You may think that a shovel is just a simple camping or gardening tool, but it is more than that. It does not just dig out your outdoor toilet but also dig out life-saving positions for soldiers. Its lightweight design makes it suitable for soldiers to make it in their defense mechanism aside from a high-caliber gun.
We all know that in an intense shootout against bad guys, it is a must that you need to take cover to avoid those raging bullets. Not everyone possesses Captain America’s Shield to protect you from war. Good thing a tactical Shovel is there to help you.
This remarkable tool can dig out defensive fighting positions and can be used as combat. As you read further, you will know the defensive fighting positions and combat techniques you can do with a tactical shovel.
Credits to: Rv Camping
Defensive Fighting Positions you need to know
Defensive Fighting Positions
Defending yourself as a soldier is essential in the middle of the battleground. In that sense, you need to cover and conceal yourself to avoid being an easy target. In that sense, you can use some fighting positions like an existing hole, a hastily dug prone shelter, or a well-prepared position with an overhead cover. Read further to check the following defensive fighting positions.
But before we jump to the positions, you should know first some of the foundations and must-know in making one. For example, the fighting position should allow you to fire efficiently. Also, it should protect you from indirect and direct firing. On top of that, you must also be able to observe the perimeter easily in that position.
The fighting position should also have some cover. This cover should be strong enough to protect you from firings, fragments from indirect shots, and blast waves from nuclear explosions. The best cover to make is a natural one because it could blend naturally with the environment. Thus it gives the enemy a hard time spotting your position. If there is no genuine cover available, you can use the dirt taken away from your dig hole. You can also put them on sandbags then wet them for extra durability.
The cover should pass the following requirements to ensure security and protection to the user.
- It should be 46 centimeters thick to stop small fires.
- It should be high enough to shield you when you are firing from behind the cover.
- For you to fire in the oblique, it should be far enough in front of the hole.
- It should be long enough to cover and hide the muzzle blast when you fire.
It would be best if you also considered the following when making the defensive positions:
- It would be best if you dug a rounded wall compared to a square one. A round wall holds better against blast waves. Also, rounded walls are easier to dig.
- Ensure that you will have a small opening to keep the radiation out.
- Deeping fighting positions make a greater thickness of shielding material between nuclear explosions.
Building the Defensive Fighting Positions
You should also know the different fighting positions to know which one are you going to use.
Hasty Fighting Position
If you are in a scene where time prevents you from making fighting positions, this is the one that you should make. It does not mean that this position will not require you to dig, but it is the easiest to make. All you have to do is scan for an area where you can take cover and fire simultaneously. It can be a small hill or a slope with trees that can act as your natural cover.
DIg out at least one and a half meter or 18 inches deep hole and use the dirt as your cover.
Two-Man Fighting Positions
If you have time to dig out your defensive fighting position, you and your buddy can make this sone. For your positions to be influential, they should be small but enough for you and your buddy to fit in full combat gear. This is to avoid any fragments or grenade from falling into the hole. You can make this in a straight line or a curved one depending on the situation.
The benefit of a curve one is that it can allow you to fire and observe while the other eat or sleep. You can also move behind if you both are under heavy fire.
One-Man Fighting Position
It is just the same as the two-person fighting position. Only that this fighting position is big enough for just one soldier; in this sense, there will be more room for you and your equipment under any circumstances.
Machine Gun Fighting Position
As the machine gun crew, you need to secure a place to set up the equipment very well. In making this defense fighting position, you need to mark the position of the tripod legs. Mark the sectors of fire as well. After that, outline the area to dig a hole and then start digging.
It would be best if you also dug out some flatforms to reduce the profile of the gunner. Thus, reducing the height of the frontal cover needed. You may also need some sandbags on the legs of the tripod to keep it from moving while firing.
Dragon Fighting Position
This can be fired in a one-person or two-person fighting position. There are just some changes to the machine gun. In that sense, dig out a wide enough hole to let the muzzle end extend 15 centimeters beyond the front of the hole. This is to keep the backblast out of the hole.
The depth of the hole should only be waist deep to et you move while tracking. On the other side of the hole, it should be armpit deep.
90-MM RECOILLESS RIFLE FIGHTING POSITION
Create a 90-mm recoilless rifle (RCLR) position like a Dragon position, but dig the hole a little longer when firing to the right side of the frontal cover. That lets the assistant gunner work from the right side of the RCLR. Prepare your range card before digging the hole. Also, clear the backblast area before firing the RCLR.
Conclusion
All these defensive fighting positions are made possible with just a humble tool in the name of a tactical shovel. Without it, the ease and convenience of digging a defense mechanism would not be possible. Although each tactical shovel is made differently, they still possess something unique to perform its purpose.
We hope we have helped you know the defensive fighting positions you can do with a tactical shovel.