Clearing Minefields

[Mad Russian]

This has been a problem for a long time.

Take this vehicle for example.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Tazak]

Really, I thought the brits had solved clearing minefields

[gexmex]

ORIGINAL: Tazak

Really, I thought the brits had solved clearing minefields

The USMC uses something similar http://youtu.be/4Wob2ryCfhc

[demiller]

I have to admit, that is pretty cool. I had no idea those existed.

[Combatengineerjrgmail]

US MICLIC was around in the mid 1980's. Only clear 100m and in actuality around 50-70m. Even the newer British system that clears 180-200 meters suffers from the same problem that ALL of them did. How do you get your system to with in launching distance? Why is it difficult, to answer that you need to understand just why I, as the defending Engineer, but in a mine field and where I but it in.

1. minefields are ALWAYS laid where they can be covered by friendly fire, othe wise they serve no purpose but wasting time and material.

2. What do I USE minefields for? Three goals, TURN, FIX and BLOCK. I want to TURN your formation in order to have you move you where I want you to go. I do that by placing just enough mines along alternative routes that you, because you emphasize SPEED of the advance, Will choose the route that you don't have to clear... When I FIX your formation I make the terrain 'sticky'. I have a series of obstacles and mines that slow down your formations, you have to breach or go around them. When you go around them your flanks are now exposed to my main fire systems. When you breach you move slowly. I do this in a location that creates a kill sack, we know what those are.... BLOCK, the hardest and least used goal. Working with the defending forces I'm helping them create a No Penetration Line, i.e the commander draws a line on a map and states that the Bad guy stops here or we die trying. Large complex obstacle that take lots of time and material. At the end the Engineer usually joins in the actual defense of the line, something we usually don't do. Usually we moved to the next location that the commander wanted us to prepare.

Now think about those mine clearing systems, just how easy do you think it will be to get it with in range of my minefields?

He steps off his preachers stand....

[Mad Russian]

The dust cloud looked like a tactical nuke had been set off.

Good Hunting.

MR

[hazmaxed]

ORIGINAL: combatengineerjr

Now think about those mine clearing systems, just how easy do you think it will be to get it with in range of my minefields?

A platoon of MBTs equipped with TWMPs (track-width mine plows) covered by lots and lots of smoke. And it still isn't easy. I've done that dance in training at the NTC.