Editing Abatis (section)

== Construction ==
[[File:Giant abatis.jpg|thumb|upright|Giant abatis, made from entire trees, can make an effective anti-vehicle obstacle. This formation can be achieved by use of explosives—note the splintered stumps]]
[[File:QRH Challenger 2s in Estonia MOD 45167103.jpg|thumb|Abatis can be defeated by [[dozer blade]]s, as fitted here to a British [[Challenger 2]] tank]]
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.