Stopping Tanks and Armored Vehicles

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8/26/20246 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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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.

Conclusion

In a world where threats can emerge rapidly, learning to build and deploy triple concertina wire defensive positions is a valuable skill that empowers civilians to play an active role in community defense. Whether in support of local police, military forces, or as part of a civilian-led defense effort, concertina wire serves as a versatile and effective tool in deterring hostile forces and protecting vital areas. With the right training and mindset, communities can enhance their resilience and preparedness against potential threats, ensuring that they are not merely passive bystanders but active participants in their own defense.