2007-02-25 05:03:05 · 6 answers · asked by Raith Payne 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
They are called Hedgehogs. Why would the Germans lay so many Anti-tank mines when they had the Hedgehogs to stop the tank? They were not made for that job. It was not concreted to the beach, so a tank can push it out of the way. What the Hedgehogs was for is to ripe open the hulls of are Landing Crafts. The Hedgehogs will be later on used by the allies as material for their Hedge choppers for their tanks. The weird razor- looking thing on the front of the tank are the Hedge Chopper. The tanks equip with them were know as Rhino Tanks
2007-02-25 05:33:25 · answer #1 · answered by MG 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
two possible answers.
The small ones, about 1,5 metre/ 5 foot size, shaped like caltorps, are intended as tank barriers. Some were made of steel, others of concrete. In theory the tank cannot drive over them because they will get lodged under the hull and lift the tank so that the tracks will be unable to drag the tank forward.
The large ones were intended to stop landing craft. they are usually shaped like long poles leaning towards the sea and supported by short cross bars. In many cases the tip of the pole was fitted with a mine. In theory the idea was they would rip the bottom from the landing craft as they approached the beach.
The Allies avoided (most) of that by landing at low tide. Of course there was a price to pay- the soldiers had to advance over a long, open beach. Moreover the tide rose during the battle and most of those soldiers who were wounded early in the battle- drowned
There was a third type of barrier, placed inland and intended to prevent gliders from landing. Mostly in the form of a loose field of upright telephone poles
2007-02-25 05:42:23 · answer #2 · answered by cp_scipiom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They're barriers designed to stop any large vehicle from landing on the beach or driving on the beach. Amphibious landing craft, tanks, trucks, even jeeps would have a tough time moving around the beach with lots of these barriers.
Technically, they are not tank traps, which are usually made out of concrete. The steel barriers are known as Czech Hedgehogs and are often seen in D-Day footage or Saving Private Ryan.
2007-02-25 05:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by Matt H 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tank traps. You can't drive a tank across them.
2007-02-25 05:07:08 · answer #4 · answered by fra59e 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They where barricades intended to stop vehicles from advancing.
2007-02-25 05:07:46 · answer #5 · answered by RUDOLPH M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dragons teeth, they are to prevent vehicles from moving
2007-02-25 13:24:04 · answer #6 · answered by cav 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