Editing Wire obstacle (section)

{{Short description|Defensive obstacles made from barbed wire}}
[[File:Double apron.png|thumb|Double apron fence]]
[[File:Swiss Army - WEF 2015 (16133688558).jpg|thumb|A snow-covered obstacle with [[concertina wire]]]]

In the [[military science]] of [[fortification]], '''wire obstacles''' are defensive obstacles made from [[barbed wire]], [[barbed tape]] or [[concertina wire]]. They are designed to disrupt, delay and generally slow down an attacking enemy. During the time that the attackers are slowed by the wire obstacle (or possibly deliberately channelled into [[Kill zone|killing zone]]s, or both) they are easy to target with machine gun and artillery fire. Depending on the requirements and available resources, wire obstacles may range from a simple barbed wire [[fence]] in front of a defensive position, to elaborate patterns of fences, concertinas, "[[Dragon's teeth (fortification)|dragon's teeth]]" (which serve a similar purpose as wire obstacles, but for combat vehicles instead) and [[land mine|minefields]] (both anti-personnel and anti-armor) hundreds of metres thick.

One example is "low wire entanglement", which consists of irregularly placed stakes that have been driven into the ground with only some 15&nbsp;cm (six inches) showing. The barbed wire is then wrapped and tightened on to these. An enemy combatant running through the barrier, which is difficult to see, is apt to trip and get caught.