Figure 8-4.--Standard barbed wire.
Artillery and Reserve Area
Use wire entanglements in the outer protection areas
of howitzer positions. Similarly, protect heavier
weapons, reserve area shelters, and other installations in
the reserve area if justified by the situation.
Antipersonnel Obstacles
Figure 8-3.--Concertina roadblock.
Site barbed-wire entanglements, trip flares,
noisemakers, and antipersonnel mines to detect enemy
Lanes and Gaps
patrol action or infiltration at night; to prevent the enemy
from delivering a surprise attack from positions close to
Provide lanes and gaps for the passage of patrols,
the defenders; and to hold, fix, or delay the enemy in the
working parties, and attacking or counterattacking
most effective killing ground. Site such obstacles near
forces. When they are not in use, keep them closed with
enough to defensive positions for adequate surveillance
portable obstacles covered by fire. In barbed-wire
by the defenders by night and day and far enough away
zones, stagger lanes and gaps in a zigzag pattern.
to prevent the enemy from using hand grenades against
the defender from points just beyond the obstacles.
USES OF BARBED-WIRE
ENTANGLEMENTS
Roadblocks
Figure 8-3 shows a series of barbed wire concertinas
The uses of barbed-wire entanglements are listed
that will stop wheeled vehicles. Use a series of these
below.
blocks placed about 33 feet apart. Wire together the ends
of adjacent coils and lightly anchor the obstacle at the
sides of the road. Site the block to achieve surprise.
Outpost Area
Strengthening Natural Obstacles
Surround combat outposts with wire entanglements.
Site these entanglements carefully to serve as both
Deep rivers, canals, swamps, and cliffs are effective
protective and tactical wire, and cover them by
delaying obstacles to infantry. Thick hedgerows, fences,
small-arms fire. Supplement the wire obstacles with
and woods can slow troops to a lesser degree. You can
antipersonnel mines, warning devices, and booby traps.
improve both of them by lacing the obstacles with
barbed wire, by the addition of parts of standard fences
on one or both sides, or by entangling with loose wire.
Battle Position
STANDARD BARBED WIRE
In the battle area, surround each company defense
position with a wire entanglement that is connected
Standard barbed wire is a two-strand twisted No. 12
laterally across the front of the entanglements
steel wire with four-point barbs at 4-inch intervals
surrounding the other units in the position.
(fig. 8-4).
8-3