Engineer Combat Battalion

World War II recruiting poster for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

An Engineer Combat Battalion was a designation for a battalion-strength combat engineering unit in the U.S. Army, most prevalent during World War II. They are a component of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Also known as "Combat Engineer Battalions" (CEB), they were typically divided into four companies: A, B, C, and Headquarters and Service (H&S).[1]

Best known for pontoon bridge construction, their duties also included serving as sappers deploying and deactivating explosive charges and unexploded munitions, mapmaking, camouflage, and a wide variety of construction services supporting frontline troops. They also fielded defensive .30 cal. and .50 cal. machine gun squads, anti-tank rocket and grenade launchers, and were required to fight as infantry when needed.[2]

Combat Engineers played important roles in numerous World War II battles, especially breaching the heavily fortified Seigfried Line protecting the German border and numerous defensive lines established by the Wehrmacht in Italy, including the Gustav Line. Among the most familiar for their heroism and contributions to establishing key bridgeheads in the European Theater was at the Ludendorff Bridge at the Battle of Remagen.

Their construction equivalent U.S. Navy Seabees played a crucial role establishing beachheads and airstrips in the Pacific Command's island hopping strategy of defeating Japan.

Capabilities

Combat Engineers ferried infantry and special forces troops in craft such as this M2 assault boat boat in Europe in World War II
Infantry support bridge over the Saar River erected by 289th Combat Engineers at Volklingen, Germany

A World War II era combat engineer battalion possessed both combat and combat support capabilities. These included, but were not limited to:[3]

  • Laying roads and unloading/loading supplies, vehicles & personnel from transport and cargo ships

US units

Pontoon bridge built by the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion across the Rhine, downstream from the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen

Combat Engineer Battalions in the U.S. military include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Summary information on Engineer Combat Battalions
  2. ↑ United States Government War Department Engineer Field Manual FM-5-5, Engineer Troops, 11 October 1943
  3. ↑ What Did Combat Engineers Do? 327th Engineer Combat Battalion list

External links

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