China Shipbuilding and Trading Type 84A

     Notes:  This vehicle is a vehicle-launched bridge mounted on a Chinese version of the KrAZ-255B 8x8 truck.  The Type 84A has no relation to the Type 84 AVLB mentioned in Chinese Tracked Engineer Vehicles.  The PLA is the sole user, and they are produced on a need to have basis.  The Type 84A is a very close copy of the Russian TMM truck-mounted bridge, but has a modicum of armor plate. The truck itself is a modified version of the Russian KrAZ-255B, produced by license in China in this modified form.  The vehicle has not been exported.

     The bridge is 26 meters long and able to bear a vehicle weighing 50 tons, or 13 tons on its inner trackway. It is MLC 50, but is crossable only by wheeled vehicles at that weight limit; tracked vehicles are limited to MLC 30. Laying time is 5 minutes, and recovering time is 6 minutes.  The bridge itself weighs 16 tons.  The bridge is a scissors-type, it is primarily used in light motorized divisions. Laying and loading are done automatically from the forward control cab; such laying and loading must be done from the rear of the vehicle. The truck backs up to the gap, deploys two stabilizer legs at the rear, and then deploys the bridge. Up to four Type 84A bridges may be connected together in overlapping fashion, and able to cross a 100-meter gap when used in this fashion, and takes struts and stabilizers to be placed.  Setting up such a four-bridge section takes as much as an hour.

     The truck base chassis has a YaMZ M206B water-cooled diesel developing 205 horsepower.  The transmission is manual with five forward gears and two to the reverse.

     A variant of the Type 84A, the Type 60T HMB, is virtually identical to the Type 84A, but uses an MLC 60 bridge. The Type 60T can also mount the Type 84A’s bridge.  Despite the designation, the Type 60T is a newer design than the Type 84A.

     It should be noted that recent Chinese tanks are far heavier than these bridges can hold.

*The “turret” values refer to the bridge and its machinery.  Hits on the bridge do not cause crew casualties; treat all such hits as misses. If the bridge is deployed, the Configuration value is Standard.

Jonyang GDG130 HSEV

     Notes: The GDG130 High-Speed Excavator Vehicle is a commercial construction vehicle repurposed by the PLA as a vehicle to dig fighting positions, construct roads and to clear obstacles. To a limited extent it is also used as a combat engineer vehicle. It uses a non-licensed version of the Cummins 6BTAS.9C turbocharged 185-horsepower diesel engine, a high-torque engine, coupled to a manual high-torque transmission. The standard tools attached to the GDG130 are a front-loader bucket and a backhoe with a smaller bucket.  Despite being seemingly underpowered, the GDG130 is capable of high mobility and speed since it is lightweight and unarmored. The GDG has no defensive armament other than the crewmember’s weapons.

     The front bucket has a capacity of 10 cubic meters and the backhoe 0.8 cubic meters.  The snowplow can also be used as a mine plow in a pinch, and the front loader can be used to knock down trees, clear debris, and fill ditches and natural gaps. The front-end loader may also be replaced with forklift, snowplow, rock breaker or an earth auger. These alternate tools are carried along the sides, front, and rear of the vehicle. The GDG130 can also tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 8 tons. 

     In 2001, Australia adopted a version of the GDG130, calling it HMEV (High Mobility Engineering Vehicle). 27 of them were delivered in 2001. This version is also used by the PLA and the US, who actually use more of them than are in service with the PLA. The Canadians tested them in 2006, but they chose a similar Canadian-made vehicle, and the UAE subsequently chose the Canadian vehicle as well.  The primary difference the GDG130 and the HMEV is the use of lighter but stronger steel in the HMEV, making it lighter but allowing for a modicum of armor. Additional applique armor and new stronger ballistic glass may be mounted for additional protection. The cab also has space for a seat for an assistant to operate the buckets or other tools. Though the standard HMEV uses a 185-horsepower engine, a 200-horsepower engine is being tested.

     Jonyang developed a version of the GDG130 for the US Army, the HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator).  This version is license-produced in the US. These vehicles were developed as an emergency measure for use in Iraq and Afghanistan, and most are in storage now. Like the HMEV, the cab may be equipped with applique armor as desired. The HMEE may also use a 200-horsepower engine, but as most of the vehicles are now in storage, this engine change has been implemented on only the few still in use by the US Army. The HMEE may switch between all-wheel drive and two-wheel drive, allowing the HMEE better performance on and off road. The tires are run-flat tires, which allow the HMEE to operate at 75% speed for up to 8 hours before they go completely flat and render the HMEE immobile. The HMEE may also crab-steer by rotating the wheels sideways, for use when the HMEE is close to a wall or other vehicle. Crab steering is limited to 10% of off-road speed.