Sappers are combat engineers who specialize in field fortifications and explosives. They have evolved from trench builders in the Middle Ages to experts in mines and explosives. Modern sappers work with the military to create fortifications, neutralize bombs and mines, and construct explosive devices. They are usually attached to combat engineers and undergo extensive training.
An engineer is a combat engineer who specializes in field fortifications and/or explosives. Sappers are an important part of many modern armies and have been on the front lines of most global conflicts, thanks to their versatile skills and extensive training. Generally, being a sapper is extremely dangerous, as sappers typically form the first wave of invasions and may have to perform delicate and complex tasks under fire.
The use of sappers, together with the word “sapper”, originated in the Middle Ages, when the use of trenches in warfare became widespread for the first time. The use of trenches made castles much easier to defend, especially when the trenches zig-zagged through the surrounding area, allowing numerous troops to be concealed and making it more difficult for invaders to cross the terrain. Traces of sap, as these trenches were known, are still visible today around some European castles.
Over time, sappers have evolved, expanding their skills throughout fortifications, not just trenches and trenches. Sappers also became involved in the mines, due to the tendency of opposing forces to plant mines as they left the territory. Since sappers were often the first on a new site to clear it and prepare it for occupation, they had to learn to cope with mines and explosives in order to survive and make combat safer for other soldiers. Naturally, sappers also began to develop their own skills with explosives to use against the enemy.
Modern sappers work with other members of the military to create practical strong fortifications tailored to a specific area, they also neutralize bombs and mines, and construct practical explosive devices. An engineer who chooses to major in explosives generally works on an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team, studying explosives, various types of bombs, and ways to neutralize and safely handle explosive ordinance. Engineers can also work with bombs on their side that have become unstable or dangerous.
In armies with sappers, sappers are usually attached to combat engineers of various service branches. In some cases, sappers have their own insignia and combat badges, making them easy to identify, while in other cases, they are simply grouped with engineers in general. An engineer typically undergoes several weeks or months of combat engineering training, learning to work in a variety of environments and with an assortment of people.
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