Locate protective-wire entanglements to prevent surprise assaults from points close to the defense area. As with all antipersonnel obstacles, they are close enough to the defense area for day-and-night observation. They are also far enough away to prevent the enemy from using hand grenades effectively from points just beyond the obstacle, normally 131 to 328 feet. Surround the individual units of a command, usually the platoon (fig. 8-1), with protective wire. Connect these entanglements to entanglements around other platoons by supplementary wire to enclose the entire defensive positions. Erect protective entanglements around rear-area installations in the same manner to serve the same purpose as protective wire around defensive positions in forward areas. You should also include the entanglements of protective wire over the tops of installations provided with overhead cover (fig. 8-2).

Supplementary-Wire Entanglements

Use supplementary-wire entanglements in front of the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA) to conceal the exact line of the tactical wire. To the rear of the FEBA, use supplementary wire to enclose the entire defensive position by connecting the protective-wire entanglements. Use supplementary-wire entanglements to break up the line of tactical wire. These supple-mentary- wire entanglements should be identical to the tactical-wire entanglements and constructed simulta-neously with them whenever possible.

Depth of Entanglements

You should classify entanglements by depth as belts, bands, or zones.

A BELT is an entanglement one fence in depth.

A BAND consists of two or more belts in depth, with no interval between them. The belts maybe fences of the same type, or the band maybe composed of two or more fences of different types.

A ZONE consists of two or more bands or belts in depth with intervals between them.