Smashing the Rhine: British and German soldiers practise rapid crossing of historic river
While war evolves, obstacles remain, and rivers have always played a crucial role in military operations.
That's why a stretch of the Rhine, Europe's busiest river, has once again become the centre of military activity between British and German soldiers.
But this time, they are not poised against each other in conflict – they're working shoulder-to-shoulder as friends and colleagues.
In western Germany, a unique joint unit known as 130 Battalion – made up of German and British troops – has been conducting a complex Nato training mission designed to test how fast and effectively a multinational force can respond to a crisis.
Exercise Grand Crossing saw the unit, the only one of its kind in Europe, establish an emergency military crossing point across the Rhine using M3 Amphibious Rigs.
The Rhine, a river that has shaped both European geography and history, is a key commercial waterway and is constantly busy.
The exercise, which involved 1,200 troops, including other European nations, had to proceed with that in mind. Shipping traffic passed continuously alongside the training area, adding an extra dimension to the mission.
Lieutenant Colonel Florian Loges, the commanding officer of the joint German-British battalion, said few units offer the kind of capability his personnel deliver.
"Our battalion is specialised on it. What we are especially focused on is interoperability and how good we can work together," the German officer said.
Troops began their journey at the battalion's base in Minden in northern Germany before moving to Sennelager.
From there, they deployed to the riverbank, replicating the logistical demands of real-world operations – including vehicle movement, convoy refuelling and inter-army coordination.
At a resupply point, Jannis, a Warrant Officer in the Bundeswehr, said working with British troops was something he welcomed.
"I'm involved in the refuelling of the troops before they move onto the next place," he said.
"Working with the British guys is very nice. We are all talking English. The guys are pretty good."
A few metres away, Ash Spate, a Corporal in the Royal Engineers and Jannis's colleague at 130 Battalion, helped top up a German four-tonne truck with diesel.
"We have different ways of doing things. Neither's better; we work together always trying to improve each other, which is the way it should be," he added.
For many, the Rhine conjures up thoughts of March 1945, when Allied troops launched Operation Plunder, one of the final major offensives of the Second World War.
It was an enormous undertaking. British, American and Canadian forces mounted an all-out assault to break through Germany's last natural line of defence. Engineers built pontoon bridges while under fire.
Paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines. Bombers targeted German positions with relentless precision.
The crossing succeeded – but at a heavy cost. Thousands were killed or wounded in the fighting. The Rhine came to represent both the scale of Allied commitment and the sacrifice it demanded.
Today, those same riverbanks are once again lined with British and German soldiers. But now, they stand side by side – not as enemies, but as friends.
Key to the operation's success is the M3 Amphibious Rig, a vehicle that unfolds into a floating platform capable of carrying tanks and other armoured vehicles across water.
Fourteen rigs were deployed, working in coordinated sequences to build and operate a military-grade ferry, which is what the rigs effectively become once connected on the water.
For the soldiers piloting the rigs, the task is demanding. Manoeuvring a floating platform carrying tonnes of hardware across a fast-flowing river requires focus, training and nerves of steel.
It's a job that falls to the young sappers of the Royal Engineers. BFBS Forces News spoke to one such pilot, Sheldon Busby, who has served in the British Army for six years.
"It's an amazing responsibility to have. Being on the water, controlling the ferries and the bridges… I'm loving it here right now," he said.
"When I joined the Army, I thought it would be the infantry. Then I got the opportunity to learn about amphibious stuff - and I don't regret it, I love it."
More than 1,200 troops took part in the operation, including forces from Italy and the Netherlands.
Each team brought its own equipment, style and operating culture – but all worked under a single command structure.
The exercise is being held up as a model of interoperability: how different nations can plug into a shared system and still deliver.
Commenting on the coordinating work, Major Ryan Ingram, Officer Commanding one of the squadrons in 130 Battalion, said interoperability means more than people might assume.
"We work day in, day out with the Germans," Maj Ingram said. "We work hand in hand in our UK sovereign capacity, but also with the Bundeswehr.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for all of my soldiers in the squadron because we get to work with a different nation, learn from their experiences and effectively be better together."
Exercise Grand Crossing was a clear success for the multinational troops involved, spearheaded by the German-British soldiers of 130 Battalion.
While the central challenge was the Rhine – a formidable natural obstacle – it also served as a powerful symbol, showing just how far nations can go when they work together.
And for Nato, the success of the operation demonstrated yet another viable route across the continent – one that could one day prove vital.
Join Our Newsletter
