Caltrop

A caltrop (also known as caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap,^[1] galtrap, calthrop, jackrock or crow's foot^[2]^[3]) 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.^[4] In modern times, caltrops are effective when used against wheeled vehicles with pneumatic tires.^[5]

^ Burke, John (1846). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. Henry Colburn. p. 672.
^ Mahan, D.H. (1867). An Elementary Course of Military Engineering – Part I: Field Fortification, Military Mining and Siege Operations. John Wiley & Son. p. 76.
^ 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.
^ Rawlinson, George. The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 6. (of 7): Parthia.
^ Robert W. Reid (1 September 2006). "The Caltrop: A weapon that's barely changed over 2,300 years". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2023-06-24. Today, it has reclaimed its old Greek name and reappeared as the tetrahedron, the bane of all vehicles running on pneumatic tires, and is used by both the military and police.

[1] Burke, John (1846). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. Henry Colburn. p. 672.

[2] Mahan, D.H. (1867). An Elementary Course of Military Engineering – Part I: Field Fortification, Military Mining and Siege Operations. John Wiley & Son. p. 76.

[Alesia-2006-3] 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.

[4] Rawlinson, George. The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 6. (of 7): Parthia.

[HistoryNet-5] Robert W. Reid (1 September 2006). "The Caltrop: A weapon that's barely changed over 2,300 years". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2023-06-24. Today, it has reclaimed its old Greek name and reappeared as the tetrahedron, the bane of all vehicles running on pneumatic tires, and is used by both the military and police.

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