Bastions for force protection and military applications

Abstract

A bastion including one or more free-standing structures for use in, for example, military applications and for force protection. The free-standing structures are made up of a plurality of pivotally interconnected fire resistant mesh covered wire panels and are filled with, for example, sand, crushed rock or granular materials.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a bastion. More particularly, the invention relates to a foldable multi-cell welded wire structures lined with an expanded or knitted wire mesh, which can be used, for example, for military applications and force protection. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The use of bastions has been traditional ever since Roman times. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it took the form of wicker baskets filled with earth or stones. In the early twentieth century, sand bags were used. In the later twentieth century bastions took the form of foldable gabion structures lined with geo-textiles. [0003] This latter application, was basically the use of elements originally devised for civil works applied to the military use. This structure was rapidly deployable but its main failing was its lack of fire resistance. At best, a fire retardant composite was used in some situations to delay ignition. Use of flame throwers, incendiary bombs, M...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The expanded metal mesh or knitted wire mesh lining may withstand a flame thrower attack successfully, without losing particulate filling material through the openings. At the same time the expanded metal mesh or knitted wire mesh lining admits rooting of plants, which helps mitigate the visual impact of the bastions in the cities. Given the nature of the mesh, the plants will grow over the bastions, changing the hard appearance to look as natural fences melting them with the landscape.

[0010] The infill continuity results in cavities or caverns created by impact of projectiles being filled by material coming from both damaged and adjacent cells, thus, improving the protection offered by the bastion.

[0011] The bastion may further include a hinged system that allows continuity of cells at different heights, and thus, for the possibility of deployment in slopped terrain.

Problems solved by technology

This structure was rapidly deployable but its main failing was its lack of fire resistance.

Use of flame throwers, incendiary bombs, Molotov cocktails and even tracer bullets of machine guns (one every seven in a belt loader) in combat situations destroys the protection afforded by this conventional bastion by igniting its lining or sand bags defenses.

Prior art protection barriers suffer from a number of additional drawbacks.

Visual impact of prior art protection barriers is unsuitable for deployment within cities and the systems do not provide any concealment option.

Deployment for long periods of time is also problematic given that barriers are exposed to environmental agents such as fungus, and UV attacks, that rapidly deteriorate them.

Further, prior art protection barriers require intensive maintenance.

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