▁made ▁a ▁material ▁contribution ▁in ▁facil it ating ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Army ' s ▁drive ▁into ▁central ▁Germany . ▁ ▁Cap abilities ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁combat ▁engineer ▁batt alion ▁the ▁ 2 9 1 st ▁was ▁capable ▁of ▁providing ▁a ▁wide ▁variety ▁of ▁combat ▁support ▁services ▁essential ▁to ▁sust aining ▁operating ▁forces ▁in ▁the ▁the ater ▁of ▁war . ▁ ▁These ▁sp anned ▁such ▁diverse ▁activities ▁as ▁construction , ▁demol ition , ▁san itation , ▁map ▁production , ▁mine field ▁clear ing , ▁and ▁unit ▁intelligence . ▁ ▁Com bat ▁engineer ▁batt al ions ▁also ▁field ed ▁def ensive ▁. 3 0 ▁cal . ▁and ▁. 5 0 ▁cal . ▁machine ▁gun ▁squad s , ▁anti - t ank ▁ro cket ▁and ▁gr en ade ▁launch ers , ▁and ▁were ▁required ▁to ▁fight ▁as ▁inf antry ▁when ▁needed . ▁ ▁The ▁range ▁of ▁services ▁provided ▁included ▁but ▁was ▁not ▁limited ▁to : ▁ ▁Bridge ▁( mobile , ▁floating , ▁fixed ), ▁rail , ▁& ▁road ▁construction ▁and ▁maintenance ▁Con duct ing ▁river ▁cross ings ▁by ▁pont on / raft , ▁motor - power ed ▁assault ▁boats ▁Dem ol ition ▁Pla cing / de - arm ing ▁m un itions , ▁including ▁mines ▁Port ▁& ▁har bor ▁maintenance ▁and ▁re h abil itation , ▁including ▁beach head s : ▁L ay ing ▁roads ▁and ▁un loading / loading ▁supplies , ▁vehicles ▁& ▁personnel ▁from ▁transport ▁and ▁cargo ▁ships ▁Cam ou fl age ▁ ▁Water ▁supply ▁and ▁san itation ▁Map ▁production ▁Ve h