EWK M3

The EWK M3 (Amphibie M3) is an amphibious bridging and ferry vehicle developed by Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern as the successor to the M2. Development ran from 1984 to 1992; the order followed in August 1994, the first vehicles were delivered in 1996 and procurement was completed in 1999, three years after the last M2s were retired.

Design

The M3 is a four-wheel-drive, all-terrain vehicle 12.82 m long and 3.35 m wide on the road, weighing 25.3 tonnes. With axle loads under 13 tonnes it can be driven on public roads, and it can travel by rail or in USAF C-5 and C-17 aircraft. A 343 PS Deutz engine gives up to 80 km/h on land; both axles steer and can be lowered hydraulically to pass under bridges, and a tyre-pressure system with large low-pressure tyres helps on poor ground.

Entering the water requires little preparation: the two side floats are swung out hydraulically and the wheels are retracted into the main hull. Afloat, the M3 is steered from a position at the stern and propelled by two waterjets, one at each end, which swivel through 360 degrees so it can turn on the spot or move sideways. Each vehicle carries three 8.35 m ramp sections, handled by an on-board crane, for coupling to other M3s or for loading.

Use

The M3 can work unanchored in currents of up to 2.6 m/s and, anchored, up to 3.5 m/s. At least two vehicles make a ferry; multi-vehicle ferries and bridges carry up to MLC 70 tracked or MLC 100 wheeled loads, enough for Leopard 2, Challenger 2, Leclerc or M1A2 tanks. Eight M3s with their 24 crew (three per vehicle) can bridge a 100 m river in about 20 minutes. The Bundeswehr had 30 M3s with heavy engineer battalion 130 at Minden, and the British Army 38, mostly with 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron at Hameln.