Marine Corps·Doctrinal shift·In Memoriam
Marine Bridge Company / Combat Bridging
Served: WWII–c.2021
Operated the M60 AVLB (Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge) and Medium Girder Bridge sets — gap-crossing for tanks, LAVs, and infantry across rivers, anti-tank ditches, and blown spans.
The Story
A National Interest essay by retired senior officers called the bridging divestiture "the canary in the coal mine" for Force Design 2030 — the Marines traded the ability to cross a stream for anti-ship missiles aimed at China, betting future wars wouldn't include rivers.
Epitaph
“Killed by the tank divestiture. They go to war on the same boats.”
Sources
- National Interest — Marine Bridgingnationalinterest.org
- Marine Corps Times — Engineerswww.marinecorpstimes.com