Special Forces engineers are training to dig ditches and destroy tanks
The traditional approach to tank ditches isn’t going to work in today’s wars
BY JOSHUA SKOVLUND | PUBLISHED APR 15, 2024 8:06 PM EDT
The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) has trained Special Forces soldiers to conduct unconventional warfare for decades. During the War on Terror, fighting a counter-insurgency became the priority during training, while digging tank ditches and other Cold War-era tactics collected dust.
But the war in Ukraine has shown the world that World War II and Cold War-era tactics are not dead. The commanding general of SWCS, Brig. Gen. Guillaume Beaurpere, said they’ve been watching, taking notes, and implementing new training while bringing back the old.
“For example, the engineer sergeant is now being taught how to dig and form counter-mobility tank ditches. Then, after they build them, how to defeat and breach them,” Beaurpere said. “So that kind of thing is absolutely critical, and we realize that in large-scale conflict, that’s a skill that an [Special Forces engineer sergeant] is going to need.”
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/special-forces-engineers-tank-ditches/
