Support: Dragon’s Teeth

Archives

July 17, 2025: Dragon's teeth are fortification obstacles made of reinforced concrete, typically shaped like large pyramids or truncated cones, and are designed to slow or block the advance of tanks and other armored vehicles. They are often arranged in multiple staggered rows and embedded into the ground, sometimes accompanied by trenches or additional barriers to enhance their effectiveness.

First deployed on a large scale during World War II, particularly as part of Germany's Siegfried Line/Westwall, dragon's teeth became a symbol of defensive military engineering. Their primary purpose was to channel enemy vehicles into kill zones or delay an advance long enough for defending forces to respond with artillery or air support.

While modern military vehicles have become more mobile and powerful, dragon's teeth and similar anti-tank defenses continue to be used in contemporary conflict zones, including in Ukraine. In the Ukraine War, Russian forces installed these defenses along stretches of territory near the Ukrainian border and in occupied areas, aiming to slow potential armored counter offensives. However, the effectiveness of such fortifications depends heavily on materials used, construction quality (always a problem for the Russians), and integration with other defensive systems.

In addition to ground based defenses, there are equally effective protective measures for vehicles. These include Barbeque and Bubbles structures erected over tanks and other armored vehicles to halt or diminish the impact of drone attacks. These two became essential defensive equipment for vehicles used in Ukraine.

For the infantry and artillery are new types of bunkers and fighting positions. New materials are used to implement these new designs. Russia has long used special trench digging vehicles that quickly dug trenches. Following that engineers would install fixtures like wood walls and flooring and reinforced overhead cover. There would often be a connection to an electrical generator and a sanitation bunker. This was a more efficient version of the traditional outhouse.

Truly effective defenses require more than just concrete cones, trenches or reinforced bunkers.

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close