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Adefensive fighting position is a type ofearthwork constructed in a military context, generally large enough to accommodate anything from one soldier to afire team (or similar sized unit).
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Tobruk type positions are named after the system of defensive positions constructed, initially, by theItalian Army atTobruk, Libya. AfterTobruk fell to the Allies in January 1941, the existing positions were modified and significantly expanded by theAustralian Army which, along with other Allied forces, reused them in theSiege of Tobruk.
Afoxhole is one type of defensive strategic position. It is a "small pit used for cover, usually for one or two personnel, and so constructed that the occupants can effectively fire from it".[1]
It is known more commonly withinUnited States Army slang as a "fighting position" or as a "ranger grave". It is known as a "fighting hole" in theUnited States Marine Corps, a "gun-pit" inAustralian Army terminology, and a "fighting pit" in theNew Zealand Army.
InBritish andCanadian military argot it equates to a range of terms includingslit trench, orfire trench (a trench deep enough for a soldier to stand in), asangar (sandbagged fire position above ground) orshell scrape (a shallow depression that affords protection in the prone position), or simply—but less accurately—as a "trench".
During theAmerican Civil War the term "rifle pit" was recognized by both U.S. Army andConfederate Army forces.
A protected emplacement or concealed post in which one or several machine guns are set up is known in U.S. English as amachine gun nest.[2]
During the fighting inNorth Africa (1942–43),U.S. forces employed theshell scrape. This was a very shallow excavation allowing one soldier to lie horizontally while shielding his body from nearbyshell bursts andsmall arms fire.[3][4] The shell scrape soon proved inadequate in this role, as the few inches of dirt above the soldier's body could often be penetrated by bullets or shell fragments. It also exposed the user to assault by enemytanks, which could crush a soldier inside a shallow shell scrape by driving into it, then making a simple half-turn.[5]
After theBattle of Kasserine Pass (early 1943), U.S. troops increasingly adopted the modernfoxhole, a vertical, bottle-shaped hole that allowed a soldier to stand and fight with head and shoulders exposed.[4][6] The foxhole widened near the bottom to allow a soldier to crouch down while under intenseartillery fire or tank attack.[4] Foxholes could be enlarged to two-soldier fighting positions, as well as excavated with firing steps for crew-served weapons orsumps for water drainage or live enemygrenadedisposal.
The Germans used hardened fortifications in North Africa and later in other fortifications, such as theAtlantic Wall, that were in essence foxholes made from concrete. The Germans knew them officially asRingstände; the Allies called them "Tobruks" because they had first encountered the structures during the fighting in Africa.[7]
Frequently, the Germans put a turret from an obsolete French or German tank on the foxhole. This gave the Tobruk enhanced firepower and the gunner protection from shrapnel and small arms.
Modern militaries publish and distribute elaborate field manuals for the proper construction of DFPs in stages. Initially, a shallow "shell scrape" is dug, often called a ranger grave, which provides very limited protection. Each stage develops the fighting position, gradually increasing its effectiveness, while always maintaining functionality. In this way, a soldier can improve the position over time, while being able to stop at any time and use the position in a fight.
Typically, a DFP is a pit or trench dug deep enough to stand in, with only the head exposed, and a small step at the bottom, called a fire step, that allows the soldier to crouch on to avoid fire andtanktreads. The fire step usually slopes down into a deeper narrow slit called agrenadesump at the bottom to allow for live grenades to be kicked in to minimize damage from grenade fragments.
When possible, DFPs are revetted with corrugated iron, star pickets and wire or local substitutes. Ideally, the revetting will also be dug in below ground level so as to minimise damage from fire and tank tracks. The revetting helps the DFP resist cave-in from near misses from artillery or mortars and tank tracks.
Time permitting, DFPs can be enlarged to allow amachine gun crew andammunition to be protected, as well as additional overhead cover via timbers.
In training, DFPs are usually dug by hand or in some cases by mechanical trench diggers. On operations, explosives, especiallyshaped charges ("beehives"), may be used to increase the speed of development.
Developing and maintaining DFPs is a constant and ongoing task for soldiers deployed in combat areas. For this reason, in some armies, infantry soldiers are referred to as "gravel technicians", as they spend so much time digging.
Because of the large expenditure in effort and materials required to build a DFP, it is important to ensure that the DFP is correctly sited. In order to site the DFP, the officer in charge ("OIC") should view the ground from the same level that the intended user's weapons will be sighted from. Normally, the OIC will need to lie on his belly to obtain the required perspective. This ensures that the position will be able to cover the desired sector.
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