Why do people think entrenchment fortifications could be easily destroyed by artillery?
Almost every people seem to think that trenches and entrenchment fortifications are easy to destroy using artillery.They think you just hit the trenches with one shot and people in it will easily be slaughtered.
But trenches and entrenchment fortifications are designed to protect and if possible immune soldiers from artillery fire!Although soldiers could still get hit by artillery fire and killed or wounded trenches and entrenchment fortification really minimized casualties and prevented all the soldiers in the same spot from getting killed!
Besides in order for artillery to effectively destroy entrenchment fortifications they have submit continious fire that were known to take hours or even days to actually begin making damages to the trenches!And not to mention soldiers could always attempt to repair the entrenchment fortifications to its original state.
And there is still the big problem of having to watch out for enemy artillery or trying to get the artillery in firing range.
So why do people think entrenchment fortifications could be easily destroyed by artillery?Why do they picture trenches as defenses that could be blasted apart by one shot?
Using WWI technology – or even tech from WWII, trenches are pretty good for defense. However, in our military today, the ability to use precision, guided munitions renders the use of trenches totally useless.
It used to be that an artillery barrage had to last HOURS or DAYS (like your question brings up) to find a particular trench. With today’s technology, a single 155mm Howitzer can drop its round within FEET of where it was aimed on the FIRST SHOT. With GPS abilities and drone aircraft, even conventional rounds are devastatingly effective.
Which brings us to bunker-busting bombs. With only one round that can be fired from HUNDREDS of miles away, an entrenched/buried headquarters can be decimated.
Lastly, how are the trenches made? Trenches take days and weeks to make – for something that only takes moments to destroy…
Sorry, but trench warfare is a doctrine that has stagnated to the point of total obsolescence. We’ll bring back trenches when we bring back spears and clubs.
do you know what ww1 was like? just a big stalemate. with today’s tech. it would be easy to destroy a trench or at least everyone in it.
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The answer lies in the variety of rounds available to arty these days. White phosphorus rounds that can melt through armor, RAP rounds with extended range, the different fuses that can change the altitude that rounds detonate at. There are fuses that allow the round to detonate 30 feet above ground and deploy over a hundred anti personnel mines. Easily takes out a trench. Or at least it will make you want to NOT stay in the trench.
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USMC 3rd Battalion 11th Marine Regiment Lima Battery
2001-2005
RIP Chance Phelps
entrenchment fortifications are today nothing but a easy way to bury a bunch of blow up solder’s dead bodies.
The first Gulf War – 1991 – Iraq had heavy fortifications the US and other air forces found those stationary positions easy to knock out. Also artillery smashed up a bunch of other. Wire guided and IR guided missiles can pound the crap out of fortifications.
Hugh new bombs can blow up underground fortifications.
Also repairing things at night used to work but new high tech stuff can detect people under trees, clouds and at night leaving them vulnerable to death from above.
So in my humble opinion heavy fortifications are no longer extremely useful
References :
Using WWI technology – or even tech from WWII, trenches are pretty good for defense. However, in our military today, the ability to use precision, guided munitions renders the use of trenches totally useless.
It used to be that an artillery barrage had to last HOURS or DAYS (like your question brings up) to find a particular trench. With today’s technology, a single 155mm Howitzer can drop its round within FEET of where it was aimed on the FIRST SHOT. With GPS abilities and drone aircraft, even conventional rounds are devastatingly effective.
Which brings us to bunker-busting bombs. With only one round that can be fired from HUNDREDS of miles away, an entrenched/buried headquarters can be decimated.
Lastly, how are the trenches made? Trenches take days and weeks to make – for something that only takes moments to destroy…
Sorry, but trench warfare is a doctrine that has stagnated to the point of total obsolescence. We’ll bring back trenches when we bring back spears and clubs.
References :
Over 22 years of active military experience.
General Patton said:
"Fixed fortifications are monuments to man’s stupidity."
He was an Army officer for 36 years. I’m gonna trust his judgment.
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36 years as a successful battlefield commander.