250th Engineer Company (Medium Girder Bridge)
"No Bridge Too Far"
The 250th Engineer Company (Medium Girder Bridge) was organized and Federally recognized on 11 March 1921 in the Connecticut National Guard as Supply Company, 1st Coast Artillery, Danielson, CT. It was reorganized and redesignated on 23 May 1921 as Service Battery, 192nd Field Artillery; and on 3 November 1921 as Service Battery, 192nd Field Artillery.
The unit was converted and redesignated on 1 May 1931 as the 43rd Military police Company, 43rd Division Special Troops. It was inducted into Federal service 24 February 1941 in Danielson, CT, before being reorganized and redesignated on 19 February 1942 as a Military Police Platoon, Headquarters and Military Police Company, 43rd Infantry Division. It inactivated on 1 November 1945 at Camp Stoneman, CA.
The unit was converted, redesignated, reorganized, and Federally recognized on 21 November 1946 as Company C, 169th Infantry, an element of the 43rd Infantry Division, in Danielson, CT. It was ordered into active Federal service on 5 September 1950 in Danielson.
Company C, 169th Infantry (NGUS), was organized and Federally recognized on 22 September 1952 in Danielson. It was released from active Federal service 15 June 1954 and reverted to State control; concurrently Federal recognition was withdrawn from Company C, 169th Infantry (NGUS). It was reorganized and redesignated on 1 May 1959 as Company C, 2nd Battle Group, 169th Infantry.
The unit Converted and was redesignated on 1 May 1963 as 250th Engineer Company; it was concurrently relieved from assignment to the 43rd Infantry Division.
The Medium Girder Bridge is a hand-erectable, heavy-duty, prefabricated deck bridge consisting of high strength components, which can be assembled into bridges of varying lengths. The key advantages of the MGB over the Bailey Bridge are speed and ease of erection. One MGB set contains enough components to construct 102 feet of Military Load Class (MLC) 60 bridge. With the use of a Reinforcement Kit and two sets of MGB, a 160-foot span MLC 60 bridge can be constructed . Although the MGB can withstand MLC 70 loads the effective life of the bridge is shortened from about 10,000 to 7,000 crossings. The bridge set can also be used to construct a variety of shorter span bridges. The MGB was type classified in February 1973. The Army has fielded 50 sets of MGB. The Link Reinforcement Set (LRS) was type classified in Feb 82. A total of 12 sets of LRS were procured. The U.S. Marine Corps has 4 MGB/LRS sets. The rapid construction characteristics of the MGB provide a capability which can be used well forward in the main battle area. The lack of US ARmy tactical dry gap capability longer than 60 feet makes use of the MGB in this role an important operational consideration.
The MGB and the Bailey Bridge are considered complementary systems, each satisfying different operational requirements. The primary role of the MGB is for tactical bridging in the brigade area, while the Bailey Bridge is used primarily as a lines of communication bridge. As the tactical situation permits, MGB would be removed and replaced by Bailey, timber or steel bridges. MGB companies are authorized four bridge sets, two bridge erection sets and two reinforcement kits. The MGB Company is assigned to the Engineer Brigade (normally one company for each division in the Corps). Training of the MGB is conducted during the 12C Advanced Individual Training, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course and Engineer Officer Basic Course at the U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
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