Editing Military engineering vehicle (section)

== Types ==
=== Civilian and militarized heavy equipment ===
[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - D9s Hold Drill Near Gaza Border (1).jpg|thumb|[[IDF Caterpillar D9]]R [[armored bulldozer]]s carry out [[Earthworks (engineering)|earthworks]]. Their heavy armor is developed and manufactured in [[Israel]] jointly by the [[Israel Defense Forces]] and Israeli defense industries.]]

[[Military engineering]] can employ a wide variety of [[Heavy equipment (construction)|heavy equipment]] in the same  ways to how this equipment is used outside the military. [[Bulldozer]]s, [[crane (machine)|crane]]s, [[grader]]s, [[excavator]]s, [[dump truck]]s, [[Loader (equipment)|loader]]s, and [[backhoe]]s all see extensive use by military engineers.

Military engineers may also use civilian heavy equipment which was modified for military applications. Typically, this involves adding armour for protection from battlefield hazards such as artillery, unexploded ordnance, mines, and small arms fire. Often this protection is provided by [[armour plate]]s and steel jackets. Some examples of armoured civilian heavy equipment are the [[IDF Caterpillar D9]], American D7 TPK, Canadian D6 [[Armored bulldozer|armoured bulldozer]], cranes, graders, excavators, and [[M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck]].

Militarized heavy equipment may also take on the form of traditional civilian equipment designed and built to unique military specifications. These vehicles typically sacrifice some depth of capability from civilian models in order to gain greater speed and independence from prime movers. Examples of this type of vehicle include high speed backhoes such as the Australian Army's High Mobility Engineering Vehicle (HMEV) from Thales or the Canadian Army's Multi-Purpose Engineer Vehicle (MPEV) from Arva.

''The main article for civilian heavy equipment is:'' [[Heavy equipment (construction)]]

=== Armoured engineering vehicle ===
[[File:Pionierpanzer Dachs (2008).jpg|thumb|''PionierPanzer Dachs'' AEV of the [[German Army]] (2008)]]
[[File:ILÜ 2012 - Panzer Keiler.jpg|alt=|thumb|A [[German Army|German army]] [[Rheinmetall]] [[Keiler (mine flail)|Keiler]]. It uses a heavy-duty rotor-powered mine flail, which causes mines it comes in contact with to safely detonate.]]

Typically based on the platform of a main battle tank, these vehicles go by different names depending upon the country of use or manufacture. In the US the term "combat engineer vehicle (CEV)" is used, in the UK the terms "[[Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers]] (AVRE)" or Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (ARRV)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/engineering/1494.aspx |title=Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV) - British Army Website |date=February 12, 2010 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212200928/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/engineering/1494.aspx |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> are used, while in Canada and other commonwealth nations the term "armoured engineer vehicle (AEV)" is used. There is no set template for what such a vehicle will look like, yet likely features include a large dozer blade or mine ploughs, a large caliber demolition cannon, augers, winches, excavator arms and cranes or lifting booms.

These vehicles are designed to directly conduct obstacle breaching operations and to conduct other earth-moving and engineering work on the battlefield. Good examples of this type of vehicle include the UK [[Trojan Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers|Trojan AVRE]], the Russian IMR, and the US [[M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle]]. Although the term "armoured engineer vehicle" is used specifically to describe these multi-purpose tank based engineering vehicles, that term is also used more generically in British and Commonwealth militaries to describe all heavy tank based engineering vehicles used in the support of mechanized forces. Thus, "armoured engineer vehicle" used generically would refer to AEV, AVLB, Assault Breachers, and so on.

=== Armoured earth mover ===
Lighter and less multi-functional than the CEVs or AEVs described above, these vehicles are designed to conduct earth-moving work on the battlefield and generally be anti-tank explosive proof. These vehicles have greater high speed mobility than traditional heavy equipment and are protected against the effects of blast and fragmentation. Good examples are the American [[M9 ACE]] and the UK [[FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor]].

