THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN ARMY 1914-18

FOR COLLECTORS OF ITS POSTAL ITEMS
by
JOHN DIXON-NUTTALL

CONTENTS

Chapter 7: Engineer Troops


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7.3 ENGINEER UNITS 1918

In late December 1917 / early January 1918, the pioneer battalions (PB) and sapper battalions (SB) then in being, were reformed into new SB, numbered 1-60, most of them with three Komp, with a few having four Komp. It was then usual for the Kmdo SB and Nr1 SKomp to be with the ID whose number was borne by them; eg, Kmdo SB1 and SKomp 1/1 was with 1 ID. The remaining SKomp of SB1-60 were normally deployed as Army or Corps troops, shown as Armee / Kps unm.
In addition there were Sappeurspezialbaone 61 and 62, the former being the existing SB61, the latter being the earlier SB18. SB61 was equipped with flame throwing equipment, and SB62 had gas producing material. Both these were deployed as and when required, on the Italian front, and were shown as Armee unm. in the order of battle.
The links between the pre-1918 PB and SB, and the 1918 type of SB are shown in the tables below:

Old PB NoDepotNew SB Nos
2Linz II18, 25, 50
3Pettau II30, 60
4Budapest2, 17
5Pozsony23, 33, 35
7Szeged II38, 51
8Klosterneuburg1, 47
9Melk5, 54
10Hainburg3, 52
15Marburg44, 55


Old SB NoDepotNew SB Nos
1Krakau12, 46, 49
2Krems4, 9, 43, 61
3Pettau I13, 28, 29
4Ujvidék7, 32, 40
5Komárom I31, 37
6Komárom II20, 27, 39
7Szeged I41, 42, 53
8Prag19, 48, 56
9Aussig6, 11, 26
10Przemysl10, 24, 58
11Sandomierz20, 22, 57
12Gyulafehérvar15, 16, 59
13EssegP>14, 34, 36
14Linz I8, 21, 45
18not known62

The following listing, taken from the published orders of battle, shows the disposition of the 1918 type SB with the field armies: only that for 15 Oct 18 is detailed, and even then some SKomp are not shown (they may not have existed then or may have been outside the field armies’ areas).

SB 1 (from former PB 8)

15 Jun 19181 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm.-2, 3 SKomp
Jul 19181 ID - SB1 or only 1 SKomp (?)
15 Oct 19181 ID - SB1 complete

SB 2 (from former PB 4)

15 Jun 19182 ID - 1 SKamp, Ost-Armee - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 19182 ID - 1 SKomp, XII Kps unm; - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 3 (from former PB 10)

15 Jun 1918EdwD - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 1918EdwD - half 1 SKomp, VI Kps unm. - 2 SKomp

SB 4 (from former SB 2)

15 Jun 19184 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 Skomp
15 Oct 19184 ID - 1 SKomp, XXVI Kps unm. 1 SKomp (?), 41 HID 2 SKomp,58 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 5 (from former PB 9)

15 Jun 19185 ID - 1 SKomp,Isa unm. - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 19185 ID - 1 SKomp, XXII Kps unm. - 2 SKomp

SB 6 (from former SB 9)

15 Jun 19186 ID - 1 SKomp, Q.Abt.16 (bei HGp Mackensen) - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 19186 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. 2 SKomp, 62 ID - 3 SKomp

SS 7 (from former SB 7)

15 Jun 19187 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 19187 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. with 52 ID - 2 SKomp, I Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 8 (from former SB 14)

15 Jun 1918KJD - 1, 11 Armee unm..with KJD - 2 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. 3 SKomp
15 Oct 1918KJD - 1,3 SKomp, 28 ID - 2 SKomp

SB 9 (from former SB 2)

15 Jun 18 1901 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 18 1901 SKomp, 51 HID - 2 SKomp, 50 ID - 3 SKomp

SS 10 (from former SB 10)

15 Jun 191810 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 1918II Kps unm. - 1 SKomp, 20 HID - 2 SKomp, 12 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 11 (from former SB 9)

15 Jun 191811 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 2 SKomp, EtGpKmdo Görz - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191811 ID - 1 SKomp, 50 ID - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 12 (from former SB 1)

15 Jun 191812 ID - 1 SKomp, Ost-Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191812 ID - 1 SKomp, XXIII Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 13 (from former SB 3)

15 Jun 191813 SchD - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191813 SchD - 1 SKomp,50 ID - 2 SKomp,11 HKD - 3 SKomp

SB 14 (from former SB 13)

