EFA amphibious bridge

The EFA (Engin de Franchissement de l'Avant), first known as the MAF (Matériel Amphibie de Franchissement), is a French amphibious bridging vehicle designed to get troops and armour across rivers and gaps quickly and with less exposure. It was developed to replace the Gillois system used by the French Army.

Development

The EFA was designed by CEFA together with DCAN, and two prototypes were evaluated by the technical establishments at Angers. Final trials ended in 1987. The French Army ordered 80 units, an order later cut by 39, and deliveries began in 1992. Production has since ended and the system is no longer offered for sale.

Design

The hull and ramps are aluminium. On the road the bridge ramps are carried on top of the vehicle at each end. Before entering the water the vehicle swings the ramps out to the sides and inflates flotation rolls. It runs on four road wheels with central tyre-pressure adjustment, so the driver can match the pressure to the ground. In the water it is driven by two water jets at the rear, which swivel through 360 degrees so that the vehicle can move lengthwise or sideways. The crew of four has an NBC-protected cab, and the propulsion system has automatic fire detection.

Use

The EFA can serve as a bridge section about 23.6 m long or as a raft about 34.5 m long. As a raft it can carry a heavy tank, and two EFAs together can carry up to 150 tonnes. Several vehicles can be linked to form a bridge for heavy armour; four make a 100 m bridge in about ten minutes. Weight is 43 tonnes, road speed 75 km/h and road range 700 km, with about 12 hours' endurance afloat. Water speed is quoted as 3.1 m/s loaded and 3.8 m/s (about 14 km/h) empty.