[REF] Field Fortifications & Self Concealment

[BenM]

I decided to write this Article because I know that we're planning to put together quite a few "in the field" displays this year (Peak Rail, Victory Show, etc.) so I thought that it might be useful to add that little extra degree of realism to the event.

Field Fortifications

Concealment is of prime importance, especially from aerial observations. The spoil from excavations should be used in order to form a parapet, which in turn should carefully be camouflaged with turf, sod and leaves. A so-called "X-frame" can be used over foxholes to provide additional support for camouflage; this may be constructed from branching found nearby. Sufficient space should be left to allow for shooting and easy escape from the excavation, as illustrated below:



Natural protections such as ditches and holes in the ground should always be used for protection by soldiers whenever halted. If time permits, prone shelters should be prepared.

Any gun emplacements accompanying a Squad or similar sized unit should be camouflaged with a granished net or flat top Machine Gun net.

Emplacements for Weapons:



(1) Open Shallow Type.
(2) Open Standing Type.
(3) Foxhole Type.

[BenM]

Hasty Field Fortifications

Individual Prone Shelter Or Slit Trench:



Whenever troops are halted anywhere near to the enemy, they begin at once to give themselves and their weapons individual protection. If it's a short halt, they should use the natural protection of the ground - bumps, ditches, shell holes, depressions of any kind. But if it's a longer halt (but less than six hours, in an assembly area before an attack), then each man digs himself an individual prone shelter. This takes only a few minutes. Such a shelter gives a soldier two advantages - a chance to rest and reasonable protection from bomb, mortar and shell fragments and small-arms fire. But this kind of foxhole won't protect a soldier against a tank attack.

Standing Type Foxhole:



If an outfit is to halt for more than five or six hours, it goes to work at once on standing-type one-man foxholes. These will protect a soldier against all bombs and shells (except direct hits), bomb and shell fragments and small-arms fire. And if the hole is made deep enough to leave a clearance of two feet or more between the soldier and ground surface, when crouched down in the bottom, he will also have protection against the average light to medium tank. When commencing digging, the sod should be put to one side. The rest of the dirt is to be piled irregularly around the edges of the hole. And then, when the digging has been completed, the sod can then be used to cover the rest of the spoil.

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I hope that the above will be of some use to you!

Cheers,
Ben.

[Johnny_Costino]

Brilliant, when was the last time we saw the remnants of a genuine standing-type foxhole?!!!

[rizla]

erm gavins hole near iron mike???????

riz

[Johnny_Costino]

That was more like crouching!!!!

[rizla]

HE WAS VERY SHORT,RIZ

[samharris45]

Spot on Ben!

[nigel116]

ive got a book somewhere with the formations and digging in pics in it i will find it out and bring it to peak rail if anyone wants to look