Engineer Light Ponton Company

World War II recruiting poster for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

An Engineer Light Ponton Company was a combat engineer company of the United States Army that served with U.S. Army ground forces during World War II.[1] It was primarily a highly mobile pontoon bridge construction unit, though it also provided both M2 assault boats and a selection of infantry support bridging, ferries, and rafts.[1]

Its equipment included:

Mission

a. The combat engineer unit was organized and trained to transport and maintain its stream-crossing equipage; to construct floating bridges and rafts with this equipage; to guard and maintain completed bridges; to regulate traffic thereon; and to dismantle bridges and rafts.
b. The construction of floating bridges and rafts was a function of light ponton companies assisted by general engineer troops.
c. The other stream-crossing equipment listed below normally is turned over to divisional or corps engineer units for use in initial stages of the river crossing. Operations during that part of the offensive situation are fully discussed in U.S. Army Field Manual FM 5-6.
d. Attachment of light ponton companies to divisions engaged in stream-crossing operations was made in accordance with the tactical situation.

Organization

The light ponton company consisted of a headquarters platoon, two bridge platoons, and a light equipage platoon.

Headquarters Platoon

This platoon consisted of company headquarters and a service and repair section.
a. Company headquarters-Officer personnel consisted of the company commander and an administrative officer. Enlisted personnel handle routine administration, mess, and supply functions for the company.
b. Service and repair section.-This section was commanded by a lieutenant. Personnel includes enlisted specialists for maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and heavy mechanical equipment, and operators of mechanized equipment and vehicles.

Bridge Platoon

The bridge platoon consisted of platoon headquarters and a ponton section.
a. Platoon headquarters-The platoon headquarters supervised and controled activities of the ponton section, and was responsible for installation, maintenance, and operation of its field telephone equipment.
b. Ponton section.-The ponton section transports one unit of bridge equipage.

Light Equipage Platoon

This platoon consisted of platoon headquarters, an assault boat section, a raft section, and a footbridge section.
a. Platoon headquarters.-The platoon headquarters was responsible for the care and safe transportation of the equipage assigned to the platoon.
b. Assault boat section.-This section cared for and transported M2 assault boats.
c. Raft section.-This section cared for and transported the infantry support rafts and ferry sets.
d. Footbridge section.-This section cared for and transported the unit of footbridge.

Equipment

a. The company was equipped with basic engineer tool sets.
b. Mechanical equipment includes a motorized air compressor, a truck-mounted crane, and tractor-mounted angledozers.
c. Stream-crossing equipment, also stocked in engineer depots, is as follows:
(1) M3 pneumatic bridge equipage, two units; or two units of M1938 10-ton ponton bridge equipage.
(2) Footbridge, M1938, one unit.
(3) Infantry support raft, twelve units.
(4) Assault boats M2, seventy.
(5) Infantry support ferry, four sets.
d. Signal equipment includes radios and telephones.

Transportation

The light ponton company had sufficient organic transportation for simultaneous movement of all personnel, equipment, and supplies.

Armament

Individual weapons included carbine and pistol. Supporting weapons included caliber .30 heavy machine guns and caliber .50 machine guns.

Training

a. Individual basic and unit training was in accordance with principles stated in chapter 4.
b. Unit training included:
(1) Care and operation of transportation and heavy equipment assigned to the company,
(2) Nomenclature, use, repair, and maintenance of bridge equipage and light stream-crossing equipage.
(a) Training in use of pontoon equipage includes employment of outboard motors.
(b) Training in repair of equipage is confined to repairs readily accomplished.
(3) Frequent drills and field training in safe and rapid transportation of bridge equipage to crossing sites; in unloading and launching of equipage; in construction of bridges and rafts; in operational maintenance, care, guarding, and dismantling of bridges and rafts; and in loading of component parts on company vehicles.
(a) Special effort was made in training to keep the bridge clear of drift and other floating objects, especial attention being given to anchor cables.
(b) Training in guarding bridges is of vital importance to insure uninterrupted flow of traffic.
(4) Training all personnel in road movements including-
(a) Organization of column.
(b) Movements under cover of darkness.
(c) Secrecy and discipline.
(d) Security.
(e) Other fundamental principles prescribed in FM 25-10.
(5) Training in concealment of vehicles.
c. Combat training included the use of individual and supporting weapons for local security. Proficient gun crews were be developed for employment of machine guns under defensive combat conditions.

Duties

a. The light ponton company normally performed the following duties when in bivouac:
(1) Maintained local security against hostile air and ground attacks.
(2) Took camouflage measures for concealment of transport and equipment.
(3) Maintained transport and equipment ready for employment at all times.
(4) Periodically tested equipment to eliminate parts which deteriorated.
(5) Reinforced engineer depot personnel.
(6) Maintained or repaired roads near the ponton park.
(7) Assisted nearby engineer units in performance of their duties.

b. The light ponton company normally performed the following duties when not in bivouac:
(1) Route reconnaissance, and reconnaissance for ponton bridge crossings.
(2) Moved its equipment forward to the site or sites of stream crossings, allowing ample time for moving out of bivouac and for approach march.
(3) Unloaded and concealed vehicles.
(4) Constructed bridges and rafts using M3 pneumatic or M1938 ponton bridge equipage, and infantry support rafts.
(5) Maintained and repaired floating bridges and rafts.
(6) Operated raft ferries.
(7) Guarded completed bridge.
(8) Regulated traffic on bridge.
(9) Dismantled and loaded bridge equipage on trucks and trailers.
(10) Provided for hasty demolition of bridge.

Further detail on the operations of the light ponton company were discussed in U.S. Army Field Manual FM 5-6, and technical details in Technical Manual TM 5-270, 5-271, 5-273, 5-275, and FM 5 10.

Typical services

Engineers ferried infantry and special forces troops in craft such as this M2 assault boat

These included, but were not limited to:[2]

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 War Department Engineer Field Manual FM-5-5, Engineer Troops 11 October, 1943: Engineer Light Ponton Company
    2. ↑ What Did Combat Engineers Do?