CHAPTER 5: The OPFOR in the Offense

5-8 ENGINEER.

    a. Engineer Reconnaissance Patrol (ERP)

• Typical missions include collecting information on roads, obstacles, water obstacles and water supplies.

    b. Movement Support Detachment (MSD)

• Ad hoc grouping formed from division and brigade engineer units.
• Missions include:

• Route reconnaissance
• Mineclearing
• Repair/reinforcement of bridges
• Creation of tracked vehicle routes
• Construction of bypasses
• Route marking

• Division:

• Can form up to three MSDs.
• Each may have one or two of the following types of equipment: DIM, BAT, IMR, Tanks with KMT-4/6 or 5M, Tanks with BTU, MTU-20/MT-55, TMM, or Truck mounted crane.
• Operates on main routes.

• Brigade:

• Can form one MSD normally composed of an engineer platoon, one or two dozers and up to three tanks with blades or plows.
• Operates on secondary routes.

• MSD is normally organized in three elements:

• Reconnaissance and obstacle-clearing group
• One or two road/bridge construction and repair groups
• Route marking group

• In the march, MSDs normally move behind the CRPs.

    c. Mobile Obstacle Detachment (MOD)

• Ad hoc grouping formed from division and brigade engineer units.
• Mission: Deny key terrain to the BLUFOR, particularly those avenues of approach that are most suited for tanks. (Figure 5-21)
• Composition:

• A divisional MOD normally consists of mechanical minelaying elements equipped with GMZs.
• A brigade MOD normally consists of one minelaying platoon of three PRP-3. It is sometimes reinforced with a motorized rifle platoon.

• MODs normally operate with antitank reserves to provide flank protection and to repel counterattacks.
• In the march, it normally travels between the advance guard and the main body.

Figure 5-21. MOD in a Meeting Battle.

    d. Mineclearing

• During marches, the MSD is responsible for mine clearing on the routes.
• During assaults, the maneuver unit is responsible.
• - Normal breaching method is to use mine plows/rollers.
• - Plow/roller tanks may tow a line charge behind them to detonate once they are through the minefield in order to clear the full width of the lane.
• Normally there is one plow tank per tank platoon and one roller-plow tank per company. Figure 5-22 illustrates a tank battalion attacking through a minefield.
• Number of lanes cleared is dependent on terrain and mission:

• Battalion on main attack axis: 6-8 lanes.
• Battalion on supporting axis: As few as 2.

Figure 5-22. Tank Battalion Attacks through a Minefield.