Caltrop

A caltrop (also known as caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap, galtrap, calthrop, jackrock or crow's foot''Battle of Alesia'' (Caesar's conquest of Gaul in 52 BC), Battlefield Detectives program, (2006), rebroadcast: 2008-09-08 on History Channel International (13:00-14:00 hrs EDST); Note: No mention of name caltrop at all, but illustrated and given as battle key to defend Roman lines of circumvallation per recent digs evidence.) is an area denial weapon made up of usually four, but possibly more, sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base (for example, a tetrahedron). Historically, caltrops were part of defences that served to slow the advance of troops, especially horses, chariots, and war elephants, and were particularly effective against the soft feet of camels. In modern times, caltrops are effective when used against wheeled vehicles with pneumatic tires.

Name

The modern name "caltrop" is derived from the Old English (heel-trap), such as in the French usage (shoe-trap). The Latin word originally referred to this and provides part of the modern scientific name of a plant commonly called the caltrop, ''Tribulus terrestris'', whose spiked seed cases resemble caltrops and can injure feet and puncture bicycle tires. This plant can also be compared to '' Centaurea calcitrapa'', which is also sometimes referred to as the "caltrop". ''Trapa natans'', a water plant with similarly shaped spiked seeds and edible fruit, is called the "water caltrop".

History

The caltrop was called by the ancient Romans, or sometimes , the latter meaning "jagged iron" (literally "iron spiny snail-shell"). The former term derives from the ancient Greek word meaning three spikes.

The late Roman writer Vegetius, referring in his work '' De re militari'' to scythed chariots, wrote:

Another example of the use of caltrops was found in Jamestown, Virginia, in the United States:

The Japanese version of the caltrop is called . Makibishi were sharp spiked objects that were used in feudal Japan to slow pursuers and also were used in the defence of samurai fortifications. Iron makibishi were called , while the makibishi made from the dried seed pod of the water caltrop, or water chestnut (genus ''Trapa''), formed a natural type of makibashi called . Both types of makibishi could penetrate the thin soles of shoes, such as the sandals, which were commonly worn in feudal Japan.

File:Weapons (1496876265).jpg, Traditional caltrops and mines from the Mongol Empire

Modern uses

World War I

During service in World War I, Australian Light Horse troops collected caltrops as keepsakes. These caltrops were either made by welding two pieces of wire together to form a four-pointed star or pouring molten steel into a mould to form a solid, seven-pointed star. The purpose of these devices was to disable horses. They were exchanged with French troops for bullets. The Australian Light Horse troops referred to them as "Horse Chestnuts".

World War II

Caltrops were used extensively and effectively during World War II. The modifications and variants produced by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) of the United States are still in use today within special forces and law enforcement bodies.

The Germans dropped ''crow's feet'' (). These were made from two segments of sheet metal welded together into a tetrapod with four barbed points and then painted in camouflage colours. They came in two sizes with a side length of either . They were dropped from aircraft in containers the same size as bombs and were dispersed by a small explosive charge.

Tire deflation device

Inventors patented caltrop-like devices to deflate vehicle tires in a manner useful to law enforcement agencies or the military. They are currently used by the military and police.

Labour disputes

Caltrops have been used at times during labour strikes and other disputes. Such devices were used by some to destroy the tires of management and replacement workers.

Caltrops, referred to as "jack rocks" in news articles, were used during the Caterpillar strike in 1995, puncturing tires on vehicles crossing the picket line in Peoria, Illinois. Because of their small size and the difficulty proving their source, both the company and the United Auto Workers blamed each other. Collateral damage included a school bus and a walking mail carrier. In Illinois, the state legislature passed a law making the possession of such devices a misdemeanor.

Via drones

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine has used drones to drop caltrops on key roads to disrupt wheeled vehicles carrying Russian military materiel, and make them easier to target with loitering munition

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