FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The North Carolina National Guard will be transporting M1A1 Abrams Tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles with Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) vehicles to Fort Pickett, Virginia, via I-95, on Sunday, March 18, 2018. This is the first time the NC Guard is using HETs for a long-distance convoy.
The HET is the Army’s largest transport vehicle able to haul tremendous amounts of weight. The Abrams Tanks and Bradley’s are heading to Fort Pickett to take part in NC Guard’s 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team’s gunnery training there.
“Never before has a movement of this magnitude been accomplished within North Carolina, let alone between two states, said Chief Warrant Officer 3, Jennifer Maloy, NC Guard’s State Movement Officer. “By working closely with the North Carolina and Virginia Departments of Transportation, this 200-mile movement was made possible with competent drivers, escort vehicles, proper route planning and adequate time management.”
The two state DOT’s were able to provide approved routes after careful review of weights, dimensional data and bridge and highway tolerances in order to maintain safe movement without impeding civilian traffic flow on I-95 and roads to and from each post.
“This operation is exciting event for any logistician,” said Maloy. “It highlights North Carolina National Guard’s inter-agency partnerships and its ability to mobilize huge pieces of equipment and transport it great distances in support of training operations.”
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