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 interconnected fire resistant mesh covered wire panels and are filled with, for example, sand, crushed rock or granular materials.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority of the filing date of, U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 879,678, filed Jun. 29, 2004, and presently pending.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a bastion. More particularly, the invention relates to a multiple panel-based bastion system, Which can be used, for example, for military applications and force protection.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]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 gabion structures lined with geo-textiles.[0004]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 c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a protection barrier or bastion that overcomes the drawbacks of prior art. It is a multi-cell structure made of welded wire panels lined with knitted wire or expanded mesh, filled with sand, crushed rock or granular materials, and camouflaged. The expanded metal mesh or knitted wire mesh lining can withstand flame thrower attacks and allows plant growth, making it more suitable for environmental attacks and less maintenance demanding than prior art bastions. The wall has a continuous volume and improves protection by filling cavities created by impact of projectiles. The Bastion may also include a pinned connection system that allows for deployment in sloped 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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