Tank Pioneers (Bundeswehr)

Tactical sign of the tank engineer company 340

M48A2DB clearing armor

Keiler mine clearance tank in action in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Mine clearance tank Keiler in the area

Mine thrower scorpion

Anti-tank mine AT-2

Mine Laying System 85

Panzer pioneers (PzPi) of the army are a sub-grouping of the pioneers of the German Federal Armed Forces . They also belong to the combat support troops and are used in combined arms combat to clear up and open barriers and overcome water obstacles.

assignment

The task of a tank pioneer company primarily includes the preparation of the area / battlefield (area reinforced by pioneers) for the respective types of operation of defense , delay or attack by combat troops. In terms of its tactical orientation and with the help of its large-scale equipment, it is particularly suitable as a “spearhead” to support an attack by clearing up enemy barriers and carving out aisles for its own tanks. For this purpose, the armored or unarmored pioneer reconnaissance team, under the leadership of a reconnaissance NCO, prepares the pioneer mission by checking, among other things, the passability of the site. Pioneer trains with pioneer machines then follow their own attack peaks and remove barriers and other obstacles. They are also able to reinforce the reconnaissance of the tank reconnaissance or today's army reconnaissance . The tank pioneers support the movements of their own troops directly in battle by releasing hidden charges against the enemy or clearing weapons . Mine barriers (laying, throwing or straightening mines) created by pioneers according to a blocking plan are handed over to the combat troops for security after they have been triggered. Tank pioneers can also cross bodies of water using rapid armored bridges to a certain extent. The amphibious pioneers are used for larger bodies of water. In addition, they can - depending on requirements - carry out construction tasks such as excavation for field fortifications , positions for artillery guns , command posts, etc.

Orders in battle

Local and urban warfare

Tank pioneers are deployed by the infantry in local and house warfare as demolition and dazzling troops to open wire barriers , barricades and mine barriers and to “create access”. The tank engineer platoons of the tank engineer company are divided among the infantry companies of the brigade. The infantry is indeed carried out with limited resources themselves able wire locking means of blasting pipes or stretched charges in the course of the "Extended pioneer formation of the infantry," it has been shown by the dynamics of the location and urban warfare, that the plurality of different blocking obstacles, Tank engineers are better suited. This is particularly true for “creating accesses” and clearing mines.

Due to the frequent change of the type of combat in combat in “ built-up areas ”, tank pioneers are able to carry out combat missions to a limited extent themselves, for example fighting from room to room.

Defense / delay

In defense operations, tank pioneers are usually deployed as a single unit. The tasks in defense / delay are the creation of laying mine barriers ( DM31 ), mine barriers (DM12), the preparation / loading of funnel barriers / tree barriers and bridge blasting as well as the measurement of planned barriers that are only to be erected in the course of the delay. They can be monitored and secured by infantry groups, as long as they operate in the Front Edge of Defense (VRV).

The creation of tank trenches and tank positions ( Leopard 1 and 2 as well as Jaguar 1/2 (exempted 2006)) is possible with the Dachs Pioneer Tank . The Dachs engineer tank needs 10 to 15 minutes to create a tank. The creation of wire barriers and position building is not the task of the independent tank engineer companies, the infantry itself is capable of doing this.

In the rear terrain, the tank pioneers generally secure themselves independently. In addition to the usual pioneer equipment (ground target gun MG3 and PzFst ), a Milan anti-tank troop is available per platoon . This enables pioneers to combat far-reaching armored forces (enemy armored reconnaissance forces ).

By surveying / exploring barriers beforehand, the tank pioneer platoons are able to react to the actual enemy advance in the course of the delay operation and to block planned barriers within 15 minutes in a width of 3000-meter-wide sections by means of mine barriers (the Scorpion mine-throwing system was eliminated in 2011) . The creation and “closing” of mine barriers (DM12) using fiber optic cables as detonators is also possible.

attack

In addition to being able to create mine barriers, tank pioneers are also able to recognize and overcome enemy mine barriers and terrain obstacles during attack operations using pioneer reconnaissance troops.

