"Would pioneer/engineer missions make interesting games?" Topic

Reading some books on Kursk and some of the unsung exploits of the pioneers/engineers in clearing minefields/ bridging under fire is very interesting. Would these make a good skirmish style games?
Im thinking a pionere platoon having to simultaneously clear a minefield while defending themselves from enemy troops or getting a bridge built for the tanks to cross a ditch etc.
Anyone played this kind of game before?

This is the best kibd of scenario: unbalanced forces with different victory conditions.

Yes, I have done similar scenarios in sci-fi gaming.

Yes. I have played bridge demolition scenarios with unbalanced forces. Meeting scenario objectives for the force with engineers that don't require destruction of the enemy forces makes for an interesting game. Fun, too.

Battle Of The Bulge: US – blow the bridge, German – capture the bridge

D-Day: Allies – Engineers clearing beach obstacles, Germans – kill every living thing

St. Nazaire: Water borne Commandos

Broken down tank recovery is a classic skirmish scenario too

Certainly.

Sure ! A lot of options there. CE's missions primarily are :

Mobility – clearing obstacles including minefields, destroying emplacements, bridging, making or improving roads, maybe clearing for an LZ, etc. I.e. improving mobility for friendly forces.

Counter-Mobility – emplacing obstacles, mines etc., bridge destruction, etc.,i.e. slowing of enemy forces, area denial, channelizing enemy movements, etc.

Vehicle recovery is not normally a CE mission, save for like all units. Recovering their own vehicles that are broken down, stuck, etc. That type of mission if it can't be done the unit's assets itself. Then higher level assets can be employed. Generally from the Bn's Maintenance Plt and it's own recovery assets. E.g. a Mech Bn when I was on active duty had :

2 Hvy Tracked Rec Vehs – M88s

6 Lgt Tracked Rec Vehs – M578s[these were usually attach to each Mech, Tank, etc., Company]

1 Wheeled Wrecker [forget the nomenclature … ]

These are not CEs but Ordinance branch … [Ordinance guys don't favor being called CEs … and vis versa ! ]

Just FYI …

But like I said, pretty much any unit will self recover their vehicles generally. If they can …

Primarily for destroying bridges

But also for building a pontoon bridge to aid in a line of retreat

Or building a bridge to aid in the advance/attack …

I remember something we learned was, if possible, don't destroy the entire bridge. But only a portion of the "friendly" side. To make it easier to "bridge" that section when in the counter-attack. But that option is not always available.

You mean like Guns of Navarone?