Army SAPPER School

itsbob

I bowl overhand
No. Surviving the Cut

What the hell is the purpose of a Sapper?

Mythbusters is what was on discovery here (on direcTV channel 278)

Sapper is just a special name for a combat engineer. In the days of self esteem and everyone feeling special they came up with a Sapper School.

Combat Engineer is not a real glorious job and Sapper does sound better.
 

DoWhat

Deplorable
PREMO Member
Mythbusters is what was on discovery here (on direcTV channel 278)

Sapper is just a special name for a combat engineer. In the days of self esteem and everyone feeling special they came up with a Sapper School.

Combat Engineer is not a real glorious job and Sapper does sound better.

What is their purpose?
 

DoWhat

Deplorable
PREMO Member
Tabs: (on the sleeve)

SPECIAL FORCES

RANGER

SAPPER

Budget cuts, get rid of SAPPER school.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
Oxford say mostly demolition. Making it harder for the enemy to advance. Mine fields, obstacles, destroying roads and bridges but the flip side is to prevent the enemy.from doing the same. Neutralizing enemy.mine fields, destroying their obstacles preventing them from destroying roads and bridges.

Sapper in WWII would have used Bangalore torpedoes to cross wire obstacles or satchel charges to take out a bunker. these days we tend to go with.more stand off weapons though we do still have Bangalore torpedoes.

Combat Engineer can build fighting positions for tanks to taking out bridge abutments but Sapper would be more along the line of smaller explosives and mines, and going in and clearing rooms/buildings of boobytraps and explosives.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
Tabs: (on the sleeve)

SPECIAL FORCES

RANGER

SAPPER

Budget cuts, get rid of SAPPER school.

Sapper is something fairly new. Back in the day there was also a RECONDO tab, and cool hats, but the finance clerks felt not as special so they all get to wear a beret and look special.
 

SoMdDude

New Member
Sapper is not fairly new at all...they have been around since at least WWII

Remember is Saving Private Ryan I think..where they made "sticky bombs" and stuck them to the side of the Panzers in the tracks? BOOM! immobilized
 

TWL

Kernel panic: Aiee.......
Oxford say mostly demolition. Making it harder for the enemy to advance. Mine fields, obstacles, destroying roads and bridges but the flip side is to prevent the enemy.from doing the same. Neutralizing enemy.mine fields, destroying their obstacles preventing them from destroying roads and bridges.

Sapper in WWII would have used Bangalore torpedoes to cross wire obstacles or satchel charges to take out a bunker. these days we tend to go with.more stand off weapons though we do still have Bangalore torpedoes.

Combat Engineer can build fighting positions for tanks to taking out bridge abutments but Sapper would be more along the line of smaller explosives and mines, and going in and clearing rooms/buildings of boobytraps and explosives.
A combat Engineer is a Sapper. I should know, I am one. (B Co 31st Engr Bn Ft. Leonardwood, MO, C Co 16th Engr Bn Erlangen, DE(deployed to SWA in 1993), B Co 82nd Engr Bn Bamberg, DE(deployed to BiH in 1997)).
A Combat Engineer is the most versatile combat soldier in the Army. Not only do we have a primary duty which was posted above(including bridge building, road building and runway building), we are also take on many Infantry tasks. Attack, patrol, defense, escort, etc.
Our primary mission in SWA was to provide security for several Patroit sites.
In 1995, my former unit deployed to Croatia/BiH and built the bridge across the Sava River the Task Force used to cross into BiH. It was the longest floating assault bridge in military history.
When I deployed to BiH in 1997, our mission was to supervise and support the local military in removal of the millions of mines that were laid in Bosnian War.

And yes, we still use Bangalores. Even make field expedient ones from pickets and C4.

First in, Last out. Steel Sappers!
 
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TWL

Kernel panic: Aiee.......

When the 16th redeployed to Germany from SWA in Dec '93, Ferris Barracks in Erlangen closed and we moved to Warner Barracks in Bamberg. In '95, the 16th was re-flagged as the 54th and I transferred to the 82nd, also in Bamberg.

LOL. on the link to global security, there are three pix of DFACs. The first on was the one for the 16th. The 2nd one was for the 82nd. I believe the 3rd one was for 1/6 FA.
 
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Terrid76

New Member
Not only are sappers Combat Engineers who can build just about anything and blow just about anything up, their are airborne units of them who can jump in with their equipment, build an air strip in about 48 hours and have air craft and non-airborne troops landing. Ask them how to move an obsticle or to build a bridge, they can get it done. They'll also clear the land mines or lay them.

The ones at Ft Bragg train with Special Forces and helped build the Ranger school.
 

DoWhat

Deplorable
PREMO Member
Not only are sappers Combat Engineers who can build just about anything and blow just about anything up, their are airborne units of them who can jump in with their equipment, build an air strip in about 48 hours and have air craft and non-airborne troops landing. Ask them how to move an obsticle or to build a bridge, they can get it done. They'll also clear the land mines or lay them.

The ones at Ft Bragg train with Special Forces and helped build the Ranger school.
Thank you Tigger, now go and cook TWL a nice meals.
 
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