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This section will cover the history, development, and use of the MTU bridgelayer. In this section you will find where the vehicle has been used, when it was designed, its limitations and abilities, and how it functions. |
The Soviet army had experimented with bridgelaying tanks since the 1930's. Unfortunately none of these vehicles were made in large numbers. In the later years of the Great Patriotic War the Red Army attempted to remedy this deficiency by using a modified T-34 as a bridgelayer. This proved to be quite successful and was used well into the 1940's and early 1950's.
By the mid-1950's it was decided to make a new bridgelayer based on the T-54/55 chassis which was becoming the standard tank of the Soviet Army at the time. The new vehicle would be easy to maintain as it would share many parts with the T-54/55 tank. It would also be equipped with a 12.7mm DShK machine gun for protection against infantry and helicopter threats. The new vehicle was designated the T-55MTU and production began in 1957.
The bridge carried by the MTU is a 12.3 meter long single span metal bridge capable of carrying vehicles weighing up to 50 tons. It is transported and launched from the modified T-54/55 medium tank. The bridge is composed of four corrugated treadways, each supported by a box-truss panel. Its inner treadways are used by wheeled vehicles, while the outer treadways are used by tracked vehicles.
When the bridge is to be deployed it is done using the following method. First the ramps are lowered and extended. Then the bridge is extended so that the full weight of the bridge is resting on the forward support plate. Then the span is moved forward over the cantilever launching girder until its far end reaches the opposite bank of the obstruction. When this is done the near end of the bridge is lowered onto the near bank. This takes the crew of two as little as three minutes to accomplish.
When the bridge is to be recovered, which can be done from either side, the small ramps on either side of the bridge are folded back onto the main treadway. This allows the launching frame to be attached to the bridge. It is then lifted onto the towing vehicle. Finally it is retracted back into its transport position. This also takes the crew three minutes.
Eventually the Soviets decided to produce a new bridgelayer that could span a larger gap. It was to use the same chassis as the MTU, but would be equipped with a 20 meter folding bridge. The new vehicle was designated the MTU-20 and signaled the end of production for the older MTU. The MTU remained in service with a variety of armies for many years during the Cold War before finally being phased out of service.
During the height of the Cold War army motor rifle divisions were issued eight MTU bridgelayers. Of these one would be issued to the engineering company of each regiment while the remainder were kept with the division. Tank regiments were equipped with three MTU bridgelayers rather than the one of the motor rifle units. In the event of war the T-55MTU would enable the Soviet tank formations to advance across Europe by bridging small rivers and creeks.
The bridgelayer was well suited for its role. It had a very low silhouette, even when deploying the bridge, which made it harder to detect and destroy. The rapid speed with which the bridge can be deployed and recovered also made it useful during a quick assault. Its 12.7mm DShK machine gun was also useful as it allowed the vehicle crew to provide protection against air threats or enemy infantry on the opposing river bank. Another advantage that the MTU possessed was its commonality with the T-54/55 which made it easy to maintain and find parts for.
Its only real disadvantage was the rather short span of the bridge - 12.3 meters - which would not be adequate for crossing many European rivers. This was largely remedied with the introduction of the MTU-20 in 1968.
The MTU bridgelayer was the first mass production purpose-built bridgelaying tank of the Soviet army. It replaced a the bridgelaying vehicles that had been made during the war out of T-34's known as T-34MT versions. As the years passed it was later replaced by a more capable bridgelaying tank. In this section you can see what specific vehicles the MTU replaced and what vehicle eventually replaced it. You can find out more about each weapons system if we have them on our site by clicking on the links below.
| The MTU bridgelayer replaced... | MTU bridgelayer | The MTU bridgelayer was replaced by... |
| T-34MT bridgelayer | MTU-20 bridgelayer |
Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling information about this little known vehicle for you. We hope you can find them as useful as we have.
Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, PA, 1999
The Soviet Army, FM-100-2-3, published by Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington D.C., 1984