Combat engineering vehicle
Combat engineering vehicles (CEVs) are armoured vehicles built for engineering works at the battlefield or for transportation of sappers.
Types of combat engineering vehicles
Modified tanks
Most of the CEVs are armoured fighting vehicles that may be based on a tank chassis and have special attachments in order to breach obstacles. Such attachment may include dozer blade, mine rollers, cranes etc. One example of engineering vehicles from this kind are bridgelaying tanks, which replace the turret with a segmented hydraulic bridge. Another good example is the American M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle, which is equiped with dozer blade and 165mm demolition gun.
Sappers' carriers
Another type of CEVs are armoured fighting vehicles which use as transportation to sappers (Combat engineer troops) and can be fitted with bulldozer's blade and other mine-breaching devices. They are often used as APCs because of their carrying ability and their heavy protection. The usually armed with machine guns and grenade launchers.
For example: IDF Puma, Nagmachon, Huskey HVGP, US Stryker Combat Engineering model.
CEVs may also including civilian heavy equipement which was modified in order to fit for military applications. In that case - the heavy vehicle must have some sort of protection, usually armour plates and steel jackets.
For example: the IDF Caterpillar D9 armoured bulldozer, American D7 TPK, cranes, graders, excavators, DEUCE.
Designated armored engineering vehicle
These are vehicles they specially designed as CEVs for the military. They have special engineering utilities as well as armor protection.
A good example for this kind of CEV is the American M9 ACE.
More information
See also