15 Jun 191814 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191814 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 15 (from former SB 12)

15 Jun 1918I5 ID - 1 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm, 3 SKomp
1 Jul 1918Gp1 / XIX - 2.SKomp
15 Oct 191815 ID - 1 SKomp, 81 ID - 2 SKomp, VI Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 16 (from former SB 12)

15 Jun 191816 ID - 1 SKomp, 106 LstID - 2 5Komp
Sep 1918106 LstID - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 191827 ID - 1 SKomp, 106 LstID - 2 SKomp, 155 HID - 3 SKomp

SB 17 (from former PB 4)

15 Jun 191817 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191817 ID - 1 SKomp, 50 ID - 2,3 SKomp

SB 18 (from former PB 2)

15 Jun 191818 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 1918Gpl / XIX - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191818 ID - 1 SKomp, 51 HID - 2 SKomp, 81 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 19 (from former SB 8)

15 Jun 191819 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191819 ID - 1 SKomp, 7 ID - 2 SKomp,2 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 20 (from former SB 6 and SB 11)

15 Jun 191820 HID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191820 HID - 1,2 SKomp, XXII Kps unm.

SB 21 (from former SB 14)

15 Jun 191821 SchD - 1 SKomp, 10 Armee unm.
15 Oct 191821 SchD - 1 SKomp, 10 Armee unm.with 49 ID - 2 SKomp, 14 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 22 (from former SB 11)

15 Jun 191822 SchD - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 4 SKomp
15 Oct 191822 SchD - 1 SKomp, 27 ID - 2,3 SKomp, 25 ID - 4 SKomp

SS 23 (from former PB 5)

(note that there was no 23 ID at this time)

15 Jun 1918Isa unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191847 ID - 2 SKomp, 41 HID - 3 SKomp

SB 24 (from former SB 10)

15 Jun 191824 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191833 ID - 1 SKomp, 46 SchD - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 25 (from former PB 2)

15 Jun 191825 ID - 1 SKomp, Nebenetappe 14 (bei HGp Scholtz) - 2 Skomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 1918Ohrida Div bei HGp Scholtz - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 191825 ID - 1 SKomp, XI Kps2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 26 (from former SB 9)

15 Jun 191826 SchD - 1 SKomp, 70 HID - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191826 SchD - 1 SKomp, 70 HID - 2 SKomp, VI Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 27 (from former SB 6)

15 Jun 191827 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191827 ID - 1 SKomp, XXVI Kps unm. - 2 SKomp, XXI Kps unm. 3 SKomp

SB 28 (from former SB 3)

15 Jun 191828 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191828 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp

SS 29 (from former SB 3)<

15 Jun 191829 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191829 ID - 1,3 SKomp, 17 ID - 2 SKomp

SB 30 (from former PB 3)

15 Jun 191830 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191830 ID - 1 SKomp, Isa unm. - 2 SKomp,VI Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 31 (from former SB 5)

15 Jun 191831 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. with 159 IBrig - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191831 ID - 1,2 SKomp, XXI Kps.unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 32 (from former SB 4)

15 Jun 191832 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3(with 32 ID) SKomp
15 Oct 191832 ID - 1 SKomp, 40 HID - 3 SKomp

SB 33 (from former PB 5)

15 Jun 191833 ID - 1 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 191847 ID - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 191833 ID - 1 SKomp, 47 ID - 2 SI.Zomp, 11 Armee unn. with 52 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 34 (from former SB 13)

15 Jun 191834 ID - 1 SKomp, 64 HID - 2 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191850 ID - ?1 SKomp, 64 HID - ?2 SKomp, 3KD - 3 SKomp

SB 35 (from former PB 5)

15 Jun 191835 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
Jul 191835 ID - complete SB35 or e SKomp: the former is likely
15 Oct 191835 ID - SB35 complete

SB 36 (from former SB 13)

15 Jun 191836 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191836 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. with XIII Kps - 2 SKomp, 31 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 37 (from former SB 5)

15 Jun 191837 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. -2,3 SKomp
Sep 191837 HID - 1 SKomp
15 Oct 191837 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. with 52 ID - 2 Skomp, XXVI Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 38 (from former PB 7)

15 Jun 191838 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191838 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, XXIII Kps unm. 3 SKomp

SB 39 (from former SB 6)

15 Jun 191839 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191839 HID - 1 SKomp, 5 ID - 3 SKomp

SS 40 (from former SB 4)

15 Jun 191840 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. 3 SKomp
1 Jul 191847 ID 3 SKomp
15 0ct 191840 HID - 1 SKomp, VI Kps unm. - 2 SKomp, 47 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 41 (from former SB 7)

