Construction and Engineering Forces

Summary

The Construction and Engineering Forces (Mongolian: барилга-инженерийн цэрэг), also known as the Corps of Engineers, is an engineering branch of the Mongolian Armed Forces that specializes in military construction and civil works. They also construct defensive positions, serve as sappers, and detect mines.[3] They have played a leading role in Armed Forces peacekeeping missions and have successfully participated in UN peacekeeping operations and joint international training exercises.[4]

Construction and Engineering Force of the Mongolian Armed Forces
Монгол Улсын Зэвсэгт хүчний
Барилга-инженерийн цэрэг
Emblem of the Construction and Engineering force
Founded1927; 97 years ago (1927) (Sapper and engineering unit)
1936; 88 years ago (1936) (Construction unit)
2020; 4 years ago (2020) (current form)
Country Mongolia
TypeEngineer
RoleLand warfare
Part of Mongolian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQUlaanbaatar
Anniversaries12 March (Construction troops Foundation Day)[1]
19 August (Engineering troops Foundation day)[2]
Engagements
Websitewww.gsmaf.gov.mn/bitsug
Commanders
Chief of the Directorate officeColonel Kh.Batsaikhan
Insignia
Flag

History edit

Imperial era edit

The origin and development of the engineering army dates back to the era of the Mongol Empire. Engineers in the Mongol Army utilized unconventional techniques to win battles against enemies. Genghis Khan frequently utilized Chinese and Muslim engineers during the Khwarezmian campaign and the Sieges of Fancheng and Xiangyang.

Communist era edit

At the end of 1927, the 1st Cavalry Corps was entrenched as the main fighting force of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, and in 1928, the first “Breakdown and Repair Sapper Branch” was established.[4] This was the first construction army to be established in the Mongolian People's Republic.[5] In 1947, the Military Construction Command was established, with more than 10 units. At its peak, there were 23 military construction units, totaling around 20,000 soldiers and 56,000 officers.[5] Beginning in 1963, large-scale construction work operated as a military affair under the responsibility of the Mongolian People's Army. On January 8, 1964, the Council of Ministers established the General Construction Military Agency under the Ministry of People's Military Affairs.[6] A large number of construction military units were established over the course of the decades that followed. Prior to the 1990s, military construction units contributed 70-80 percent of the country's construction.[7] Five construction units were involved in the construction of Erdenet, which was established in 1974.[5] Construction units were also responsible for developing the cities of Choibalsan and Darkhan. Between 1970 and 1990, the construction army commissioned 300-500 facilities a year.[5]

Modern era edit

Work to create a new construction and engineering army began in 2010, and throughout the decade, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff established six civil engineering units in the 2010s.[8] In October 2019, the Cabinet announced that it would make some amendments to the Law on the Armed Forces on the expansion of military construction and engineering units of the Armed Forces into an independent military branch.[9] In April 2020, the Minister of Defense, Nyamaagiin Enkhbold submitted a draft law on amendments to the Law on Armed Forces to the Speaker of the State Great Khural, providing for the creation of a "Civil Engineering Army" in the armed forces.[10]

Units edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Барилгын цэргийн 80 жилийн ой тохиож байна" [It is the 80th anniversary of the construction troops]. Montsame (in Mongolian). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  2. ^ ""ИНЖЕНЕРИЙН ЦЭРГИЙН ӨДӨР"-ИЙН БАЯРЫН МЭНД ХҮРГЭЕ!" [Congratulations for Engineering troops day]. 24barimt.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  3. ^ "Г.Сайханбаяр: Зэвсэгт хүчинд барилга-инженер, кибер аюулгүй байдлыг хангах шаардлага, нөхцөл бүрдсэн" [G.Saikhanbayar: There are requirements and conditions to ensure construction-engineering and cyber security in the Armed Forces]. Өдрийн сонин (in Mongolian). Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  4. ^ a b "Инженерийн цэргээс төрсөн эрхэм генералууд" [Distinguished generals born of the engineering army]. Онцгой байдлын ерөнхий газар (in Mongolian). 6 April 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  5. ^ a b c d "Х.Лхүнрэв: Барилгын цэрэг жилд 300-500 объект ашиглалтад оруулдаг байлаа". chingis.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Барилга-инженерийн цэргийн удирдах газрын дарга Д.Жаргалсайханд хууль хамаагүй гэж үү" [Doesn't the law matter to D.Jargalsaikhan, the head of the Military Construction and Engineering Administration?]. asu.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  7. ^ ""Барилга МН" ХХК". "Барилга МН" ХХК (in Mongolian). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Н.Энхболд: Зэвсэгт хүчинд кибер аюулгүй байдлын тусгай хүчний цэрэг нэмэгдлээ". Өдрийн сонин (in Mongolian). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Military construction unit to be expanded". MONTSAME News Agency. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  10. ^ ""Барилга-Инженерийн цэрэг" гэх төрлийн цэргийг байгуулна". times.mn (in Mongolian). 4 September 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ^ ""Монгол цэрэг-бүтээн байгуулалтад" хөтөлбөрийн хүрээнд Баянхонгор аймагт 40 айлын орон сууц ашиглалтанд орлоо" [Within the framework of the "Mongolian military-construction" program, apartments for 40 families were commissioned in Bayankhongor aimag] (in Mongolian). 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02.