Proposed Force XXI Engineer Designs: Viable Combat Multipliers?
Abstract
This monograph analyzes the ability of two proposed engineer organizations to adequately support the future Force XXI Division. Examinations of four historical case studies determine engineer support requirements for division operations. The U.S. Army's participation in Vietnam and Bosnia define engineer support analysis criteria for stability operations. Combat engineer support in World War II and the Persian Gulf define analysis criteria for major theater war. The key criteria are tactical bridging capability, breaching and countermine capability, combat construction capability, and engineer command and control capability. The monograph deems both proposed engineer designs inadequate to support the Force XXI division. Design One has inadequate amounts of tactical bridging and an insufficient number of engineer company headquarters to adequately conduct countermine/breaching missions. However, Design One's division-level headquarters is flexible and rapidly expandable, and should easily integrate additional engineer forces. Design One can plan and execute major division river crossings. With the addition of one additional corps combat engineer battalion, Design One will provide adequate divisional support. Design two will adequately support brigade operations but lacks division-level flexibility. The lack of a divisional engineer headquarters will preclude adequate integration of additional engineer forces without engineer headquarters augmentation. Design Two cannot adequately plan and execute division-level engineer mission such as major river crossings without significant augmentation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 18, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA339493
Entities
People
- William D. Brinkley
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College