Wire Obstacles

ground obstacles of smooth or barbed wire. They are used to slow down the advance of enemy infantry and to restrict its maneuverability.

The first wire obstacles, which were wire nets, appeared in the second half of the 19th century. Barbed wire was employed for the first time in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902. In World War I barbed-wire obstacles became one of the chief antipersonnel obstacles. During the defense of Port Arthur of 1904, the Russian troops used electrified wire obstacles for the first time. Later, such obstacles were used by various armies.

At the present time, wire obstacles may be permanent, such as wire fences, nets, and wire-loop snares, or portable, such as wire chevaux-de-frise, hedgehogs, and concertina wire. Wire obstacles are installed ahead of time or during combat in combination with antitank obstacles and explosive antipersonnel obstacles.