SOC Wire Obstacle Flashcards
- What is the difference between fixed and portable entanglements?
One is built in place and the other can be moved without complete disassembly
- In zones, how are lanes and gaps arranged
Staggered in a zig zag pattern
- How are entanglements classified
By use (tactical, protective, supplementary) depth (belts, bands, zones) and whether they are fixed or portable
- What are the three classifications of the use of entanglements
Tactical, Protective, and Supplementary
- How much buffer should there be from a protective entanglement and why
40-100 meters; In order to stay out of hand grenade distance
- Supplementary Wire =
(mean Perimeter) x (1.25) x (number of belts)
- Protective Wire =
(perimeter) x 1.10) x (number of belts)
- Tactical Wire = ?
(mean perimeter x (1.25) x (number of belts)
- What are some advantages of Barbed Steel Tape?
Size and weight
Less time consuming
Harder to breach
Can not be cut easily with wire cutters
- What are some disadvantaged of Barbed Steel Tape?
Breaking strength Dispenser Not recoverable to its original form More easily cut by shell fragments Can be cut with a bayonet
- What are the two types of double apron fence
4 and 2 Pace Double Apron
6 and 3 Pace Double Apron
- Which is better, double apron fence or triple strand concertina wire?
Triple strand concertina wire (materials weigh more but takes 1/2 the man hours)
What are wire obstacles?
Barbed wire obstacles are reinforcing obstacles designed to impede, slow, or stop the movement of foot troops, and in some cases, tracked and wheeled vehicles. The materials used in constructing barbed wire entanglements are relatively lightweight and inexpensive, considering the protection they afford. Barbed wire entanglements can be breached by fire but are built rapidly, repaired, and reinforced.
Requirements for barbed wire obstacles
Must be under friendly observation, covered by fire, and where practical protected by anti-personnel mines, trip flares, and warning devices
Concealed from enemy observation as far as practical by incorporating terrain features, ie reverse slopes, hedges, woods, and fence lines
Should always be erected in irregular and non-geometrical traces
Must be coordinated with other elements of the defense
Should always be deployed in depth
What does “depth” mean?
Belts, bands, and zones
What is a belt?
A belt is an entanglement one fence in depth
What is a band?
A band consists of two or more belts in depth, with no interval between them. The belts may be fences of the same type, or the band may be composed of two or more fences of different types
What is a zone?
A zone consists of two or more bands or belts in depth, with intervals between them
What are tactical entanglements?
Sited parallel to and along the friendly side of the final protective line
Used to break up enemy attack formations and to hold the enemy in areas covered by the most intense defense fire
Extend across the entire front of a position but are not necessarily continuous
What are protective entanglements?
Protective wire entanglements are located to prevent surprise assaults from points close to the defense area
Should remain at a distance of approximately 40-100 meters. This prevents the enemy from using grenades effectively against your position
What is a supplementary entanglement?
Supplementary wire is used in front of the FEBA to break up the exact pattern of tactical wire
To the rear of the FEBA it is used to connect and reinforce all the protective wire entanglements
Standard Barbed Wire
Standard Barbed wire Concertina a commercially manufactured barbed wire obstacle made of a roll of single strand, high strength, spring steel wire, with four point barbs at two inch intervals
Issued in reels containing 400 meters of wire, and weighing 90 lbs
Barbed Steel Tape
Issued in 50 meter reels weighing approximately 5.5 lbs. There are six reels to a card board carrying case
To be effective barbed steel tape must be twisted as it is installed
Three types of pickets
U shaped
Screw
Wood
(Trees and stumps can be used where location permits)
Screw pickets
Installed so that the eye is to the right of the picket, as seen from the friendly side, so that standard ties can be made easily
Less rigid than other types, but are desirable because they can be installed rapidly and silently
U shaped pickets
Driven with the hollow surface, or concave side facing the enemy because small arms fire will ricochet from the convex side
When installed the lower notch on the U-shaped and the bottom eye on the screw, should be four inches off the ground
Which direction are entanglements built?
From right to left facing the enemy
Construction in combat areas
Security around the work party
Silence
No working on the enemy side of the fence, unless absolutely necessary
Use of screw pickets, if available
Types of wire ties
Post Tie
Apron Tie
Top Eye Tie
Intermediate Eye Tie
How are wires tightened?
Racking
How tight should wires be?
Just taut enough to prevent them from being depressed easily by boards, mats, or similar objects that may be thrown across them
Field expedient wire obstacles
Spirals of loose wire Knife rest (1m high, 2-5m long) Trestle apron fence Trip wires Tangle foot
