{{Wikisource1911Enc|Abatis}}

[[Image:Abattis.JPG|thumb|320px|right|Abatisses are used in war to keep the approaching enemy under fire for as long as possible.]]
'''Abatis''', '''abattis''', or '''abbattis''' (a [[French language|French]] word meaning a heap of material thrown) is a term in field [[fortification]] for an obstacle formed of the branches of trees laid in a row, with the tops directed towards the enemy. The trees are usually interlaced or tied with [[wire]]. Abatis are used alone or in combination with [[wire entanglement]]s and other obstacles.

Although used since at least [[Roman Empire|Roman Imperial]] times, abatis is rarely seen nowadays, having been largely replaced by [[wire obstacle]]s. However, it may be used as a replacement or supplement when [[barbed wire]] is in short supply. A form of giant abatis, using whole trees instead of branches, can be used as an improvised anti-[[tank]] obstacle.

An important weakness of abatis, in contrast to [[barbed wire]], is that it can be destroyed by [[fire]]. Also, if laced together with [[rope]] instead of [[wire]], the rope can be very quickly destroyed by such fires, after which the abatis can be quickly pulled apart by [[grappling hook]]s thrown from a safe distance.

An important advantage is that an improvised abatis can be quickly formed in forested areas. This can be done by simply cutting down a row of trees so that they fall with their tops toward the enemy. An alternative is to place explosives so as to blow the trees down.

[[Image:Abatis_Map_Symbol.svg|thumb|320px|right|United States military symbol for an abatis]]
Though rarely used by modern conventional military units, abatises are still officially maintained in [[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] training. Current training instructs engineers or other constructors of such obstacles to fell trees, leaving a 1 or 2 meter stump, in such a manner as the trees fall interlocked pointing at a 45 degree angle towards the direction of approach of the enemy. Furthermore, it is recommended that the trees remain connected to the stumps and the length of roadway covered be at least 75 meters. US military maps record an abatis by use of an inverted "V" with a short line extending from it to the right.<ref>[[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps]], ''FM 101-5-1/MCRP 5-2A Operational Terms and Graphics'', 30 September 1997</ref>

==See also==
[[Image:Abatis.jpg|thumb|320px|right|Abatis improvised by Japanese troops during [[World War II]] ]]
[[Image:Giant abatis.jpg|thumb|320px|right|Giant abatis, made from entire trees, can make an effective anti-vehicle obstacle. This formation is often reached by use of explosives--note the splintered stumps.]]


{{Fortifications}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pamplinpark.org Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier] includes large and authentic reproduction of abatis used in the U.S. Civil War.

==References==
<references/>
*{{1911}}

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[[Category:Fortification]]
[[Category:Medieval defenses]]

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