Re: Wire Obstacles

Jon wrote:
I see Monofilament as a case of setting up the dispenser, standing way
the hell back, pressing a button, and a whole mess of it shoots out.  I
can't think of how you'd work with it.	And don't forget that it's damn
near impossible to clear totally, so you can't use it on real estate
you plan to own after the war.

Actually the problem with MF is that it requires tension and force to
work.
Concentina Wire has tension and strength and sharpness.  The shapness is
the efficiency at which the wire reflects energy back (the rest going
into
compressing and stretching the wire).  The surface that the CW works
against must be firm (like a limb or a steel pole) so that it can easily
reflect the energy back and it must have a surface strength that is less
than the energy reflected back (like a limb but not like a steel pole).

Now then, the problem with MF is that is is sharp enough that it can cut
through a steel pole, but unless it is perfectly efficient, which it
won't
be because it is manufactured and there are bound to be imperfections,
some
of the energy is going to go back into the wire. The wire isn't very
thick
so you are relying on the strength between the molocules to hold it
together. this means that if you repeatedly beat on it it will break.
(You
might end up with a pile of neatly cut steel pipe, but eventually it
will
break.)

The best way to clear it would be to roll a big steam roller over it
that
had a sticky surface. Perhaps you could have a glue dispenser over the
roller as it went across. You could even use a hand pushed roller.
Alternatively you could just dig it up with a front end loader or
bulldozer
or apply fire to it (remember it is very thin and will melt and burn
easily) and render it a non-military obstacle. (hell, the first rain you
get will ruin a good portion of it and if there is wind involved and you
haven't anchored it properly there is probably a court martial
involved.)

OK, so it is easy to remove if you have the right equipment. The major
advantage it has is it is relatively invisible if laced into bushes and
underbrush. Talk about slowing an advance - just use the spray dispenser
to
cover your retreat.  I'd be scared shitless about going into any sort of
wooded cover if I even thought someone might have placed that wire in
there!