text: ________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 10
  • Building fortifications, battle positions, and assembly areas.
  • Preparing and maintaining maneuver and supply routes.
  • Creating or improving existing obstacles.
  • Preparing decoys and deception positions.
  • Ensuring the integration of engineer support to IW.
  10-17. The type and scale of engineer support depends on the operational
  situation, enemy forces, and the conditions under which an OPFOR transitions
  to the defense. If the OPFOR does so during the course of the offense, support
  may have to begin with the protection of threatened axes by ODs and antitank
  reserves (ATRs) and the route work needed for regrouping.
  Preparation
  10-18. Engineer support for preparing an AOR for defensive operations
  consists of the following:
  • Conducting engineer reconnaissance of the enemy and terrain.
  • Preparing fortifications for protecting weapons, personnel, and equip-
  ment.
  • Preparing routes for counterattack forces.
  • Constructing obstacles (coordinated with the fire support plan and
  natural obstacles).
  • Preparing C3D measures in support of IW.
  • Maintaining the water supply.
  Conduct
  10-19. During defensive operations, engineer support consists of improving
  on and expanding the scope of all the above measures and undertaking new
  tasks as situations develop. Such tasks include clearing obstacles, crossing
  gaps, and eliminating the effects of NBC and precision weapons.
  SUPPORT TO INFORMATION WARFARE
  10-20. The OPFOR has responded at all organizational levels to the chal-
  lenge posed by enemy advances in sensors and weapons. A wide variety of
  engineer activities contribute to IW, particularly in support of C3D measures.
  This support involves three interrelated areas:
  • Deception (signature-enhancing measures).
  • Camouflage and concealment (signature-reduction measures).
  • Obscurants (measures used both to conceal real equipment and en-
  hance the effectiveness of decoy equipment).
  10-21. OPFOR combat engineer units are a high priority for deception efforts,
  since their composition and disposition on the battlefield are indicators of
  how and where the OPFOR expects to conduct its main offensive or defensive
  effort. Therefore, the OPFOR establishes deception positions and engineer
  obstacles, supported by decoy vehicles.