Stopping Tanks and Armored Vehicles
This article discusses the step-by-step process of building such a barrier, how it works, and why it’s so effective in halting the advance of tanks.
GEAR & TOOLSSHTF & SECURITYHOME DEFENSEWAR
8/26/20248 min read
Building a Triple Concertina Fence to Stop Tanks and Armored Vehicles
A triple concertina fence is an effective and time-tested method of hindering and even immobilizing armored vehicles like tanks. While it is primarily a deterrent against foot soldiers, when properly constructed, a triple concertina fence can serve as a serious obstacle even to heavily armored vehicles. This article discusses the step-by-step process of building such a barrier, how it works, and why it’s so effective in halting the advance of tanks.
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Tanks and armored vehicles are designed to intimidate and dominate. Their thick steel hides make them impervious to most conventional attacks, and their mobility allows them to strike anywhere, anytime. But even the most advanced military hardware has vulnerabilities, and history is filled with examples of ordinary people using unconventional means to level the playing field. This is not about fantasy—it’s about understanding real physics in addition to real home defensive tactics.
One of the key factors to stopping any vehicle, no matter its armor, is mobility. Without it, a tank is nothing more than an immovable hunk of metal. Everyday items can be repurposed, can become powerful tools to disrupt that mobility. For example, obstacles—whether natural or improvised—can funnel vehicles into choke points, forcing them into positions where they’re easier to disable. Think about how water, mud, or even steep terrain can bog down a multi-ton machine. The tools to create such barriers are often lying around: tarps to redirect water, shovels to dig trenches, and even buckets of sand to destabilize surfaces.
Then there’s the Achilles’ heel of any armored vehicle: its tracks or wheels. Without these, even the most fearsome tank is just a metal box. Everyday tools like crowbars, ropes, or even chains can be used to jam these mechanisms. Stories from warzones tell of brave fighters wedging scrap metal or debris into tank treads to immobilize them. Some even used discarded cables to entangle wheels, halting convoys in their tracks.
Another underestimated vulnerability is visibility. Tanks rely heavily on optics and sensors for navigation and targeting. Disabling or obscuring these can render them blind and ineffective. Something as simple as paint, tar, or even a well-placed piece of cloth can block periscopes and cameras. Imagine a scenario where a few cans of spray paint in the hands of a prepared individual can disrupt the vision of a multi-million-dollar machine.
Of course, tanks also require fuel and air to operate. While attacking these systems requires caution, understanding them can provide strategic advantages. Everyday flammable liquids, properly applied, can threaten fuel lines. Air intakes, which are critical for engine operation, can be obstructed with items like foam or rags. These actions, while requiring a measure of proximity and risk, demonstrate the incredible potential of improvised tactics.
Even the environment itself can be an ally. Simple knowledge of urban layouts, dense forests, or even suburban streets can provide the advantage of cover and concealment. Everyday objects like cars, dumpsters, or even fallen trees can create barriers or traps. In an urban setting, a narrow alleyway can become a tactical choke point, turning a tank’s size and bulk into a liability.
Finally, we must never underestimate the psychological aspect of disaster planning. A single immobilized tank or vehicle can have an outsized impact on the morale of its crew and accompanying forces. The sight of a massive, supposedly invincible machine rendered useless by what appears to be the ingenuity of ordinary people sends a powerful message. This is where preparation, creativity, and a cool head under pressure shine.
The goal isn’t to inspire recklessness but to underscore the importance of resourcefulness in extreme situations. The capacity to adapt, using what’s around you, has been a hallmark of human survival for centuries. Whether facing natural disasters, social unrest, or the unthinkable—the rumble of approaching armor—it’s the knowledge of your environment and the tools within reach that will give you a fighting chance.
Materials Needed
T-Posts: These are steel posts driven into the ground to provide structural support for the fence.
Concertina Razor Wire: High-tensile wire coils with razor-sharp blades. You will need three layers of it to build the fence.
Galvanized Wire: Used to secure the concertina wire to the T-posts and to tie the layers together.
Construction Process
Site Preparation: Begin by selecting the area where you want to build the barrier. The terrain should be uneven or sloped if possible, as this adds an extra layer of difficulty for vehicles trying to breach it.
Install T-Posts: 1 ft deep. Drive the T-posts into the ground at regular intervals. The spacing should be close enough to provide robust support but far enough apart to allow the concertina wire to expand to its full diameter. Typically, posts should be spaced 5 to 6 feet apart.
Deploy the Bottom Layers of Concertina Wire: Unroll the first layer of concertina razor wire along the ground, stretching it between the T-posts. Secure the wire to each post using the galvanized wire. This bottom layer is crucial because it creates a base that entangles vehicle tracks and wheels. Repeat for second layer next to it.
Install the Top Layer: Next, place a second layer of concertina wire above the bottom two, attaching it to the T-posts and stabilizing it with additional wire. The third and top layer should be installed last, completing the structure with enough height and depth to deter even large vehicles.
Reinforce the Structure: Use additional galvanized wire to tie all three layers together, creating a unified barrier that’s difficult to dismantle. Make sure each layer is tightly secured to the T-posts and interconnected to maintain the structure’s integrity under pressure.
How the Barrier Works Against Armored Vehicles
While concertina razor wire is often associated with preventing foot traffic, its effectiveness against vehicles lies in its entanglement properties. When a tank or armored vehicle attempts to breach the fence, the sharp blades and high-tensile wires get caught in its suspension, wheels, and tracks.
Here’s a breakdown of how the fence stops or slows down armored vehicles:
Entanglement in Tracks and Suspension: As a tank drives over or through the concertina wire, the blades get wrapped around the tracks and bogie wheels. The wire then jams into suspension components, causing critical components to bind up. This entanglement can even lead to tracks derailing if the tank pushes forward too forcefully.
