An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 13 less load capacity than the LSB, the Bailey bridge is lighter, at times more versatile, and, notably, does not need a crane for its construction. This frees up equipment that can be used else- where, as well as making for a faster construction time. The medium girder bridge (MGB) – a rapidly constructed assault bridge – was also deployed. Based on the brigade commander's plan the brigade engineer will choose which bridging system to use depending on numer- ous factors, including the military load classification required, the volume of traffic expected, and the speed of construction needed, as well as site-specific considerations such as access and span. In the exercise the three bridge systems were augmented by the DROPS-deployable trackway system, and were successfully crossed by Mowag APCs. A number of real route-enhancement tasks were inserted into the scenario, including remedial works on tracks, and the design and construction of a reinforced concrete bridge. This latter task drew on the considerable civil engineering experience of an RDF officer attached to Coy HQ. The bridge, which was completed during the 92hr exercise, replaces an old, wooden bridge, thereby enhancing mobility for APCs in the future. To secure flanks, spearhead assaults and conduct counter- attacks, the combat engineers generally use the IAB (Infantry Assault Bridge). This system (covered in detail in a previous issue of An Cosantóir), is light, air transportable, can be assembled in minutes. Its speed of assembly means it can be concealed up to the last possible minute before it is required, which is a welcome form of security. Once in place a platoon can pour across the IAB in a few minutes, ready to advance to their objectives. For this operation the complete system was airlifted in by an Air Corps AW139 helicopter, which dropped the unit around 150m from the obstacle. Engineers lying in wait swarmed over the IAB as soon as it touched down, breaking the transport pallet open and man-handling the 55kg panels into position. Total construc- tion time: 10 minutes. For military engineers, however, the ability to destroy is equally important as the ability to build. During the exercise the engi- neers used their demolition skills to create obstacles to prevent attacks and to deny the use of ground to enemy forces. The art in these types of demolition tasks lies in knowing how much explo- sive to use to achieve the desired effect, whether it's felling trees or cratering roads. Knowing how to detect and deal with battlefield explosives is a characteristic that immediately separates combat engineers from their civilian counterparts, and as part of its ESSC role the COE maintains a de-mining capability. The Corps has a number of tools in its de-mining toolbox, ranging from manual prodding, to a variety of metal detection systems (including deep-buried and underwater ferrous probes), ground-penetrating radar, and three sizes of mine flail vehicles. Each tool is tailored to the task at hand, whether it's deploy- ing the larger Aardvark mine flail to systematically clear a large contaminated area, or the smaller, camera-mounted Doking MV4 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to clear an ESSC team's approach to a suspected explosive device. For this exercise the Mine Wolf MW240 medium-flail ROV was deployed for a real task; clearing suspected hazardous areas in the vicinity of the anti-armour range. On other occasions there is no substitute for boots on the ground and this is where the ESSC teams come in. Depend- ing on the threat assessment, a range of protective suits may be worn by ESSC team members, ranging from the lightweight demining suit to the more pro- tected EOD suit. Armed with detection equipment and a great deal of concentration, ESSC personnel follow up the flails, checking for command wires or anything else that might have been missed, as well as searching areas that the demining vehicles can't reach. While they have top-of-the- range detection equipment, the best tool ESSC team members have is their training, something that is validated twice annually on the Corps' spring and autumn ESSC exercises. Water purification is a core function of the COE, particu- larly overseas where it ensures our troops have clean drink- ing water. The Karcher water purification system used on the exercise is operated by a team of four and can supply nearly 4,000 litres of drinking water per hour (enough to keep a brigade supplied). One nasty little exercise sce- nario involved the destruction of a chemical factory in the area of operations, which resulted in a lingering toxic cloud that contaminated all those in the vicinity. This tested the exercise troops in CBRN decontamina- tion. An extensive system of checks, hot and cold decontami- nation showers, and very strict control ensured every individual and every piece of equipment and transport was free from any chemical agent when they left. This was not an easy job given that everyone was kitted out in full CBRN clothing and respirator on what was the hottest day of the year so far. Both the exercise and this article can only give a flavour of the massive range of jobs that today's combat engineer must be capable of. What is clear, however, even from such a cursory look, is that there is a single identity and unity of purpose about the Corps' personnel, which was very evident in how they managed, in 96 hours, to turn the bogs, ditches and rivers of the Glen of Imaal into a staging area that could be used by a full infantry brigade.

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