The US Army has trained a Belgian workforce in Zutendaal to operate the Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter (EHET).
The EHET is a mobile system designed to move heavy vehicles such as the M1 Abrams main battle tank and other military equipment weighing up to 90 tons (90,000 kilograms).
The transporter combines the M1300 tractor — an M1070A1 armored truck modified for EU road permits — and an M1302 trailer for global-standard transport.
The EHET will eventually replace the US Army’s legacy Heavy Equipment Transporters. Among the first tranches of the latest system was handed over to the service’s Zutendaal Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) worksite.
Practicing With EHETs
During the training, the 51st Composite Truck Company from the US Army’s 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion instructed Belgian EHET personnel under the 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s Field Support Battalion-Benelux.
Part of the project is the licensing accreditation on the M1300 tractor and M1302 trailer operations, which the 16th Sustainment Brigade led.
The preparation involved three phases. The initial phase involved classroom-based lectures on the EHET’s technical data and regulatory guidance.
The next phase included hands-on exercises for preventive maintenance and services, while the final phase focused on operational control tests and final driver road tests.
Supporting Warfighters in Europe, Africa
The Zutendaal APS-2 worksite currently houses more than 100 EHETs for the US Department of Defense.
The location covers 600,000 square feet (55,700 square meters) of climate-controlled spaces divided into 15 warehouses and 40,000 square feet (3,700 square meters) of hardstand storage.
“APS-2 program is a key component of US Army Europe and Africa’s power projection and warfighter readiness missions,” the US Army said.
“APS-2 program provides turn-key power projection packages – ready to deploy at a moment’s notice – while helping to reduce the amount of equipment needed from the deploying forces’ home stations.”
“Combatant commanders identify their APS-2 requirements, and the 405th [Army Field Support Brigade] executes and then issues the equipment to the deploying warfighters.”
