{"id":9995,"date":"2019-02-09T12:50:24","date_gmt":"2019-02-09T11:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stefanov.no-ip.org\/wordpress\/?p=9995"},"modified":"2021-03-12T12:25:41","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T11:25:41","slug":"iran-iraq-war-fortifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stefanov.no-ip.org\/index.php\/2019\/02\/09\/iran-iraq-war-fortifications\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran-Iraq War fortifications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have grabbed contemporary satellite views of the fortifications built during the Iran-Iraq war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some details of the historical setting may be found on the map below, taken from the excellent book from Pierre Razoux, “The Iran-Iraq War”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Satellite photos found below are taken in the north region, the double line of horizontal fortifications on the top of the map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They are mainly earth berms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All very interesting since geometrical patterns where 3 is recurring may be identified. Not yet clear if the lower level berms were supposed to host platoons or squads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the highest altitude view, a double line of triangular defences may be identified. Looking at the above map, Two divisions were given the defence of the North sector, i.e. 18 infantry battalions in total. It is possible to spot about 16 large triangles in two rows. An additional two might have a different orientation, either on the fortifications looking east or the oblique lines oriented NW, which may be seen on the very top right of the picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So maybe one battalion per large triangle, every about 4km of front, a double line of battalions so dispersed, is about right. This has been in fact confirmed by the diagrams below, which I added after posting this link on TMP<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then all support battalions, reserves and so on may have been positioned in the round or rectangular berms that may be spotted here and there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firing positions for vehicles and artillery batteries may also be identified. Usually artillery batteries have 6 firing positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n