Point of those steel impediments in WWII?

Question:The begining of saving private ryan theres a bunch of steel X's wat is the purpose of these? they dont provide much coverage... in the invasion of normandy

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The begining of saving private ryan theres a bunch of steel X's wat is the purpose of these? they dont provide much coverage... in the invasion of normandy

Tank traps. Even with caterpillar tracks, tanks and other amphibious craft can't negotiate the steel prongs.
Simple, but effective.

They were supposed to be obstacles for landing craft.
I agree, they did not seem very protective.
I suppose they did block LST's (Landing Ship Tanks) from discharging tanks directly on the beach, but these obstacles could be cleared by engineers rather quickly once the assault infantry was ashore.

During high tide they were underwater and the incoming ships/landing craft would rip open their hulls and sink if they run over one, but the Allies attacked during low tide. That's why they were exposed and in view.
They were nicknamed " Czech hedgehogs. "

First source has explanation, second source shows a picture.

i think bilbo is right,

they are try to prevent landing of amphibious tanks...

^^

They were Rommel's idea - they worked.
But, as noted, once the Engineers landed - they were soon gone. Rommel thought we would come ashore at high tide at which time the traps would have ripped open the hulls of any ships attempting to land.
If anything, they served to protect our guys who tried to "hide" behind them. Not much to hide behind - but better than nothing.

To stop ships to come at high tide and put soldiers right on top of the defenders, had they tried to do that they would have had their bottom ripped. Some of them even had a mine affixed to the top.The Germans thought that noone would dare send soldiers at low tide across wide swathes of flat sand. They were the reason why the Allies decided to land at low tide.