=== Breaching vehicle ===
[[File:M1 Assault Breacher Vehicle.jpg|thumb|right|Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion launch a [[M58 MICLIC]] from an [[assault breacher vehicle]].]]
[[File:NDP2010 Trailblazer CMV 1.jpg|thumb|right|ST Engineering [[Bionix AFV#Variants|Bionix Trailblazer]] counter-mine vehicle. Note the high, stout appearance designed specifically to survive mine blasts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bionix AFV Armored Fighting Vehicle |url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=504 |website=www.militaryfactory.com}}</ref>]]

These vehicles are equipped with mechanical or other means for the breaching of man-made obstacles. Common types of breaching vehicles include mechanical [[Mine flail|flails]], mine plough vehicles, and mine roller vehicles. In some cases, these vehicles will also mount [[mine-clearing line charge]]s. Breaching vehicles may be either converted armoured fighting vehicles or purpose built vehicles. In larger militaries, converted AFV are likely to be used as ''assault breachers'' while the breached obstacle is still covered by enemy observation and fire, and then purpose built breaching vehicles will create additional lanes for following forces.

Good examples of breaching vehicles include the US M1150 [[assault breacher vehicle]], the UK [[Aardvark JSFU]], and the Singaporean [[Bionix AFV#Variants|Trailblazer]].

=== Bridging vehicles ===
[[File:M104 HAB.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Army [[M104 Wolverine]] heavy assault bridge]]
Several types of military bridging vehicles have been developed. An [[armoured vehicle-launched bridge]] (AVLB) is typically a modified tank hull converted to carry a bridge into battle in order to support crossing ditches, small waterways, or other gap obstacles.

Another type of bridging vehicle is the truck launched bridge. The Soviet TMM bridging truck could carry and launch a 10-meter bridge that could be daisy-chained with other TMM bridges to cross larger obstacles. More recent developments have seen the conversion of AVLB and truck launched bridge with launching systems that can be mounted on either tank or truck for bridges that are capable of supporting heavy main battle tanks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armedforces-int.com/article/leguan-system.html|title=The LEGUAN System|work=armedforces-int.com|access-date=11 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728110722/http://www.armedforces-int.com/article/leguan-system.html|archive-date=28 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Earlier examples of bridging vehicles include a type in which a converted tank hull is the bridge. On these vehicles, the hull deck comprises the main portion of the tread way while ramps extend from the front and rear of the vehicle to allow other vehicles to climb over the bridging vehicle and cross obstacles. An example of this type of armoured bridging vehicle was the [[Churchill Ark]] used in the Second World War.

=== Combat engineer section carriers ===
[[File:Nammer-Handasa -- Our-IDF-2018-IZE-073 (44815210772).jpg|thumb|[[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[Namer]] CEV is used both to carry section of sappers and to operate combat engineering devices.]]
[[File:Stryker ESV front q.jpg|thumb|right|[[M1132 engineer squad vehicle]] (ESV) issued to combat engineer squads in the US Army [[Stryker brigade combat team]]s]]

Another type of CELLs are armoured fighting vehicles which are used to transport [[sapper]]s ([[combat engineer]]s) and can be fitted with a [[bulldozer]]'s blade and other mine-breaching devices. They are often used as APCs because of their carrying ability and heavy protection. They are usually armed with [[machine gun]]s and grenade launchers and usually tracked to provide enough tractive force to push blades and rakes. Some examples are the U.S. [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113 APC]], [[IDF Puma]], [[Nagmachon]], Husky, and U.S. [[M1132 engineer support vehicle|M1132 ESV]] (a [[Stryker]] variant).

=== Military ferries and amphibious crossing vehicles ===
[[File:French army EFA DSC00859.jpg|thumb|This field-deployable apparatus, known as [[EFA (mobile bridge)|EFA]], used by the engineers of the [[French Army]], may either be used as a [[bridge]] (deployed in a series), or as a [[ferry]]]]

One of the major tasks of military engineering is crossing major rivers. Several military engineering vehicles have been developed in various nations to achieve this task. One of the more common types is the amphibious [[ferry]] such as the [[M3 Amphibious Rig]]. These vehicles are self-propelled on land, they can transform into raft type ferries when in the water, and often multiple vehicles can connect to form larger rafts or [[pontoon bridge|floating bridge]]s. Other types of military ferries, such as the Soviet ''[[PTS (amphibious vehicle)|Plavayushij Transportyor - Srednyj]]'', are able to load while still on land and transport other vehicles cross country and over water.

In addition to amphibious crossing vehicles, military engineers may also employ several types of boats. Military assault boats are small boats propelled by oars or an outboard motor and used to ferry dismounted infantry across water.