15 Jun 191841 HID - 1 SKomp, BHD unm.with XIX Kps - 2 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 1918Gpl / XIX - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191841 HID - 1 SKomp, 81 ID - 2,3 SKomp

SB 42 (from former SB 7)

15 Jun 191842 HID - 1 SKomp, Ost-Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191842 HID - 1 SKomp, 45 SchD - 2 SKomp

SB 43 (from former SB 2)

15 Jun 191843 SchD - 1 SKomp, EtGp Görz - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191850 ID - 3 SKomp, 51 HID - 2 SKomp

SB 44 (from former PB 15)

15 Jun 191844 SchD - 1 SKomp
1 Jul 1918Gpl / XIX - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 191844 SchD - 1 SKomp, 81 ID - 2 SKomp, AGp Albanien unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 45 (from former SB 15)

15 Jun 191845 SchD - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191845 SchD - 1 SKomp, 70 HID - 3 SKomp

SB 46 (from former SB 1)

15 Jun 191846 SchD - 1 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp,EtGpKmdo Görz - 3 SKomp.
15 Oct 191846 SchD - 1 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. with V Kps - 2 Skomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 47 (from former PB 8)

15 Jun 191847 ID - 1 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 191847 ID - 1 SKomp
15 Oct 191847 ID - 1 SKomp, VI Kps unm. with 18 ID - 3 SKomp, part with 5 ID, AGp Albanien - 2 SKomp

SB 48 (from former SB 8)

15 Jun 191848 ID - 1 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 2 (bei HGp Scholtz. Nebenetappe 14) - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 1918Gpl / XIX - 2 SKomp, 47 ID - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191848 ID - 1 SKomp, 81 ID - 2 SKomp, AGp Albanien unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 49 (from former SB 1)

15 Jun 191849 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191849 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 50 (from former PB 2)

15 Jun 191850 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191850 ID - 1 SKomp, VI Kps unm.with 53 ID - 2 Skomp, 11 Armee unm. with XIII Kps - 3 SKomp

SB 51 (from former PB 7)

15 Jun 191851 HID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. -3 SKomp
15 Oct 191851 HID - 1 SKomp, l Kps unm. - 2 SKomp,7 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 52 (from former PB 10)

15 Jun 191852 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2 Skomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191852 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 HKD - 2 SKomp, XIII Kps unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 53 (from former SB 7)

15 Jun 191853 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm.-- 2 SKomp, 6.Armee unm. - 3.SKomp
15 Oct 191853 ID - 1 SKomp, 48 ID - 2 SKomp, 64 HID - 3 SKomp

SB 54 (from former PB 9)

15 Jun 191854 SchD - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191854 SchD - 1 SKomp, 12 rtSchD - 2,3 SKomp

SB 55 (from former PB 15)

15 Jun 191855 ID - 1 SKomp, XIX Kps unm. - 2 SKomp, Ost-Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
1 Jul 191847 ID - 2 SKomp
15 Oct 1918I Kps unm. - 1 SKomp, AGp Albanien unm. - 2 SKomp, 2 KD - 3 SKomp

SB 56 (from former SB 8)

15 Jun 191856 SchD - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191856 SchD - 1 SKomp, 13 SchD - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp

SB 57 (from former SB 11)

15 Jun 191857 ID - 1 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 2,3 SKomp
15 Oct 191857 ID - 1 SKomp, 17 ID - 2 SKomp,74 HID - 3 SKomp

SB 58 (from former SB 10)

15 Jun 191858 ID - 1 SKomp, 6 Armee unm. 2 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191858 ID - 1 SKomp, 50 ID - 2 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. with V Kps - half 3 SKomp, 164 IBrig - half 3 SKomp

SB 59 (from former SB 12)

15 Jun 191859 ID - 1 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. - 2 SKomp, Isa unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 191859 ID - 1 SKomp, 10 Armee unm. with V Kps - 2 SKomp

SB 60 (from former PB 3)

15 Jun 191860 ID - 1 Skomp, Absch Riva - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. - 3 SKomp
15 Oct 1918Absch Riva - 2 SKomp, 11 Armee unm. with 6 ID - 3 SKomp

SB 61 (from former SB 61)

15 Jun 191811 Armee unm. - complete
15 Oct 1918not shown in order of battle

SB 61 (from former SB 18)

15 Jun 1918Isa unm. - complete
15 Oct 1918Isa unm. - 2,4 SKomp

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Last updated 22 Aug 2001