NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Military engineer

A military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive, defensive and logistical structures for warfare. Other duties include the layout, placement, maintenance and dismantling of defensive minefields and the clearing of enemy minefields and the construction and destruction of bridges. In some cases an engineer may be required to destroy something that that same engineer designed and constructed. In many armies the military engineers are also called pioneers or sappers. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x767, 251 KB) Polish military engineers in Pakistan From the web-page of the Polish Ministry of Defence Used with permission (see here for details File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x767, 251 KB) Polish military engineers in Pakistan From the web-page of the Polish Ministry of Defence Used with permission (see here for details File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other... For other uses of War, see War (disambiguation). ... Minefield redirects here. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... A US army combat engineer setting up a communications cable. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with combat engineering. ...

In some countries, the modern military may comprise engineering units in say, weapon design or procurement, or of non-military civil engineering (e.g. flood control and river navigation works) which are not covered by this article. The term civil engineer refers to an individual who practices civil engineering. ... A flood (in Old English flod, a word common to Teutonic languages; compare German Flut, Dutch vloed from the same root as is seen in flow, float) is an overflow of water, an expanse of water submerging land, a deluge. ... River Gambia flowing through Niokolokoba National Park A river is a large natural waterway. ...

In modern times a military engineer that usually operates during battle and under fire is called a combat engineer. For more modern aspects of military engineering and tools of the combat engineering corps, see combat engineering. Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... A US army combat engineer setting up a communications cable. ... Combat engineers place satchel charges and detonating cord, preparatory to blowing up a railway bridge during the Korean War, 30 Jul 1950. ...

Origins of military engineering

Perhaps the first civilization to have a dedicated force of military engineering specialists were the Romans, whose army contained a dedicated corps of military engineers known as architecti. Roman military engineering was pre-eminent amongst its contemporaries, and the scale of certain military engineering feats, such as the construction of a double-wall of fortifications 30 miles long in total (both walls combined total) in just six weeks to completely encircle the besieged city. Such military engineering feats would have been completely new, and probably bewildering and demoralizing, to the Gallic defenders. Roman military engineering is that Roman engineering carried out by the Roman Army - almost exclusively by the Roman legions for the furthering of military objectives. ...

Defensive

Defensive fortifications are designed to prevent intrusion into the inner works by siege infantry. For minor defensive locations these may only consist of simple walls and ditches. The design principle is to slow down the advance of attackers to where they can be destroyed by defenders from sheltered positions. Most large fortifications are not a single structure but rather a concentric series of fortifications of increasing strength. Fortified cities would typically include an inner "old town"' within walls. Should the city be attacked, those residing outside the walls would enter the inner city. Within this would be a redoubt, or citadel, to which defenders could retreat should the walls or gates be breached. Table of Fortification, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... A siege is a military blockade and assault of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition. ... WALL is a radio station licenced to Middletown, New York that serves Orange County, New York. ... The defensive wall of Braşov, Romania. ... This article is about a type of fortification. ...

The placement of mines to create minefields and their maintenance and disassembly is another defensive task.

When the defender must retreat it is often desirable to destroy anything that may be of use to the enemy, but particularly bridges, as their destruction can slow the advance of the attackers. The retreating forces may also leave booby traps for enemy soldiers, even though these often wreak their havoc upon non-combatant civilians. This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ...

Offensive

In ancient times, fortifications were assaulted by siege engines. These could be projectile throwing devices or simple moving towers that could allow attackers protection while positioning them above the top of the fortification's walls. A siege engine is a device that is designed to break or circumvent city walls and other fortifications in siege warfare. ...

The undermining of the defender's walls by tunneling is called sapping. With the military use of gunpowder this explosive could be placed in tunnels to explode directly under the walls. The most spectacular use of this technique in the 19th century was during the United States' Civil War. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Undermining. ... Smokeless powder Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases that act as a propellant in firearms. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ...

Often the defender in retreat will destroy bridges to impede the attacker. These must be quickly replaced by the attacker in order to retain offensive mobility. In World War II a short portable bridge called the Bailey bridge could be quickly placed by a specialized transporter vehicle. Pontoon bridges have long been used as temporary replacements for destroyed river crossings. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000,000 Civilian dead: 4,000,000 Total dead 12,000,000 World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict... Bailey bridge over the Coppename river at Witagron, Suriname. ... Pontoon bridge across the James River at Richmond, Virginia, 1865. ...

Image gallery

The design, construction, and demolition of the works and devices shown would be the task of a military engineer in the appropriate era.

Famous Military engineers

Mozi (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Mo Tzu, Lat. ... Leslie Groves Leslie Richard Groves (August 17, 1896 - July 13, 1970) was a member of the United States Army who oversaw the construction of the Pentagon and the primary military leader in charge of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. The son of a... John Rosworm or Rosworme ( 1630 - 1660) was a Dutch or German soldier and military engineer who served the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. ... Pierre Charles LEnfant LEnfants plan for Washington, as revised by Andrew Ellicott Pierre Charles LEnfant (2 August 1754; Paris, France â€“ 14 June 1825; Prince Georges County, Maryland) was a French-born American architect and urban planner. ... SÃ©bastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban (May 15, 1633 - March 30, 1707), commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and in breaking through them. ...

Contents

Origins of military engineering

Defensive

Offensive

Image gallery

Famous Military engineers

See also