Obstacles
Categories:
OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS
Military Handbooks:
The Plattsburg Manual
The main object in placing obstacles in front of a defensive position is
to delay the enemy while he is under the defenders' fire, and thus make
his advance as difficult as possible. To accomplish this result they
must be so placed that the enemy must cross them. They must not
interfere with the defenders' view or fire; they must not be easily
destroyed by artillery fire; they must not afford concealment to the
enemy; and they must be so made that they will not obstruct a counter
attack on the part of the defenders. The present war has demonstrated
that the barb wire entanglement fulfils more of these requirements than
any other form of obstacle.--See Engineer Department's Manual on Field
Fortifications on how to construct obstacles.