Sprs Daniel Wuelfert and Bradly Smith, 3CER, remove and take apart wire obstacles near Sabina Point. Photo by Pte John Wellfare, Army newspaper

Clear and secure

By Pte John Wellfare
ENGINEERS deployed on Croc 03 performed a combined infantry/combat-engineer role to clear and secure a Sea Point Of Disembarkation (SPOD).

Members of 3CER's Operational Support Squadron (OSS) took part in capturing Sabina Point on the eastern coast of the island of Legais, by providing both security and clearance of obstacles and mines.

OC OSS, Maj Steve McOwan, said the task was achieved by a joint force effort, incorporating a number of Army and Navy elements and a great deal of flexibility from the engineers.

"Our role currently as the landing force command element and comprising the bulk of the landing force is not typical work for 3CER," he said.

"Normally what would happen is that would be done with an infantry battalion and we would provide a squadron in support.

"The engineers had some substantial obstacles to clear at Sabina Point. There was extensive wire, star-piqueting, concrete obstacles, anti-tank mines and two large tank ditches, which they did in quite good time and I think performed rather well."

Coordinating the effort from further up the chain, XO 3CER Maj Warren Jolly, said 3CER had been very much part of a joint force headquarters throughout the task.

"We've had troops on the ground, particularly at the SPOD, working quite closely with Navy clearance divers and the commandos who actually opened up the beach landing site," he said.

"Engineers were able to inform the commandos where the mines were so when they came in they were able to avoid the areas that were mined or potentially mined.

"Commandos came in and set up OPs, told us the right time to come in, then the recon element - plus engineers - went in to clear the way.

"The recon element couldn't work around the area unless they had engineers in the area to clear the basic mines and obstacles initially.

"There's been a very important land mine clearance and when the beach teams came in there were engineers there to help remove the obstacles on the beach.

"The engineers came in and proved the route. They then actually cleared the route from the SPOD, so its been cleared of mines and obstacles in order for the forces to get in."

Once the SPOD had been secured 3CER was able to concentrate on clearing the remaining obstacles from the beach.

The engineers aided in the landing of a number of crucial units, such as 108 Fd Bty, which would later provide much-needed fire-support to the task force.

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