| Military Engineer |
Article Index for Military |
Articles about Military Engineer |
Website Links For Military |
Information AboutMilitary Engineer |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MILITARY ENGINEER | |
| architecture and engineering occupations | |
| military occupations | |
| engineer | |
| military engineers | |
| land warfare | |
| military engineering | |
|
military engineers during Humanitarian Aid after the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake .]] A military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive, defensive and logistical structures for War fare. Other duties include the layout, placement, maintenance and dismantling of defensive Minefields and the clearing of enemy minefields and the construction and destruction of Bridge s. 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 Pioneer s or Sapper s. ''In some countries, the modern military may comprise engineering units in say, weapon design or procurement, or of non-military Civil Engineer ing (e.g. Flood Control and River navigation works) which are not covered by this article.'' 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 .'' 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 '' Architect i''. 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. The best known of these Roman army engineers due to his writtings surviving is Vitruvius . DEFENSIVE Defensive Fortification s are designed to prevent intrusion into the inner works by Siege Infantry . For minor defensive locations these may only consist of simple Wall s 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 Fortification s 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 Defend ers could Retreat should the walls or gates be breached. The placement of Mine s to Create Minefield s 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 Bridge s, as their Destruction can slow the Advance of the Attackers . The retreating forces may also leave Booby Trap s for enemy soldiers, even though these often wreak their havoc upon non- Combat ant civilians. OFFENSIVE In ancient times, fortifications were assaulted by Siege Engine s. 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. 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. The clearing of enemy minefields is another offensive task. 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 Bridge s have long been used as temporary replacements for destroyed river crossings. 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. |
Image:Tarascon Castle On The RhônejpgCastle At
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tarascon" class="copylinks">Tarascon , France |
|
Image:Replica CatapultjpgReplica
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Catapult" class="copylinks">Catapult Siege Engine |
|
Image:TrebuchetjpgReplica
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Trebuchet" class="copylinks">Trebuchet siege engine |
|
Image:Fortbourtangejpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bourtange" class="copylinks">Bourtange fortification {Link without Title} |
|
Image:Tarascon Castle (bridge)jpgTarascon Castle
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/moat" class="copylinks">Moat |
|
Image:Cheshire Regiment Trench Somme 1916jpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/World_War_I" class="copylinks">World War I trench works and Shrapnel shelter |
|
Image:Fort Ticonderoga Drawbridge To Demilunejpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Drawbridge" class="copylinks">Drawbridge crossing fortification ditches at Fort Ticonderoga |
|
Image:96046011HKOBAw FsjpgInstalling A
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Medium_Girder_Bridge" class="copylinks">Medium Girder Bridge (modern) |
|
Image:Mines 501556 Fh000026jpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Landmine" class="copylinks">Landmine s (modern) |
|
|
|