I request the professionals on this board to paint a spatial and temporal picture of some combat situations for the benefit of civilians like me. If the size of the units likely to be involved in these actions are outrageous, please correct those too:
1. A river crossing by an armored regiment (~ 55 tanks), assuming a span of 500 m and greater than fording depth:
- What will be the spatial dimensions of the bridgehead, including engineering and supply vehicles - 2 km x 2 km??
- How many crossing points at a minimum?
- How many hours will it take to cross, including bridge-laying?
- What defensive measures will be taken if they come under fire?
2. Minefield - breaching operations: Assuming a minefield of 5 km (width) x 1 km (depth) needs to be breached by a mechanized infantry company that is the lead element of an armored brigade level thrust, how would it proceed? My guess follows:
- Sappers' platoons identify approx. 5 gaps along the width of the minefield? How is this identification done?
- Mineclearing vehicles travel along those paths, paving the way for follow-on IFVs and jeeps?
- Recovery vehicles follow?
- How much time does all this take assuming no enemy artillery?
- What additional measures are needed to allow the crossing of the tank regiments coming up in the rear?
Thanks in advance.
1. A river crossing by an armored regiment (~ 55 tanks), assuming a span of 500 m and greater than fording depth:
- What will be the spatial dimensions of the bridgehead, including engineering and supply vehicles - 2 km x 2 km??
- How many crossing points at a minimum?
- How many hours will it take to cross, including bridge-laying?
- What defensive measures will be taken if they come under fire?
2. Minefield - breaching operations: Assuming a minefield of 5 km (width) x 1 km (depth) needs to be breached by a mechanized infantry company that is the lead element of an armored brigade level thrust, how would it proceed? My guess follows:
- Sappers' platoons identify approx. 5 gaps along the width of the minefield? How is this identification done?
- Mineclearing vehicles travel along those paths, paving the way for follow-on IFVs and jeeps?
- Recovery vehicles follow?
- How much time does all this take assuming no enemy artillery?
- What additional measures are needed to allow the crossing of the tank regiments coming up in the rear?
Thanks in advance.