25 April 2014, 11:52
I know there's a lot of talk about not walking down the motorway and the alike, when it's a post SHTF situation. Talk of choke points and the alike.
So I'm going to be awkward and take a totally new perspective on this and play around with it. Many people think bridges and the alike will be made into roadblocks and ambush areas. I'm not so sure.
New perspectives/ideas.
A choke point as a weak point.
The amount of effort required to build, man, and control, coupled with the benefits provided...I'm not sure it would be of that much benefit for people to have them. I think that we are the generation that was brought up in part by Hollywood. Which means we are going to be viewing the world with 'Hollywood-Eyes', but also the choke points and barricades being set up will be done so by other 'Hollywood kids' with 'Hollywood ideas', which means the reality of manning such a location would have been ignored. The reality of permenantly manning a 'CP' will be VERY DIFFERENT from the thoughts of those building them. Barriers won't be built and permenantly manned. It wouldn't be a viable option for a prolonged period of time.
Successful and effective ambushing from a CP would require pretty large amounts of planning and practice, to reduce the losses incurred by the CP hosts.
It would make more sense to have a single person keeping a watch on an area/path leading to a 'dead zone' where people can walk into a relatively open area, then be ambushed. This would require the 'observer' to be able to contact their group and move towards the 'dead zone' while the wandering group is still in transit. This would allow the ambushing group to better utilise their members in different capacities, e.g. farming, cooking, etc, and then having the DZ only temporarily manned, when required.
It wouldn't make much sense to use a road block. It'd be visible for miles around. As an example, a truck on it's side would set off warning lights in even the dullest of eyes.
Further to this, construction of a barrier would simply push people FAR AROUND the area, and up on your flanks. It would be pretty difficult to purposefully funnel people into a certain area, if they are moving far and wide. If they're alert, you're running the risk of giving away your location. Another issue for choke points.
Another point of view is that if road blocks are going to be used as choke points...why not make your own, if you think they're that dangerous and effective? How would you do it? How would you man it? What would you do if a much larger or better armed or better trained group came across you and your roadblock or at your choke point?
Has anyone else thought about this? If so, what are your views?
So I'm going to be awkward and take a totally new perspective on this and play around with it. Many people think bridges and the alike will be made into roadblocks and ambush areas. I'm not so sure.
New perspectives/ideas.
A choke point as a weak point.
The amount of effort required to build, man, and control, coupled with the benefits provided...I'm not sure it would be of that much benefit for people to have them. I think that we are the generation that was brought up in part by Hollywood. Which means we are going to be viewing the world with 'Hollywood-Eyes', but also the choke points and barricades being set up will be done so by other 'Hollywood kids' with 'Hollywood ideas', which means the reality of manning such a location would have been ignored. The reality of permenantly manning a 'CP' will be VERY DIFFERENT from the thoughts of those building them. Barriers won't be built and permenantly manned. It wouldn't be a viable option for a prolonged period of time.
Successful and effective ambushing from a CP would require pretty large amounts of planning and practice, to reduce the losses incurred by the CP hosts.
It would make more sense to have a single person keeping a watch on an area/path leading to a 'dead zone' where people can walk into a relatively open area, then be ambushed. This would require the 'observer' to be able to contact their group and move towards the 'dead zone' while the wandering group is still in transit. This would allow the ambushing group to better utilise their members in different capacities, e.g. farming, cooking, etc, and then having the DZ only temporarily manned, when required.
It wouldn't make much sense to use a road block. It'd be visible for miles around. As an example, a truck on it's side would set off warning lights in even the dullest of eyes.
Further to this, construction of a barrier would simply push people FAR AROUND the area, and up on your flanks. It would be pretty difficult to purposefully funnel people into a certain area, if they are moving far and wide. If they're alert, you're running the risk of giving away your location. Another issue for choke points.
Another point of view is that if road blocks are going to be used as choke points...why not make your own, if you think they're that dangerous and effective? How would you do it? How would you man it? What would you do if a much larger or better armed or better trained group came across you and your roadblock or at your choke point?
Has anyone else thought about this? If so, what are your views?