"Engineering" Topic

Well for the lone few, including, us we will be putting out the first part of our Combat engineering Guide. It occoured to me that all "real" wars for a very long time have involved engineering work and even like our first part, which is engineering in combat. Now days thats AVLB usage, vehicle mine clearance, assult bridges and the like. But even in the Roman days troops affected carried Caltrops to ward off elefhants.

Going back to our final draft I read through elements of FM 20-32 to make sure we had noit taken too many liberties.
It make you realise that its only for the serious players as even basic minefield layout can challengeing even when simplified.

Its certainly not a convention game topic as it requires a basic understanding of the period and tactics before you can even begin to set out a counter mobility plan for instance, never mind see if you have the resoiurces to bring it into fruition.

So who out there plays enough of the same period to actualy use serious amounts of engineering?

Define "serious amounts".

We use a system where you can use some e.g. @ 25% of your Total Force Level[TFL] points to purchase CE works, etc.

E.g. Concertina, minefields, trench lines, etc. Each type of obstacle/construction costs a certain number of points/value from TFL. To be placed on the board to enhance your defense, channelize, etc., the OPFOR.

We also have vehicles which can remove obstacles, etc. E.g. ACE,
Mine plows, etc. …

Costs to purchase are generally 150 pts. E.g.:

6 @ 25mm x 15cm Sections of Concertina Wire or Minefields. Must be placed =/< than 60cm from side's table edge emplacing them.

3 Bunkers anywhere in set up side of force deploying them[ =/< 60cm, etc.].

3 @ 25mm x 15cm + or – Sections of Entrenchments anywhere in set up side of force deploying them[=/< 60cm, etc.].

Some of my 6mm Concertina and Minefields :

See if you can find WW1 era 'Officer's Pocketbook' publications. The British one I have gives plans for bridges, field kitchens etc., tables of numbers of men, picks, shovels, baskets, sandbags and such to complete various works and how long it would take a platoon/company/battalion to complete the works.

Leigion 4,

Great to see that, would love to see a system set up with all the FPL fire for the Tripod MG'sand the cross wires to prevent creeping down the wire. I have read all the theory but would love to se a practical layout, somthing most manuals seen to be very shy on in dimentional terms.

bsrlee, there are lots of sources the trick is to simplify as much as possible while retaining a relevant result.

Given that I pretty much only play "tactical" games, i.e. a reinforced company or two on a side, the scope of engineering during play is limited to minefield/obstacle gaping and demolition, plus laying smoke. The rules allow for AVLBs to emplace bridges but that hasn't come up yet. I have emplaced a minefield with FASCAM once but it was pre-planned and the bad guys went around it.

Field defenses such as bunkers, trenches, AT ditches, roadblocks and minefields must be sited prior to the attackers deploying, although they can be hidden to the extent common sense would allow it.

Great to see that, would love to see a system set up with all the FPL fire for the Tripod MG'sand the cross wires to prevent creeping down the wire. I have read all the theory but would love to se a practical layout, somthing most manuals seen to be very shy on in dimentional terms.

I don't have many of my FMs left. But somethings you should as the defender. Is to is use the available terrain to your favor. Work it into your overall defense plan. E.g. Monty used the Quattra Depression to anchor his Southern Flank at El Alamein.

Or create the terrain with emplacing obstacles of all types. As Scoutjock pointed out.

Obstacles are to slow, stop and/or channelize the enemy forces into Kill Zones or minefields.

Digging in and/or emplacing bunkers, etc., will increase your survivability from enemy fires of all types.

Interlocking FOF/FPL covering those Kill Zones. With GL, mortars covering dead space. Or even better mine/booby trap the dead spaces.

You want to engage the enemy as far out as possible based on LOS and terrain. You wait to fire your FPLs when the enemy is in those engagement areas/Kill Zones.

You can engage the enemy as they advance with CAS/Gunships, Naval Fires[if available ?], FA and mortars.

You have an "umbrella" or "bands" of fires starting with your longest range weapons, then moving down as the enemy closes the range. Your longest range weapons from support assets would be as I listed above, starting with CAS/Gunships and/or Naval Fires, FA and finally mortars. Then open up with your organic heavy weapons, e.g. MGs, AT missiles, GLs, and then small arms fires. When the enemy reaches you FPLs.

You want to engage the enemy as far out as possible to attrite his numbers in men and machines. By the time you fire your FPLs and small arms. His strength should have been reduced by all those supporting fires.

And well placed obstacles will again stop, slow or channelize him into your Kill Zones, minefields, booby traps/IEDs, etc.

I hope that helps ?

Most of this work has been done in GDW's Assault board game series, specifically it is in the module Bundeswehr. Easier, the information is on the web here: myassaultpage.com/home.html . The original game was the 1985. Clicking on that will get you to the rules (Engineering begins on page 43), and in the " Charts and Tables" the times needed (game scale: 5 min/turn).

The Army Field Manual series 5 (FM5-xx) was Engineering. FM5-34 Engineer Field Data was the one that fit into the cargo pocket PDF link . Numbering seems to have been changed (FM3-34?) link .

Legion, good job on the minefield and wire.

Many Thanks ScoutJock !