that bridge?
Always a favourite at TD Towers, the Imperial War Museum have a great collection if if images, a short extract of which are below
http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-funny-tanks-of-d-day
This from the Telegraph is a very depressing defence story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/10842002/Concrete-Canvas-looks-beyond-the-MoD.html
The killer quote
We’ve just sold to the Dutch military, which was very straightforward
Concrete Canvas has appeared on the pages of Think Defence several times but as a reminder
A couple of short videos of the Lifesaver M1/C2 water purification system
Lifesaver is a British success story and a company I have followed for some time. The simplicity of the Lifesaver filtration systems belies their effectiveness and it would be easy to envisage greater military and HADR adoption.
The UK already has in service the water bottle and jerrycan models but not (I think) the bigger C2
Consider the cost of one of these in a FOB compared to delivering bottled water by Chinook.
A Short History of Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal including that of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD), the Reserve Army and Territorial Army Units
By Lt Col E.E. Wakeling ERD
Read more…
http://www.bombdisposalclub.org.uk/BD_history.htm
A great read
Anyone fancy a pint
A cool video from Aerial Media Kings showing the Royal Engineers in action in the Somerset floods of early 2014
Kit spotters, what do we have?
I think 3D printing has many potential military uses and these two stories demonstrate the potential.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have created a low cost disposable unmanned aircraft making extensive use of 3D printing
3D printing unmanned aircraft is not new but it is an interesting story anyway.
And this one, looking at contour crafting, or 3D printing buildings. Although the details are a bit vague, the potential for military building is obvious
Think Defence 