Chevaux de Frise
Chevaux de Frise (French, “Frisian Horses”, sing. Cheval de Frise) consist of a square or hexagonal shaft about 6 to 12 feet long and 6 inches strong, into which pointed rods, 3 to 6 feet long and 4 inches strong, are inserted crosswise every six inches. The protruding rods are called feathers. In our tutorial “Chevaux de Frise for Wargames and Dioramas” we implement these measurements exactly, with excellent results.
Chevaux de Frise are connected to each other by iron chains and hooks, and are placed primarily in the moat, at the entrances, and in the gorges of works, etc., as obstacles. Because of the time it takes to construct them, and since the feathers can easily be cut off by the enemy, they are not a good obstacle for field fortifications. In fortresses, on the other hand, where one may have such Chevaux de Frise, whose shafts are shod with tin plate, and whose feathers are of iron, they offer better services.
Source: Rumpf, H. F.: Allgemeine Real-Encyclopädie der gesammten Kriegskunst (Berl. 1827)
Chevaux de Frise in Miniature
- Chevaux de Frise, 28 mm Renedra
- Chevaux de Frise for Wargames and Dioramas, 1:72 Fortification Tutorial
- Battlefield Accessories, 1:72 ESCI 216
- Battlefield Accessories, 1:72 Italeri 6030
- Civil War Accessories, 1:72 IMEX 507
- Union Pioneers, 1:72 Accurate Figures 7205
- