Figure 8-21.--Laying out anchor pickets,
available and the first operation has moved far enough
ahead to avoid congestion. A platoon is normally
assigned to build a 984-foot section.
Phase One
Divide the working party, if not organized in three
squads, into three groups of approximately equal size.
One squad lays out the long pickets along the center line
of the fence at 4-pace intervals at the spots where they
are to be installed and with their points toward the
enemy. Another squad lays out the anchor pickets with
points toward the enemy and positioned 2 paces each
way from the center line and midway between the long
pickets (fig. 8-21). The spacing is readily checked with
Figure 8-20.--Double-apron fence.
along picket. The third squad installs all the pickets with
the help of the two other squads, as the latter finishes the
work of laying out the pickets. When installed, the lower
4- and 2-pace fence (fig. 8-20) is the better obstacle of
notch or bottom eye of the long pickets should be
the two and is the type more commonly used. In this
approximately 4 inches off the ground to make passage
fence, the center pickets are 4 paces apart and the anchor
difficult either over or under the bottom wires.
pickets are 2 paces from the line of the center pickets
and opposite the midpoint of the space between center
Phase Two
pickets. The 6- and 3-pace fence follows the same
pattern with pickets at 6- and 3-pace intervals. For this
fence, less material and construction time are required,
As the groups complete the first operation, they
but the obstacle effect is substantially reduced, because
return to the head of the fence and begin installing wire.
with the longer wire spans, it is easier to raise the lower
The order in which the wires are installed is shown in
wires and crawl over or under them. Except for picket
figure 8-20 and is further illustrated in figure 8-22. Take
spacing, the 4- and 2-pace and the 6- and 3-pace fences
care to avoid having any of the men cutoff between the
are identical. Only the 4- and 2-pace fence is discussed
fence and the enemy. Divide the men into two- or
in detail.
four-man groups and have them proceed to install the
wires in numerical order; that is, as soon as the men
A 984-foot section of either type of double-apron
installing one wire have moved away from the
fence is a platoon task normally requiring 1 1/2 hours,
beginning of the fence and are out of the way, the next
assuming 36 productive men per platoon. There are two
wire should be started. Installation is as follows:
operations in building a double-apron fence: (1) laying
out and installing pickets and (2) installing wire. The
1. The No. 1 wire is the diagonal wire on the enemy
first operation is nearly completed before starting the
side and is secured with a top-eye tie to all pickets. It is
second. The second operation is started as men become
important to keep this wire tight.
8-14