All Terrain Cranes

The All Terrain Cranes program is a procurement initiative within the Army's Other Procurement, Army (OPA) appropriation, specifically under the Construction Equipment budget sub-activity. The primary goal of this program is to acquire and field a family of all-terrain cranes to support a range of critical military engineering and logistics operations. These cranes are intended for use by both active and reserve components of the Armed Forces. Their acquisition is justified under section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which emphasizes their necessity for homeland defense, domestic emergency response, and military support to civil authorities.

The Family of All Terrain Cranes (FOATC) Type II Heavy Crane (T2HC) is a key component of this program. The T2HC, with a 50-ton lift capacity, is designed to support the National Defense Strategy (NDS) by enabling critical lift missions such as overhead lifting, container operations, pile driving, protective barrier emplacement and removal, and port opening and operation. These capabilities are essential for ensuring that operational domains remain open and accessible. The T2HC directly addresses Large Scale Combat Operation (LSCO) capability gaps, specifically in division wet gap crossing and brigade combat team mobility and lethality. It enables Multi Role Bridging Companies to assemble, disassemble, and maintain bridges for wet and dry gap crossings. The T2HC is also equipped with protective armor for the operator and is capable of maintaining convoy speeds, ensuring it can keep pace with advancing forces.

The FOATC Type I Crane supports the NDS by providing Engineer Construction Companies, Engineer Companies Vertical Construction, and Clearance Companies with the ability to offload critical supplies including weapons, ammunition, artillery, fuel, and water close to the battlefield. This capability is essential for supporting fast-moving operations and maintaining operational tempo. Like the Type II, the Type I crane is used for overhead lift, container operations, pile driving, protective barrier emplacement and removal, and port operations, supporting LSCO objectives related to mobility and lethality. The Type I crane is also designed to maintain convoy speeds, ensuring operational flexibility and rapid support to front-line units.

The Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) Ship to Shore (STS) Container Gantry Cranes are another critical element funded under this line item. The acquisition of new STS container gantry cranes at MOTCO's rebuilt Pier 2 is aimed at enhancing the Army's power projection and out-loading capability for containerized ammunition, which is essential for meeting deployment timelines. MOTCO serves as the main strategic seaport for shipping ammunition to the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Area of Responsibility. The new cranes provide the necessary throughput capacity for the safe and efficient transshipment of ammunition and explosives, supporting the Army's cargo operations mission and ensuring the timely fulfillment of operational plan requirements.

In addition to crane procurement, the program also supports Construction Equipment Virtual Trainer Upgrades. These upgrades are intended to enhance operator training and readiness by providing realistic virtual environments for crane operation. This investment in training infrastructure is designed to maximize the effectiveness and safety of crane operators, thereby increasing the overall operational capability of Army engineering units.

The All Terrain Cranes program has established acquisition objectives for both crane types, with procurement quantities and funding distributed across the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve. This ensures that all components have access to the necessary equipment for both domestic and expeditionary missions. The program's consolidation into the broader Construction Equipment program reflects an effort to streamline procurement and management of related engineering equipment.