Battlefield lighting
Battlefield lighting (rare and non-military battlefield lighting) is the illumination of the battlefield by suitable means.
history
In the late Middle Ages, battlefield lighting for the artillery was already handed down in the so-called fireworks book from the 15th century in the form of cannonballs coated with animal fat and gunpowder, which were ignited by being fired (Chapter: “ A polite art like a master of the night should shoot likes where he shoots ”).
Battlefield lighting variants
Modern battlefield lighting is the illumination of the battlefield by light grenades , which z. B. from mortars , more rarely by artillery or by soldiers with flares, anti-tank weapons or signal pistol , as well as by ground flares that are triggered by the enemy or the troops themselves. Battlefield lighting is used to better identify enemies in the attack area or in front of one's own defensive positions in the dark and thus to be able to target the enemy with fire. Due to the increased use of night vision devices as residual light image intensifiers and thermal imaging devices for target acquisition and reconnaissance, especially by the combat troops , the use of battlefield lighting is increasingly being pushed into the background, in particular because the enemy can recognize his own positions through shooting and the subsequent lighting own night vision is impaired. However, it has also been shown in recent battles that technically poorly equipped troops can use battlefield lighting to their advantage, as this blinds or at least temporarily makes the sensitive night vision devices, despite a glare protection against excessive incidence of light.
The Bundeswehr uses different means to do this. The HK P2A1 signal pistol is used immediately by the troops , which can fire light cartridges approx. 100 m high. Some cartridges open a small parachute after firing in order to sink to the earth as slowly as possible. The weapon is also used for other forms of signaling such as the ABC alarm.
The infantry also uses the Panzerfaust 84 ("Carl Gustaf") with light ammunition or the mortar to illuminate the battlefield . A larger lighting room can be illuminated by the artillery. The artillery shells can illuminate up to 5 km² (circle with a diameter of approx. 2.5 km).
The Swiss Army illuminates the battlefield with 6 cm mortars. The artillery and armored forces also have flares at their disposal.
Another option for battlefield lighting is the use of light bombs from the air force .
The illumination of the battlefield with searchlights, as practiced, for example, by the Red Army during the battle for the Seelow Heights , is of very little importance. Since the spotlight reveals its position when switched on and is therefore exposed to combat by the enemy, this method would only be feasible against technically inferior opponents. In addition, at least ground-based headlights have the disadvantage that obstacles such. B. Trees and hills cast relatively large shadows, which is not the case with flares floating in the air.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Volker Schmidtchen : Feuerwerkbuch von 1420. In: Burghart Wachinger et al. (Hrsg.): The German literature of the Middle Ages. Author Lexicon . 2nd, completely revised edition, Volume 2 ( Comitis, Gerhard - Gerstenberg, Wigand ). De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1980, ISBN 3-11-007264-5 , Sp. 728-731.
- ↑ U HAMMER - Battle of Trogen ( Memento from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ), military newspaper of the Mountain Infantry Battalion 29 of the Swiss Army of August 31, 2012. Accessed on August 2, 2015.
- ↑ Swiss Army (Ed.): Reglement 53.132 d: 6 cm launcher 1987 (6 cm W 87). Bern 1989.