The Need to Recognize Conditions for River Crossing Operations in the Polish Lowlands by Military Vehicles in the Light of NATO Regulations

Abstract

This paper presents the methods for obtaining the geomorphological information needed to determine the crossing conditions of river beds as well as requirements concerning its interpretation, both historical as well as currently binding and arising from NATO normative documents. The included procedures were analyzed in view of their usefulness in estimating the possibilities of crossing river beds in the Polish lowlands. Detecting the appropriate places to cross big rivers situated in the area of the so-called “eastern NATO flank” appears to be thoroughly essential, especially in the current geopolitical situation.