ONE ROPE BRIDGE
as per
Ranger Handbook
SH 21-76, dated July 1992
STREAM CROSSING AND WATERBORNE OPERATIONS
9-1. GENERAL. The availability of ready-made bridges to a unit is not only uncertain, but is highly unlikely. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to negotiate expedient stream crossings. The leader will need to know various techniques in order to make a successful stream crossing. The stream crossing team is designated and instructed to prepare ropes and equipment, and to conduct team rehearsals. This team should be highly proficient in the mechanics of a stream crossing. This proficiency is gained by realistic rehearsals, close inspections, organization, and good control.
9.2. Organization of River Crossing Team.
a. Number 1 man: Lead safety swimmer and far side lifeguard.
b. Number 2 man: Rope puller, he swims water obstacle pulling 120-foot rope, ties off rope on far side anchor point.
c. Number 3 man: Near side lifeguard, he is the last man to cross water obstacle.
d. Number 4 man: Bridge Team Commander (BTC)
e. Number 5 and 6 man: Rope tighteners.
9-2. One Rope Bridge (Wet Crossing)
a. Special equipment:
(1). Two snaplinks per heavy piece of equipment.
(2). Two snaplinks for every 120 feet of rope.
(3). One 14-foot utility rope per person.
(4). Two snaplinks per person.
(5). One waterproof bag per RATELO.
(6). Three B-7 life preservers.
(7). Three floatation work vests.
(8). Two 120-foot nylon ropes.
b. Planning. A stream-crossing annex is prepared in conjunction with the units operation order. Special organization is accomplished at this time. For a platoon, a squad is normally given the task of providing the bridge team and the squad leader is the Bridge Team Commander.
c. Rehearsals and inspections:
(1). The stream crossing team always rehearses.
(2). Rehearse the entire stream crossing emphasizing:
(a). Security and actions on enemy contact.
(b). Actual construction of the rope bridge within six minutes on dry land.
©. Individual preparation.
(d). Order of crossing.
(e). All signals and control measures.
(f). Reorganization.
(3). Conduct rehearsals as realistically as possible (e.g., use of blindfolds to simulate darkness or conduct rehearsal at night).
(4). Ensure personnel are proficient in the mechanics of a stream crossing operation.
(5). Inspect for equipment completeness, correct rigging and preparation, personnel knowledge and understanding of the operation.
(6). Actions of the # 4 man (Bridge Team Commander (BTC) during the preparation phase.
(a). Rehears the bridge team.
(b). Accounts for all equipment in the bridge kit.
©. Ensures the 120-foot rope is coiled.
d. Execution phase:
(1). Steps for the establishment and conduct of a one-rope bridge stream crossing.
(a). Unit leader halts short of the river, local security is established, and a recon is conducted of the area for the presence of the enemy and for crossing site suitability/necessity. He directs the BTC to construct the bridge.
(b). Security is established up and downstream while unit leader directs the BTC on anchor points. The unit leader counts individuals across.
©. The bridge team begins to establish the rope bridge while unit members begin individual preparation.
(d). The BTC is responsible for construction of one-rope bridge and selection of the near side anchor point as well as the far side anchor point if visibility permits. He ties all wiremans knots and hooks all individuals onto the rope bridge checking for a rope around their chest and a bowline and an end of the rope bowline on the running end of the sling rope less than an arm length away from the chest.
(e). Noise and light discipline is enforced and security is maintained.
(f). Individual soldiers put a snaplink into their end-of-the rope bowline and the sight blade of every M-16 or M203. M60 gunners put a snaplink through the front sight blade and rear swivel of their M60. RATELOS (and others with heavy rucksacks) place an additional snaplink on their rucksack frame, top center.
(2). The responsibilities of the rope bridge team while erecting the rope bridge are as follows:
(a). Number 1 man (lead safety swimmer and far side lifeguard).
(1). Grounds rucksack (with snaplink through top of frame) to the rear of the nearside anchor point. Wears equipment in the following order (body out). Waterborne uniform (top button buttoned, pants unbloused), B7 life preserver or engineer workvest, LCE, weapon, (across the back), carrying a safety line to assume duties of far side lifeguard.
(2). Number 1 man enters the water upstream from Number 2 man and stays an arms length away from the Number 2 man on the upstream side. He identified the far side anchor point upon exiting the water and once the Number 2 man has exited the water, moves to his far side lifeguard position downstream of the rope bridge with knotted safety line on wrist and LCE/weapon and workvest grounded. He continues to wear the B7. The engineer workvest is grounded where he can easily pick it up and toss it to someone in need of a floatation device.
(b). Number 2 man (rope puller) in waterborne uniform (same as Number 1 man), wears his equipment in the following order. Workvest, LCE, weapon (across the back), Australian rappel seat with snaplink to the rear. He grounds his rucksack (with snaplink through top of frame), to the rear of the nearside anchor point. His duties are to swim across the river obstacle pulling the 120-foot rope. He ties off the rope on the anchor point identified by the Number 1 man with a round turn and two half hitches with a quick release. The direction of the round turn is the same direction as the flow of the water (current) to facilitate exit off the rope bridge.
