ROK, U.S. stage cross-river drills as part of annual Hoguk exercise

엄중한 한반도 정세 속 호국훈련… 수룡 이용한 한미연합 제병협동 도하
Amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, an annual large-scale military exercise is currently taking place in the country, involving a combined river-crossing exercise with the U.S.
The presence of a special bridging vehicle caught the attention.
Our Defense Correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung had a chance to go and watch.
After the smoke screen is set up, K21 armored vehicles cross the river, one by one.
This is the part of Korea and the United States' combined river-crossing exercise, as part of the annual large-scale military Hoguk drill.
The exercise began its three-week run since on Sunday, aiming to enhance the combat capabilities and joint forces interoperability against North Korea's threats.
Considering the geographical features of having lots of streams and rivers on the Peninsula, river-crossings are essential.
And thus, as part of large-scale field training exercise, a thousand soldiers from battalions of ROK Army's 7th Maneuver Corps along with the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Forces took part in combined wet gap crossing training exercises.
"A contested wet gap crossing is one of the hardest operations to execute in land warfare. To execute it together as we did, with our same soldier sharing our equipment to span the gap that neither of us can span on our own, is an outstanding demonstration of strength and commitment of ROK-U.S. alliance."
One notable amphibious bridging vehicle that has been self-produced by Korea is the KM3 that had its inaugural deployment in June.
This is the first time this KM3 or "Suryong," roughly translated to "Water Dragon" in English has been deployed in the real river-crossing drill.
"I am currently riding on a KM3 amphibious bridging vehicle. This vehicle can turn into a bridge, allowing troops and other vehicles such as tanks to swiftly cross rivers."
The KM3, a Korean version of Germany's M3 Amphibious Rig, has been developed by Hwanwha Aerospace, and can carry equipment weighing up to 60 tons.
Not only does it reduce the installation time by up to 70 percent, but also operational personnel by up to 80 percent.
"The time for set up takes much less for the existing RBS the ribbon Bridge System: it can be deployed within ten minutes. and only three, the one-sixth of the personnel is required to set up. It thus enables quicker and more stable support for river-crossing operations."
The Hoguk Defense drill will go on until November 8th.
Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang news, Yeoju.
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2024-10-22, 20:00 (KST)