Wire Jamming and Blade Damage: The high-tensile strength of the razor wire ensures that even powerful engines cannot easily shred or break it. Instead, the wire stretches and tightens, digging deeper into the vehicle’s moving parts. The blades themselves may cause damage to hoses, sensors, and other delicate components within the suspension system.
Time-Consuming Repairs: Once a vehicle is ensnared, it can take hours to cut away the wire and make necessary repairs. Crews have to manually disentangle the razor wire, often in exposed and vulnerable positions. This delay provides defenders with a significant tactical advantage, offering ample time to respond or launch a counterattack.
Psychological Impact on the Crew: Knowing that they are immobilized and vulnerable, tank crews may become hesitant or demoralized. The stress of being stranded in a hostile environment while trying to perform delicate repairs under fire can lead to mistakes or hasty decisions that further weaken their position.
Strategic Deployment of the Triple Concertina Fence
For optimal effectiveness, the triple concertina fence should be combined with other obstacles, like anti-tank ditches, roadblocks, or natural terrain features. Placing the fence in strategic chokepoints, narrow passes, or defiles forces vehicles into the trap, making it harder for them to maneuver around it.
Additionally, placing the fence in front of heavily defended positions or kill zones maximizes its utility. As the tank crew struggles to clear the wire, they are sitting ducks for anti-armor weapons like RPGs, ATGMs, or even well-placed small arms fire targeting crew hatches.
The Strategic Value of Triple Concertina Wire Defensive Positions in Supporting Police and Military Against Hostile Threats
In an increasingly uncertain world, civilian preparedness has become more crucial than ever. Understanding how to establish defensive positions using concertina wire is a valuable skill that can significantly bolster the efforts of local police, military, and community defense groups in the face of a foreign invasion or any other hostile threat. Triple concertina wire barriers, when properly deployed, can provide critical advantages in deterring, delaying, and disrupting enemy advances.
What Is Triple Concertina Wire?
Triple concertina wire consists of three layers of high-tensile razor wire arranged in a defensive configuration. These barriers are typically made by deploying one layer on the ground, followed by two more layers stacked above it to create a formidable obstacle. The wire’s sharp blades and resilient structure make it effective at slowing down and entangling intruders—whether they are personnel or vehicles—while providing defenders with time to respond.
The Benefits of Concertina Wire for Civilian Defense
Easily Deployable and Scalable: Triple concertina wire can be rapidly deployed by civilians with basic training. Whether you're fortifying a neighborhood, blocking key access points, or reinforcing strategic positions, the wire’s simple yet effective design allows for quick setup. Unlike more complex fortifications, concertina wire requires minimal tools and materials, making it an accessible option in emergency scenarios.
Creating Delays and Disruption: One of the key roles of defensive barriers is to delay enemy movement. Concertina wire is excellent for this purpose. Whether it’s an invading force, a group of looters, or hostile paramilitary units, the wire can entangle and hinder foot soldiers, light vehicles, and even disrupt armored vehicles. By creating delays, you give local police, military, or community defense groups more time to organize and mount an effective response.
Enhancing Existing Defenses: In a scenario where police and military forces are stretched thin, concertina wire can be used to fortify critical infrastructure, roadblocks, and choke points. Adding layers of razor wire to barricades, fences, and entry control points can create complex obstacles that force enemies to slow down, expose themselves to counterattacks, or even abandon their advance entirely.
Force Multiplication for Civilians: Civilians trained in defensive techniques can become a force multiplier in times of crisis. Knowing how to deploy triple concertina wire adds an extra layer of capability to local defense efforts. By coordinating with police or military units, civilians can assist in building or maintaining defensive positions, allowing trained personnel to focus on more critical tasks like reconnaissance, communication, or direct engagement.
How Triple Concertina Wire Supports Strategic Defense
Controlling Access and Movement: Properly placed concertina wire can channel enemies into predefined kill zones or away from critical assets. By blocking easy access routes and funneling threats into areas where they are more vulnerable, concertina wire allows defenders to take advantage of natural terrain and prepared positions, maximizing the impact of available firepower.
Psychological Impact on Hostile Forces: The mere sight of triple concertina wire can have a strong psychological effect on adversaries. Its menacing appearance signals that an area is fortified and well-defended, potentially causing invaders to reconsider or hesitate. Hesitation and uncertainty among enemy forces create windows of opportunity for defenders to strike or reposition.
Supporting Area Denial Operations: Concertina wire is not only useful for fixed defensive positions but also for mobile area denial. If you need to quickly secure an area during an evolving situation, deploying triple concertina wire can prevent or slow enemy forces from gaining a foothold. This is especially relevant for defending key routes, bridges, and entry points that adversaries may target early in an invasion or hostile attack.
Practical Considerations for Setting Up Triple Concertina Wire Defenses
Site Selection: Identify areas where enemies are likely to approach or where defenses are needed most, such as roads, open fields, or natural choke points.
Layering and Depth: Triple concertina wire is most effective when layered with other obstacles. Use trenches, sandbags, and natural barriers in conjunction with the wire to create a multi-layered defense.
Coordination with Authorities: If civilian groups are assisting police or military forces, clear communication and coordination are essential. Defensive efforts should be integrated into a broader strategy to avoid gaps in coverage or unintentional friendly fire incidents.
Maintaining and Monitoring Defenses: Regular checks on the integrity of the wire and any supporting barriers are important to ensure they remain effective over time. If hostilities continue, there may be a need to repair or reinforce sections of the wire that have been breached or damaged.
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