Citat:Mexeflote
The Mexeflote came into service with the British Army in the early ’60s, elegant in its simplicity, they are simply pontoon sections that can be pinned together (much like the Bailey bridge) to form lighterage rafts, jetties and piers.
When used as a powered pontoon they use what are in effect, large outboard motors.
The Knights class RFA’s would carry two, one on each side. To deploy them the lashings were removed leaving a single quick-release fitting holding it until the whole thing was released, the Mexeflote falling into the water. Recovery involves manoeuvring them alongside, removing the engine, winching them up over the fender belt and securing them for transit.
Multiple Mexeflote can be combined and in addition to acting as a powered raft can also be as a jetty, floating transfer platform or other floating structures. The modular construction allows a variety of shapes to be constructed. When used as a powered raft they are usually commanded by a junior NCO with a crew of 5. Individual pontoons are of welded steel construction with flush sides.
Built into the sides and ends of the pontoons are recessed slots into which the connectors are fitted. The bow pontoon consists of a forward section, an aft section and a ramp. The forward section is hinged to the bottom edge of the box-shaped aft section and can articulate vertically to a maximum of 457 mm above the deck level and be lowered to a maximum of 380 mm below the surface of the aft section. The manually operated, demountable articulator is mounted in a recess in the aft section and is connected to the forward section by an articulator ram.
The articulator has a safe working load in excess of 80 tonnes. The pontoon ramp is hinged to the forward section and slides over the forward end of the aft section to bridge the gap between the sections. The centre pontoon is a box-shaped unit with an internal lateral bulkhead dividing the interior into two watertight compartments. The front ramps are hydraulically mounted and the engines/propulsion units are connected at the rear.
Total payload depends on the size of the assembled pontoon
The Type A raft is 20.12 metres x 7.32 metres x 1.45 metres. Capacity 60T
The Type B raft is 38.41 metres x 7.32 metres x 1.45 metres. Capacity 120T
Maxi Mexi, 180 tonnes
The propulsion units or outboards to you are me, are rather special.
Ovako je to u Bundesveru. Snimak je od pre 2-3 dana. Reč je o pontonskom mostu M3 ili je možda bolje reći o amfibijskim vozilima M3 od kojih se izradjuje pontonski most. Reč je o pokaznoj vežbi na reci Wesssel. Vežba je organizovana za za oficire stranih armija koji se nalaze na nekom vidu školovanja u Bundesveru. Jedaan od njih je i moj prijatelj, potpukovnik VS koji mi je ove snimke i poslao.
Ispred je išao RPB-214 "Morava"
