Pioneer Platoon*
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The Mechanized Battlegroups have an armoured Combat Pioneer Company, that have two of these pioneer platoons, equiped with MT-LBvs for transportation.*
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Pioneers are a very important support to the Battlegroups in both attack and defence. The pioneer platoons are specialized in breaching enemy minefields under fire, as well as to lay minefields to bolster the defence of the Battlegroup, though this is a secondary mission.*
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The platoon has a huge stock of mines, explosives and breaching materiel to be used in any kind of mission, from constructing barriers to breaching of large scale minefields, usually in cooperation with armoured mine-clearing equipment. When the pioneers move to breach, they are usually heavily supported by the Battlegroup's attacking units, as well as artillery.*
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In defence the platoon can construct approximately one full defensive barrier, or few harrasment barriers (for deception/slowing down the enemy) a day. A barrier contains a number of minefields, abatis and obstacles, such as anti-tank ditches and blown up bridges. These barriers are constructed to multiply the terrain's defensive propertied and in cooperation with indirect fire they are used to prevent the enemy from overrunning the defences.*
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During attack the pioneers are used to breach enemy minefields and obstacles either using pipecharges (bangalores), that create a narrow path through the minefield that the infantry uses, or in cooperation with mine-clearing tanks that breach a hole for the attacking armoured vehicles.*