Anti-tank trench

Men of the Volkssturm-militia digging an anti-tank ditch during the Battle of Berlin at the outskirts of the city (February 1945)

Anti-tank trenches, also called anti-tank ditches, are artificial and natural excavations dug into the ground, that aim to slow the advance of enemy tanks.[1][2] An anti-tank ditch has to be wide enough and deep enough, for a tank to get stuck in it, preventing the vehicle from crossing properly. Armies have been known to disguise anti-tank ditches[3] or place mines in them to more effectively disable enemy tanks.[4]

History

They were first used during World War I by German forces in an effort to protect their trenches against the newly developed British and French tanks.[3]

Construction

According to the United States Army, there are several methods by which combat engineers can dig an anti-tank ditch on the battlefield. Using only hand tools, a platoon of soldiers can dig a triangular-shaped ditch 100 feet (30 m) long, 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) deep in seven and a half hours; a trapezoidal-shaped ditch of similar dimensions would take fourteen hours. Equipping the platoon with a 3⁄4-cubic-yard (0.57 m3) power shovel cuts these digging times to four and a half hours and nine hours respectively. Alternatively, a squad of soldiers with a power auger and sufficient demolition charges can blast a ditch 100 yards (90 m) long, 30 feet (9 m) wide and 12 feet (3.7 m) deep in twelve hours.[5]

Counter techniques

Anti-tank trenches can be defeated in 2 key ways. The first way involves the creation of a temporary pathway on which the tank can cross.This can be through the use of a fascine.[6] Additionally, anti-tank ditches can also be crossed by building bridges over them or utilizing AVLB's.[7] The second way anti-tank ditches may be counter-acted is through their destruction. This can be the use of explosives on each side of the ditch, to make inclines suitable for the tank or the complete filling of the trench with dirt.[4]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "12. Antitank Obstacles and Road Blocks: Beach Obstacles: German Coastal Defenses, WWII Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. 15, June 15, 1943 (Lone Sentry)". www.lonesentry.com. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  2. ↑ Rottman, Gordon L. (2012-12-20). Soviet Field Fortifications 1941–45. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-061-3.
  3. 1 2 The Military Engineer. Society of American Military Engineers. 1919.
  4. 1 2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (1993-05-07). "FM-90-13-1 Combined Arms Breaching Operations" (PDF). Berlin Information Center for Trans-atlantic Security. Retrieved 2026-06-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ United States Department of the Army (1971). Engineers' Reference and Logistical Data. The Department. pp. 11–6.
  6. ↑ tm_admin (2017-11-15). "The Battle of Cambrai: The Fascine". The Tank Museum. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  7. ↑ "Wayback Machine". www.dtic.mil. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2026-06-03. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)


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