The tank pioneers of the Keiler mine-clearing tank and demining ladders are available to open mine barriers . Due to its armor, the Keiler mine clearance tank is capable of creating mine lanes (4.70 m clearance width) under enemy fire, but it only has a smoke-throwing system for self-defense, so that it is dependent on security by the combat troops.

To overcome cuts in terrain (rivers and trenches), the tank pioneers have the Biber / Leguan bridge-laying tank - they are able to build a rapid armored bridge over trenches 20 m wide or several bridge-laying tanks a composite bridge 45 m long under armor protection in 5 minutes (bridge-laying tank Beaver).

history

With the establishment of the Bundeswehr in the 1950s, tank engineer companies were set up. From the beginning, the equipment of the tank pioneers differs from the "normal pioneer associations" of the Bundeswehr mainly through their fully mechanized or armored group and construction machinery vehicles. The only heavy equipment available was the modified M32 / M74 armored recovery vehicle , which was then replaced by the M48A2DB / M48RPz clearing armor . The bridge- laying tank M48 was used as the first bridge- laying tank . The company had two engineer tanks and four bridge-laying tanks. For each bridge-laying tank, two additional bridges were tracked on flat-bed trailers 25t.

Only the tank engineer companies of the 2nd Jäger Division and the 4th Jäger Division were equipped with this device .

At the height of the Cold War it was planned to set up three tank pioneer blocking companies in the corps, of which only the PzPiSperrKp 741 was used as a unit in the III. Corps was established. After only one activation, it was no longer used for mob exercises and was disbanded in the late 1980s.

Up to Army Structure IV, the independent tank engineer companies were subordinate to the brigades and the PiBtl./PzPiBtl to the divisions / corps of the field army.

In the course of the army structure reforms “New Heer / Heer2010” and “New Heer 2011”, all engineer battalions, heavy engineer battalions and engineer bridge battalions were disbanded or reclassified into tank engineer battalions. The structure of the individual PzPiBtl. is not homogeneous, but is structurally very different from one another; Thus the PzPiBtl.130 owns two companies of amphibious vehicles M3 and the 6./PzPiBtl.4 a Faltfestbrückenzug.

The independently operating tank engineer companies were gradually separated from the tank / tank grenadier brigades and dissolved in the army structures in 2010 and 2011. From the former 33 self-employed PzPiKp'en only the Panzerpionierkompanie 550 in Stetten akM remained until 2015.

Structure of an independent tank engineer company in the "New Army" army structure

organization

The Panzerpionierkompanien (PzPiKp) were assigned to the tank and tank grenadier battalions of a combat brigade until 2015 . The company commander of a PzPiKp is therefore subordinate to the brigade pioneer leader. Today the combat brigades are subordinate to tank engineer battalions (PzPiBtl); an exception is the Franco-German Brigade with the Armored Engineer Company 550 .

Troops

Active units in the army

The tank pioneer troop includes the following troop units in the army:

	designation	place	Association	comment
Battalions
	Armored Engineer Battalion 1	Holzminden	Armored Brigade 21
	Armored Engineer Battalion 4	arc	Armored Brigade 12
	130th Panzer Engineer Battalion	Minden	Tank Training Brigade 9	close cooperation with the 23 Amphibious Troop & 412 Troop (Volunteers) Royal Engineers of the British Army at the same location with the same equipment and tasks
	Panzer Engineer Battalion 701	Gera	Panzer Grenadier Brigade 37
	Panzer Engineer Battalion 803	Havelberg	Panzer Grenadier Brigade 41
Independent companies
	Armored Engineer Company 550	Stetten am kalten Markt	Franco-German Brigade

Structure of the Armored Engineer Battalion 1

1st company (supply and support company)
2nd Company (Panzerpionierkompanie (PzPiKp))
3rd Company (PzPiKp)
4th Company (Pioneer Machine Company (PiMaschKp))

