WW2 - Tank Traps in main roads

topdeadcenter · #1 (**permalink**) September 9th, 2007, 10:14 AM

Hi

I am searching for a photo of a 'tank trap' the type they used to build in main roads especially at certian seaside locations that were likely places were a sea borne invasion could take place.

We had them in Malta during WW2. Our seaside village was a likely place for an invasion by sea. The four main roads leading out of the village had these tank traps built or shall I say dug out.

These were dug at the narrowest part of the road. From memory they were about 80% the width of the road. They were at least 25 ft long and very deep. These were dug in the rock / limestone. They were covered with thick wooden planks that were left in place during normal days, strong enough to allow large army trucks to drive on. If an invasion alert was sounded the covers were removed and the hole camoflaged.

Has anyone got a photo of these type of tank traps ?

Liberator · #2 (**permalink**) October 8th, 2007, 02:13 PM

All I could find.

Tank Traps near Tenterfield, NSW during WW2

Von Poop · #3 (**permalink**) October 8th, 2007, 04:53 PM

Anything like this from Cyber-heritage?
(bottom right)

A google image search for anti tank ditch turns up quite a lot of different styles but I'm not sure whether they really fit the bill?

Cheers,
Adam.

Slipdigit · #4 (**permalink**) October 8th, 2007, 06:09 PM

I have photos of two of the traps shown in VP's drawing above. Finding them has presented problems.

One is a pic made on Bataan and looks like short telephone poles set in the ground at a choke point in a road. The other shows US infantry and tanks passing thorugh the West Wall and has one those concrete edifaces in the middle pic on the left.

I'll keep looking.

topdeadcenter · #5 (**permalink**) October 25th, 2007, 05:25 AM

Thanks VP

Part of that drawing shall be enough for my project.

The way I remember them, they had no concrete layer, just deep holes in limestone.

Slipdigit · #6 (**permalink**) October 25th, 2007, 02:20 PM

Found this pic on Wikipedia

topdeadcenter · #7 (**permalink**) October 25th, 2007, 11:34 PM

A very good photo Slipdigit

Very close to how I saw one location near our village back in 1941.

Thanks.

Joe · #8 (**permalink**) October 26th, 2007, 10:29 AM

Thats also the picture of US infantry used in HOI2...hmmm.....

The_Historian · #9 (**permalink**) November 6th, 2007, 02:56 PM

TDC,
Here are some pics of British road blocks, along with a concrete anti-tank wall.