Thanks Mr. T for the article!
I consider this to be an unusual phenomenon...we're seeing the return of trench warfare. Check out the pics below....
I really can't explain it.
This isn't even a difficult field problem and you would expect a good Marine just out of boot camp to be able to lead a crossing of such an obstacle.
So why is it suddenly popular again?
I can only imagine that it has to do with moderately mechanized units. In Western or advanced military forces engineers, bridging and obstacle clearing equipment is a given. In many of the world's forces they're an extravagance that can't be afforded.
So as primitive as it might seem, it does appear that this extremely old skool type of warfare is making a comeback.
NOTE: I made a couple of assumptions when I posted this. The first assumption was that people would understand that the term "trench warfare" was tongue in cheek and did not refer to WW1 battle type tactics but to what we're seeing in these pics. The second assumption was that even if people didn't get the "tongue in cheek" aspect of this then they would have enough sense to realize that I do know what actual trench warfare is. Seems I was wrong on both counts.
I consider this to be an unusual phenomenon...we're seeing the return of trench warfare. Check out the pics below....
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| Uzbek authorities have started digging trenches in the disputed areas along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz and Uzbek services report. |
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| Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region is digging a trench along its border with Syria to prevent the infiltration of militants and smuggling from the war-racked country, officials say. |
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Odessa region vidhorodytsya 450-kilometer "Transnistrian ditch." To block the movement of heavy military equipment and moving contraband goods on the Transnistrian segment of the Ukrainian-Moldovan border began work on engineering enhancement - to 450-km boundary proryyut trench width 3.5 meters and a depth of 2-3 meters.
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This isn't even a difficult field problem and you would expect a good Marine just out of boot camp to be able to lead a crossing of such an obstacle.
So why is it suddenly popular again?
I can only imagine that it has to do with moderately mechanized units. In Western or advanced military forces engineers, bridging and obstacle clearing equipment is a given. In many of the world's forces they're an extravagance that can't be afforded.
So as primitive as it might seem, it does appear that this extremely old skool type of warfare is making a comeback.
NOTE: I made a couple of assumptions when I posted this. The first assumption was that people would understand that the term "trench warfare" was tongue in cheek and did not refer to WW1 battle type tactics but to what we're seeing in these pics. The second assumption was that even if people didn't get the "tongue in cheek" aspect of this then they would have enough sense to realize that I do know what actual trench warfare is. Seems I was wrong on both counts.
It didn't take them long in WW1 to find out that you zig-zag / right-angle trenches so one shell burst doesn't take out a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteThese are not fighting positions but anti tank ditches, obstacles to hinder movement ,are thy realy effecitve that is another story ,they will not stop a crossing but they do delays things a bit
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILhixs8qVKI (this one is deceptive as anti tank ditches have mounds by design and cant be crossed by a tank without some help)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPfmlP6lMO4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PBtM-v4GWY
Thanks Mr. T.
DeleteThey're doing it because it is cheap. Without technical means to control the perimeter only thing the trenches can do is slowing one down for 20-30 min.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mentality thing. They have no concept of maneuver.
ReplyDeleteWhen Iraq was a war with Iran in the 80's, they both dug trenches. They dug in their tanks and acted like it was WWI. With mass infantry charges into machine guns and all. During Desert Storm, Iraq did it again against us (with disastrous results).
My theory is that if a nation is incapable of making a weapon system for itself, then they're not going to truly understand how it works, or should be used.
Trenches of a sort are still very much in fashion.
ReplyDeleteIts hard to imagine an ISAF base not surrounded by HESCO. Not a true "trench" but the concept is the same.
What does any sound infantry force do when its going to be sat in place for a while? It digs in, and what is a trench system really? Well, its just a set of fire pits connected by dug in walk ways.
These arent a serious obstacle to a combined arms division on the move, even an MEU has the organic engineering know how to cross that in a very short while. But they cant cross it clandestinely. A tripwire force can monitor the border very very easily if it has a trench to work with.
An irregular force (be that ISIS or SAS) cant cross it at all, well, they can climb down and back up, but they cant get their vehicles across.
Imagine if the US / Mexico Border had a 10ft wide 10ft deep trench. It wouldn't stop an adult male with a step ladder, but unless theres a car waiting for you on the other side, crossing is of little value.
On the larger picture, long term borders tend to follow visible features.
If there isnt a demarcated border, as is often the case, a trench dug deep into disputed territory can quickly become the accepted border.
They are just marking their border. This is nothing to do with trench warfare. Wire and posts cost money. It is hard to remove a trench from the landscape.
ReplyDeleteThey are effective for border enforcement. They are easily quickly constructed usually with a road on the enforcing side. Rag Tags medium trucks or toyota 4runners it will stop, professionals or very large groups of irregulars it will slow down. If patrolled regularly they increase odds of catching a enemy crossing in the act or at least making you aware that a crossing occurred, were (start your tracking), and a general idea of when. The breech can be seen patrolled easily from the air as well.
ReplyDeleteWe are not talking stopping first rate or even 2nd 3rd rate professional military we are talking about smugglers, irregulars, and insurgent types riding in toyotas and light/med trucks. A hundred guys in 20 4runners are not towing along off road HEMITT's with earth moving equipment at best they are jumping out with shovels and put the dirt back in the hole. That takes time leaves them vulnerable to discovery and takes away their surprise.