Abatisses are used in war to keep the approaching enemy under fire for as long as possible.

Abatis, abattis, or abbattis (a French word meaning a heap of material thrown) is a term in field fortification for an obstacle formed of the branches of trees laid in a row, with the tops directed towards the enemy. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for The trees are usually interlaced or tied with wire. A wire is a single usually cylindrical, elongated string of drawn Metal. Abatis are used alone or in combination with wire entanglements and other obstacles. In the Military science of Fortification, wire obstacles are defensive obstacles made from Barbed wire, Barbed tape or Concertina wire

Although used since at least Roman Imperial times, abatis is rarely seen nowadays, having been largely replaced by wire obstacles. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial In the Military science of Fortification, wire obstacles are defensive obstacles made from Barbed wire, Barbed tape or Concertina wire However, it may be used as a replacement or supplement when barbed wire is in short supply. Barbed wire, also known as barb wire (and frequently in dialect form spelled bob or bobbed) is a type of fencing Wire constructed A form of giant abatis, using whole trees instead of branches, can be used as an improvised anti-tank obstacle. A tank is a tracked, Armoured fighting vehicle designed for Front-line combat which combines Operational mobility and tactical

An important weakness of abatis, in contrast to barbed wire, is that it can be destroyed by fire. Barbed wire, also known as barb wire (and frequently in dialect form spelled bob or bobbed) is a type of fencing Wire constructed Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. Also, if laced together with rope instead of wire, the rope can be very quickly destroyed by such fires, after which the abatis can be quickly pulled apart by grappling hooks thrown from a safe distance. A rope is a length of Fibers twisted or Braided together to improve strength for pulling and Connecting. A wire is a single usually cylindrical, elongated string of drawn Metal. In Grappling or Wrestling the term hook refers to an arm or leg position designed to help control an opponent

An important advantage is that an improvised abatis can be quickly formed in forested areas. This can be done by simply cutting down a row of trees so that they fall with their tops toward the enemy. An alternative is to place explosives so as to blow the trees down.

United States military symbol for an abatis

Though rarely used by modern conventional military units, abatises are still officially maintained in United States Army and Marine Corps training. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Current training instructs engineers or other constructors of such obstacles to fell trees, leaving a 1 or 2 meter stump, in such a manner as the trees fall interlocked pointing at a 45 degree angle towards the direction of approach of the enemy. Furthermore, it is recommended that the trees remain connected to the stumps and the length of roadway covered be at least 75 meters. US military maps record an abatis by use of an inverted "V" with a short line extending from it to the right. ^[1]

See also

Abatis improvised by Japanese troops during World War II

Giant abatis, made from entire trees, can make an effective anti-vehicle obstacle. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including This formation is often reached by use of explosives--note the splintered stumps.

External links

• Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier includes large and authentic reproduction of abatis used in the U. S. Civil War.

References

1. ^ United States Army and United States Marine Corps, FM 101-5-1/MCRP 5-2A Operational Terms and Graphics, 30 September 1997

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

This military base or fortification article is a stub. Etymology The word bases is first recorded in English language from c Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.