As an important military fortification, the jagged design of the trench contains profound tactical and strategic considerations.
First of all, this unique form can significantly increase the effectiveness of defense. The continuous right-angled turns in the zigzag structure effectively hinder the enemy's straight charge, forcing them to slow down the pace of the attack, while each turning point acts as a natural fire fortress, allowing soldiers to build a network of crossfire and create multiple shooting dead spots to resist enemy attacks.
Secondly, the zigzag trenches help to reduce the ** rate. Compared to a straight trench, once a certain point is breached, the zigzag layout allows the adjacent "teeth" to hold on independently, preventing the defense line from quickly breaking down, and buying valuable time for your side to adjust.
In addition, in the face of artillery fire, the tortuous trench structure has the effect of dispersing the shock wave, reducing the risk of soldiers being injured due to concentration, and through the natural shelter of the terrain, the soldiers can better conceal themselves while shooting, reducing the chance of being detected and targeted by the enemy.
Finally, zigzag trenches provide flexible conditions for the deployment of troops. Each prominent "tooth" can be used as an independent combat unit, and the commander can quickly mobilize troops and optimize the defensive layout according to changes in the battlefield situation to cope with various complex combat situations.
As a result, in large-scale positional warfare such as World War I, the sawtooth trench became a widely used standard form of fortification due to its superior defensive performance.