Engineer Tasks in the US Army

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Royal Engineers (RE).

1. The Corps of Royal Engineers boasts an illustrious heritage that goes back over 900 years to the time of William the Conqueror.

2. During World 2, there was an enormous expansion of the Corps. Responsibilities, too, changed. Mines and booby traps were extensively used. Whilst every soldier needed to know something about them, Sappers led the way in breaching enemy minefields.

3. Since World War 2, the Corps has played its full part in many international missions and, today, is in great demand for both peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

4. Up until almost the mid – 18^th Century, young engineer officers were sent to the Continent to study fortifications and siege warfare as there was no facility in England until the establishment of the Royal Military Academy in 1741. It was the Construction оf saps or trenches to enable the enemy fortifications to be assaulted which gave the Corps it nickname of “Sappers”.

5. The Peninsular Wars against France demonstrated the need for a trained body of field or combat engineers. In 1812, RE set up a school for this purpose which continues today as the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) at Chatham. The Engineer soldiers were re-titled as the Royal Sappers and Miners.

6. In 1716 George I authorized the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Engineers as separate entities and, in 1787, they were granted the title Royal and Engineer officers.

7. In 1856, the Royal Sappers and Miners were incorporated into the Royal Engineers and the officers and soldiers served under the same cap badge. At this time, the rank of the common soldier was changed from private to sapper.

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Attack operations are the most basic role of the infantry, and along with defense, form the two primary stances of the infantry on the battlefield. Traditionally, in an open battle, or meeting engagement, two armies would maneuver to contact, at which point they would form up their infantry and other units opposite each other. Then one or both would advance and attempt to defeat the enemy force. The goal of an attack remains the same: to advance into an enemy-held objective and dislodge the enemy, thereby establishing control of the objective. Attacks are often feared by the infantry conducting them due to the high number of casualties suffered while advancing under enemy fire. Successful attacks rely on sufficient force, preparative reconnaissance and bombardment, and retention of unit cohesion throughout the attack. (829)

meeting engagement --- встречный бой

dislodge --- выбивать с позиции (противника)

casualties --- потери

cohesion --- сплочённость

The Army first used light aircraft for artillery forward observation and reconnaissance in June 1942. Following the establishment of the US Air Force as a separate service in 1947, the Army began to further develop its own aviation assets (light planes and rotary wing aircraft) in support of ground operations. The Korean War gave this drive impetus, and the war in Vietnam saw its fruition, as Army aviation units performed a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, transport, and fire support. After the war in Vietnam, the role of armed helicopters as tank destroyers received new emphasis. In recognition of the grown importance of aviation in Army doctrine and operations, Aviation became a separate branch on 12 April 1983. On the modern battlefield, Army Aviation, unlike the other members of the combined arms team, has the organic flexibility, versatility, and assets to fulfill a variety of maneuver, roles and functions. Aviation can accomplish each of these missions within the limits of finite assets and capabilities during offensive or defensive operations and also for joint, combined, contingency, or special operations. (1162)

assets --- имущество, фонды, ценные качества

rotary wing aircraft --- вертолёты

to give an impetus --- послужить стимулом для чего-либо;

побудить к ч.-л.

fruition --- осуществление, достижение цели

versatility --- манёвренность

contingency --- непредвиденное обстоятельство

Maneuver is the employment of forces through movement to achieve a position of advantage from which to destroy the enemy. The basic forms of maneuver for the attack are frontal attack, penetration, and envelopment. The commander attempts to attack enemy at the weakest point. Normally, an attack on the enemy`s flanks or rear is preferable to a frontal attack. In the frontal attack, attacking forces strike the enemy all along his front. It is employed against a weak or disorganized enemy, when the attacker has overwhelming combat power, when the time and situation require immediate reaction to enemy action or when the mission is to fix the enemy in position, deceive him, or assist the main attack. (716)

3.18.Переведите письменно текст D со словарём.

In the United States Army, the four tasks of combat engineer units are mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and general engineering.

Mobility means improving your own force’s ability to move around the battlefield. Combat engineers typically support this role through breaching enemy obstacles including minefields, anti-tank ditches, wire obstacles, anti-vehicle barriers and wall and door breaching in urban terrain. Mechanized combat engineer units also have armored vehicles capable of laying short bridges for crossing gaps.

Counter mobility means building obstacles to prevent the enemy from moving around the battlefield. This includes destroying bridges, blocking roads and destroying airstrips. Counter mobility can also include planting landmines and booby traps when authorized and directed to do so.

Survivability is building structures which enable one’s own soldiers to survive on the battlefield. Examples include digging trenches, bunkers, shelters, and armored vehicle fighting positions.

General engineering tasks sustain military forces in the theatre through constructing and repairing facilities, and through buying and maintaining property. (1269)

Notes:

survivability --- сохранение боеспособности

airstrip --- взлётно-посадочная полоса, полевой аэродром

Дата добавления: 2014-12-25