Obstacle
An obstacle is any obstruction designed or employed to disrupt, fix, turn, or block the movement of an opposing force, and to impose additional losses in personnel, time, and equipment on the opposing force. Obstacles can exist naturally or can be man-made, or can be a combination of both. In the military, tactical obstacles appear – those obstacles employed to disrupt enemy formations, turn them into a desired area, fix them in position under direct and indirect fires, and block enemy penetrations [US Department of Defense].
The primary purposes of tactical obstacles are to:
- Attack the enemy maneuver.
- Multiply the effects and capabilities of firepower.
Tactical obstacles directly attack the enemy's ability to move, mass, and reinforce. Commanders integrate these obstacles into the force's scheme of maneuver and direct and indirect fire plans to enhance the effects of friendly fires [GlobalSecurity].
US Department of Defense. (2005). Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (pp.337,462). Arlington county: US Department of Defense
GlobalSecurity. Obstacle framework. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved from: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/90-7/f907_3.htm