Concepts of deploying engineer troops in military operations in the classified Myśl Wojskowa publications from the years 1970-1981

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the concepts of deploying engineer troops in military operations in the late 1970s and early 1980s, on the basis of the publications contained in the classified Myśl Wojskowa journal. The publications concerned the main tasks of engineer troops in basic tactical operations, including in particular those consisting in crossing water obstacles or establishing barrier minefields in that period. The article analyses also the needs of engineer troops in the discussed period and describes the basic principles of using this type of arms for performing engineering tasks. Furthermore, the attention is drawn to the wide use of engineer troops in that period, which were responsible, to a considerable extent, for providing support for the fighting elements, including in particular armoured and mechanised units.

Keywords

• engineer troops
• tactical operations
• combat support
• engineering support