92ND ENGR CBT BN HVY UNIT HISTORY

File: 970203_sep96_decls29_0056.txt
Page: 0056
Total Pages: 60

Subject: 92ND ENGR CBT BN HVY UNIT HISTORY                               

Unit: XVIII CORPS 

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box  ID: BX000072

Folder Title: PROBLEM WITH NBC PB PILLS-2 COPIES                                                              

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         19












             units by type were being brought in country. The COSCOM in
             either Corps couldn't support a combat heavy engineer battalion
             with mission essential parts.

             RECOMMENDATION:   Ensure the COSCOMs have a system that provides
             adequate CL III and CL IX support to non-divisional engineer
             units. Also, bring double your PLL and setup a local purchase
             system.


             ISSUE: Capability of an engineer combat battalion (heavy) to
             provide direct support to a mech division during combat.

             DISCUSSION: The 92nd Engineer Battalion is an echelon   'above
             corps unit and under the E-Force concept another battalion was
             needed in the 7TH Corps area. The battalion was the likely
             candidate. The battalion was working on a project in the 7TH
             Corps area of operation. So, just before the war, the battalion
             was chopped to 7TH Corps and'placed 'in direct support of 3rd
             Armored Division. The battalion's primary mission involved
             building 125 miles of road to be sure.that fuel and ammunition
             could get forward. On D-Day, the battalion travelled behind the
             D-Rear but Just ahead of DISCOM.

                 The attack went faster and farther than anyone had expected
             and the battalion couldn't keep up with the division on the move.
             The heavy equipment transporters and commercial vehicles in a
             combat heavy engineer battalion are not designed for off road
             movement. Most of the commercial vehicles had problems with the
             sand and moving the battalion was one of the greatest challenges.
             The battalion deployed with a shortage of twenty one 916
             tractors. This impacted tremendously on the battalion's ability
             to move. The battalion did receive fifteen Host Nation rental
nd on them. They were also old and
             in a poor state of readiness. There wasn't spare tractor and
             trailers sitting around.    During the war, the battalion or the
             Group Headquarters, couldn't find additional movement support.
             Movements before the war, were done on a good neighbor basis.
             Units would provide the battalion with movement support it, the
             battalion could provide them with engineer support.

                 A combat heavy engineer battalion DS to a mech division
             during combat is appropriate. Given missions on an area basis,
             the battalion can tailor equipment to the mission, move forward,
             and accomplish the missions in an outstanding manner. The
             battalion did a superb Job building 125 miles of road during the
             war to keep fuel, ammunition, and POWs moving. The battalion
             supported the D-Rear and DISCOM on a mission basis. If the
             mission had required the battalion to move forward and support


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Document 60 f:/Week-48/BX000072/PROBLEM WITH NBC PB PILLS-2 COPIES/92nd engr cbt bn hvy unit history:01289718521931
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-48
Box ID = BX000072
Unit = XVIII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = PROBLEM WITH NBC PB PILLS-2 COPIES
Folder Seq # = 19
Subject = 92ND ENGR CBT BN HVY UNIT HISTORY
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 28-JAN-1997