Corps of Engineers

The Corps of Engineers is the oldest arm of the Indian army, which was formed initially by the combination of three regular pioneer companies i.e the Group of Madras, Bengal, and Bombay Sappers. It consists of four major constituents namely Combat Engineers, MES, Border Roads, and Military Survey. Let's discuss in detail how they are major constituents.

Insignia of Corps of Engineer

Motto(s): Sarvatra (Everywhere)
Centre: Pune
Corps of Engineers day: 18 Nov 2018

Combat Engineers: Combat Engineers provide mobility to own forces by constructing bridges, tracks, and helipads, while on the other hand, the Corps denies the same to the enemy by creating obstacles such as laying mine-fields and demolition of bridges. General PS Bhagat of the Corps remains the first Indian Officer to have won the Victoria Cross in the Second World War. Another first in the same war, Subedar Subramaniam was awarded the George Cross. Later, during Kashmir's operation soon after Independence, Major R R Rane was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for making a passage through enemy minefields while crawling in front of a tank.

MES(Military Engineering Service): It played a vital role in nation-building. It provides MES cover not only to the three Services, namely, Army, Navy, and Air Force but also Defence Research & Development Organisation, KV Sangthan, and Ordinance Factories. A number of prestigious and time-bound projects have been completed over the years.

Border Roads: They have made their contribution by constructing a large number of roads in once inaccessible areas of the Himalayas, Rajasthan and North Eastern States have contributed significantly to their economic development. True to the motto SARVATRA, the Corps of Engineers has excelled in multifarious activities in war and peace. In peacetime, the Sappers have always been at the forefront in rendering aid to the civil authorities during natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes.

Military Survey: It also helps in making the military survey.

What do Engineers do? Role of The Corps of Engineers

It is their mission to enhance their own force's mobility while doing all they can to hinder enemy movement.

They do this by providing routes and bridging for personnel and vehicles to reach their objectives and by denying the enemy the same through demolitions, the wrecking of roads, culverts, bridges, and the emplacement of mines.

They are also expected to develop existing routes and provide others to allow for the supply of troops in combat positions.

This task flows into the host of household chores that make up the engineers’ secondary function. These include:

1. Acting as the lead agency for camouflaging and concealing field positions and installations. In this regard, they also assist the commander’s deception plan.
2. Construction: Engineers are responsible for planning, designing, constructing, and supervising the erection of any number of structures for field forces and rear-area troops. These range from digging and fortifying defensive positions and helping other arms entrench to building landing zones, airstrips, and air bases, to constructing and maintaining barracks, workshops, storage facilities, and offices. The latter includes looking after the electrics and plumbing.
3. Demolitions: Arguably the “fun” part, engineers are often called to blow things up. Objects range from enemy field fortifications to unwanted installations and dumps, captured equipment, or unserviceable machinery.
4. Minelaying: Engineers are often called to plan, construct or supervise the emplacement of mines and landmines. The latter refers to anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank mines. The former are large quantities of explosives secreted within or under a structure and detonated by remote control or time-delay.
5. Mine clearing: Equally often, engineers are called on to remove own or enemy minefields or to sweep routes for mines.
6. Reconnaissance: There are always engineer parties in the forward areas seeking technical information such as the condition of roads and bridges, the whereabouts of enemy minefields and river crossings as well as the availability of local building materials.
7. Water Provision: Clean water and proper sanitation is the difference between a dying and a fighting army. Historically more soldiers have died from diseases (including water-borne cholera) than from combat. Finding and then providing clean drinking water is a thankless, but vital, engineering task.
8. Auxiliary Infantry: Engineer sub-units are generally assigned to infantry or armour units and normally carry out the bulk of their tasks in the forward areas, often under enemy fire. As a result, it has long been the norm to train them as infantry.
9. Surveying and Map-making: Accurate maps are an essential precondition for successful military operations.

Keep Reading and Keep Smiling
Jai Hind…

MES
Border Roads
Military Survey