©. Number 3 man, (near side lifeguard), in waterborne uniform wears: B-7 work vest and knotted safety line on wrist. (LCE/weapon and work vest grounded on the bank behind him). The number 3 man positions himself on the downstream side before the number 1 and 2 men enter the water, grounding his rucksack (with snaplink through top of frame) on rear of nearside anchor point. His duties include untying the quick release at the nearside anchor point after the platoon sergeant crosses and verifies the headcount. The number 3 man reties his safety line into an Australian rappel seat, hooks the end-of line- bowline onto his snaplink, connects his snaplink to the end of the line bowline of the 120 foot rope, and is the last man pulled across the water obstacle. He puts on the work vest prior to crossing the water obstacle with his equipment in the order of B7, work vest, LCE, and weapon.
(d). Number 4 man (Bridge Team Commander BTC).
(1). He is in the waterborne uniform with LCE and sling rope tied in safety line (round the waist bowline with end of line bowline at arms length). He is responsible for construction of rope bridge and organization of bridge team. He is also responsible for back feeding the rope and tying the end of line bowlines.
(2). He designates the near side anchor point, ties the wiremans knot of the transport tightening system, and hooking all personnel to the rope bridge. He ensures the transport tightening system is on the upstream side of the rope bridge. He ensures all individuals are in waterborne uniform, hooked into the rope facing the current with the safety line routed through the trailing shoulder of the individuals LCE and rucksack. He ensures the weapon is hooked onto the rope. He controls the flow of traffic on the bridge. He is responsible for crossing with the number 1 mans rucksack. He is generally next to the last man to cross (follows platoon sergeant who is keeping headcount).
(e). Number 5 and 6 men (rope tighteners) in waterborne uniform with LCE and safety line. They are responsible for tightening the transport-tightening knot. They are also responsible for taking the rucksacks of the number 2 and 3 men across. Once on the far side, they are responsible for pulling the last man (Number 1 man) across.
(f). The rucksacks of 1/2/3 men are transported across by 4/5/6 men. The rucksacks of 1/2/3 are hooked into the rope by the snaplink through the top of the frames and the 4/5/6 men pull them across. The weapons of 4/5/6 men are attached between the 4/5/6 men and the rucksack that they are pulling across the bridge.
(g). Bridge Team Commander rehearses the bridge team during he planning sessions and directs construction and emplacement. The unit leader selects the crossing site which should complement the tactical plan.
(1). Number 3 man positions himself downstream of crossing site.
(2). Number 1 man enters water upstream of number 2 man. He stays one arms length from the number 2 man and is prepared to render any assistance to the number 2 man. Both swim in conjunction upstream to compensate for the current. BTC feeds rope out of rucksack positioned on the downstream side of nearside anchor point.
(h). The number 1 man exits and identifies (hugs) the far side anchor point (if BTC cannot identify it for the number 2 man). Number 2 man exits on the upstream side of the far side anchor point. The rope is now routed to facilitate movement onto and off the bridge.
(i). Radios and heavy equipment are waterproofed and rigged. All individuals don waterborne uniform and tie safety lines. Platoon sergeant moves to anchor point and maintains accountability through headcount.
(j). Number 2 man signals the BTC that the rope is at the far side anchor point, and the BTC pulls out excess slack and ties a wiremans knot and emplaces a snaplink. The BTC signals the number 2 man who pulls the rope 1/5 of the way across. The number 2 man selects a point on the far side anchor point that is 18 24 inches off the water. After this is done, the number 2 man ties a round turn and two half hitches, the first half hitch is tied in a quick release. Number 2 man signals the BTC and the pulling team, (4,5,6) tightens the bridge, pulling the wiremans knot as close to the nearside anchor point.
(k). The number 1 man moves downstream and assumes his duties as the far side lifeguard.
(l). The bridge team commander will tie off the rope with a round turn and two half hitches around the nearside anchor point. The BTC will place himself in the upstream side of the bridge (facing downstream). He begins to hook individuals into the rope inspecting them for safety.
(m). Number 2 man moves upstream to provide far side security. Number 5 and Number 6 cross (taking the rucksacks of 2/3). The number 5 man maintains far side headcount. He unhooks all individuals on the far side (he positions himself on the upside of the bridge facing downstream). Number 6 precedes the remainder of the platoon.
(n). The BTC maintains the flow of traffic ensuring that no more than three individuals are on the bridge at any one time (one during hook-up, one near the center, and one being unhooked). Once the platoon sergeant has accounted for all individuals on the nearside, he withdraws L/R security, sending them across. Platoon sergeant follows security across. Number 3 man hooks the BTC (with number 1s rucksack) onto the rope. Once the BTC has crossed, number 3 unhooks nearside anchor point. Number 3 man ties an Australian rappel seat with snaplink in the front, hooks onto the snaplink that is in the end of the line bowline on the 120-foot rope and signals 4/5/6 men to take in slack. Number 3 man extends his arms in front of his head, slightly upstream to fend off debris and is pulled across by 4/5/6. All individuals (except 1/2/3 and RATELOs) wear rucksacks onto bridge by the snaplink. All individuals cross facing upstream.
(o). Once the far side head count, weapons and equipment are verified (between platoon sergeant and number 5 man), personnel reorganize and continue mission.
