US Army Needs to Improve River Crossing Abilities for Future Wars

Defense News ,U.S :- A new report from the Association of the US Army (AUSA) suggests that the US Army needs to invest more in its ability to cross rivers, known as wet-gap crossing, to be ready for potential conflicts in the future. Wet-gap crossing involves troops, tanks, and artillery moving across rivers or other water obstacles to reposition or engage with enemies. This requires using boats and bridges and careful planning, as highlighted by AUSA. The report points out that the US Army hasn't faced contested wet-gap crossing operations against strong adversaries since World War II. To address this gap, the paper recommends conducting more training exercises and updating the army's bridge-laying equipment. Major Aditya Iyer, the author of the report, emphasized the need for the US Army to be prepared for large-scale combat against formidable opponents like Russia and China, especially after years of focusing on counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, the report highlighted an unsuccessful attempt by invading forces to cross the Siverskyi Donets River. The Ukrainian forces successfully defended against this using small drone reconnaissance, exposing the importance of modernizing wet-gap crossing strategies. The paper suggests incorporating deception tactics into wet-gap crossing operations, including more than just using smoke to hide movements. It emphasizes the need for effective planning, training, and deception strategies to ensure soldiers are well-prepared for potential wet-gap crossings in the current and future operating environments.