Structure of the Armored Engineer Battalion 4

Staff with staff pull
1st Company / Panzer Pioneer Battalion 4 (supply and support company). The 1st Kp supports the battalion commander in managing PzPiBtl 4, operating command facilities such as command posts, and ensuring the battalion's logistical sustainability.
2nd Company / Panzerpionierbataillon 4 (Panzerpionierkompanie (PzPiKp)). Pioneer trains set up mine or wire barriers and carry out security tasks. The tank pioneer machine train has tracked vehicles and construction machinery. With the help of the bridge-laying armor, obstacles are overcome. The Dachs pioneer tank moves amounts of earth to dig trenches or to fill in enemy trenches. The ordnance defense trains clear up booby traps such as mines or IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and destroy them.
3rd Company / Panzerpionierbataillon 4 (Panzerpionierkompanie (PzPiKp)). The same structure as the 2nd Company, has light and heavy anti-tank trains.
6th Company / Heavy Engineer Battalion 901 (Engineer Machine Company). Formerly 4th Kp of the PzPiBtl 4th breakdown in KpFü, anti-war train, pioneer machine train with unarmored earth-moving machines such as excavators and wheel loaders, folding bridge train and drill train for water extraction.

Structure of the Tank Engineer Battalion 130

1st company (supply and support company)
2nd Company (Panzerpionierkompanie (PzPiKp))
3rd Company (Panzerpionierkompanie (PzPiKp))
4th company (supplementary troop part)
4th company PiBtl 901 (swimming bridge company M3)
5th company PiBtl 901 (swimming bridge company M3)

Structure of an independent tank engineer company

The crew strength of a PzPiKp usually consists of 260 soldiers and is divided into:

Company command group (KpFüGrp)
Anti-tank mine DM31 2nd generation

I. and II. Tank pioneer platoon (PzPiZg)
Pioneer machine / tank bridge train (PzPiMaschZg)
Mine deployment / ordnance platoon heavy (KpfmZg)
Mine deployment / ordnance train light (KpfmZg)
Mine laying train (PzPiZg + 2 mine laying train)
Repair group (InstGrp)
Supply group (VersGrp)

Large device

Transport tank Fuchs

Biber bridge-laying tank on a bridge he had previously laid himself

In order to be able to work together with the combat troops in combat, the tank pioneer units and associations are equipped with armored combat vehicles.

Transport tank Fuchs (TPz Fuchs)

Mine Laying System 85

Fennek (command and reconnaissance vehicle, pioneer troops)

Mine clearance tank Keiler (MiRPz Keiler)

Pionierpanzer 1 (AEV 1)

Pioneer tank badger (PiPz badger)

Bridge Laying Armored Biber (BrPz Biber)

Bridge Laying Armor Leguan (BrPz Leguan)

Various wheeled vehicles are available for transport tasks.

literature

HDv 100/100 leadership in battle

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Engineers, tank pioneers
^ Bundeswehr: ZDV 3/11 Combat Service of All Troops . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
↑ Bundeswehr: HDv 176/100 Overcoming and creating mine barriers by foreign land forces . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
↑ Bundeswehr: HDv 280/100 leadership of the pioneers . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
↑ Bundeswehr: HDv 282/200 Die Panzerpionierkompanie . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
↑ Bundeswehr: HDv 286/100 locks . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
^ Bundeswehr: Instructions for the use of the Keiler mine clearance tank . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
↑ Bundeswehr: Antra8 Panzerpionierkompanie . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
^ Bundeswehr: Training Aid Tactical . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
↑ Bundeswehr: ZDv 3/701 blocking and blowing up all troops . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
^ Classix: Biber bridge-laying tank is introduced into the Bundeswehr (1974) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .
↑ Keiler - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .
↑ Classix: The Army's New Mine Thrower (1988) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .
↑ Pioneer mission with mine clearance manager. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .
↑ Bundeswehr: HDv 285/110 locking and blowing up the pioneers . Ed .: Bundeswehr.
^ Classix: explosives against the enemy advance (1981) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 17, 2020 .
↑ Classix: The Army's New Mine Thrower (1988) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 19, 2020 .
↑ Bundeswehr: Pioneers of the Bundeswehr in action. Retrieved July 9, 2020 .
↑ Bundeswehr: Pioneers of the Bundeswehr in Lithuania with the Engineer Thunder 2017. Accessed on July 9, 2020 .
↑ ^a ^b Documents on German military history 1945-1990 . ISBN 978-3-96289-070-4 .
↑ ^a ^b Pioneers of the Bundeswehr 1955–1985 Chronik e. Branch of service . ISBN 3-7909-0259-4 .
↑ ^a ^b The structures and units of the German Army Part 1 1st Corps (1956-1995) . ISBN 978-3-946467-32-8 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c pioneer troop. Retrieved April 12, 2020 .
↑ History of the Army. Retrieved April 13, 2020 .
↑ Contemporary history in Hessen - data · facts · background: Extended search: LAGIS Hessen. Retrieved April 13, 2020 .
↑ German Army. Retrieved April 18, 2020 .
↑ Bundeswehr - Army - PzPiBtl 1
↑ Bundeswehr - Army - PzPiBtl 4
↑ Federal Ministry of Defense, Broad range of tasks: You can rely on tank pioneers, Bogen, July 1, 2008
↑ Bundeswehr - Army - PzPiBtl 130
^ Structure of a PzPiKp of Army Structure IV on Panzerbaer

[1] Engineers, tank pioneers

[2] Bundeswehr: ZDV 3/11 Combat Service of All Troops . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[3] Bundeswehr: HDv 176/100 Overcoming and creating mine barriers by foreign land forces . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[4] Bundeswehr: HDv 280/100 leadership of the pioneers . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[5] Bundeswehr: HDv 282/200 Die Panzerpionierkompanie . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[6] Bundeswehr: HDv 286/100 locks . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[7] Bundeswehr: Instructions for the use of the Keiler mine clearance tank . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[8] Bundeswehr: Antra8 Panzerpionierkompanie . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[9] Bundeswehr: Training Aid Tactical . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[10] Bundeswehr: ZDv 3/701 blocking and blowing up all troops . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[11] Classix: Biber bridge-laying tank is introduced into the Bundeswehr (1974) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .

[12] Keiler - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .

[13] Classix: The Army's New Mine Thrower (1988) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .

[14] Pioneer mission with mine clearance manager. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .

[15] Bundeswehr: HDv 285/110 locking and blowing up the pioneers . Ed .: Bundeswehr.

[16] Classix: explosives against the enemy advance (1981) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 17, 2020 .

[17] Classix: The Army's New Mine Thrower (1988) - Bundeswehr. Retrieved April 19, 2020 .

[18] Bundeswehr: Pioneers of the Bundeswehr in action. Retrieved July 9, 2020 .

[19] Bundeswehr: Pioneers of the Bundeswehr in Lithuania with the Engineer Thunder 2017. Accessed on July 9, 2020 .

[:0-20] Documents on German military history 1945-1990 . ISBN 978-3-96289-070-4 .

[:1-21] Pioneers of the Bundeswehr 1955–1985 Chronik e. Branch of service . ISBN 3-7909-0259-4 .

[:2-22] The structures and units of the German Army Part 1 1st Corps (1956-1995) . ISBN 978-3-946467-32-8 .

[:3-23] pioneer troop. Retrieved April 12, 2020 .

[24] History of the Army. Retrieved April 13, 2020 .

[25] Contemporary history in Hessen - data · facts · background: Extended search: LAGIS Hessen. Retrieved April 13, 2020 .

[26] German Army. Retrieved April 18, 2020 .

[27] Bundeswehr - Army - PzPiBtl 1

[28] Bundeswehr - Army - PzPiBtl 4

[29] Federal Ministry of Defense, Broad range of tasks: You can rely on tank pioneers, Bogen, July 1, 2008

[30] Bundeswehr - Army - PzPiBtl 130

[31] Structure of a PzPiKp of Army Structure IV on Panzerbaer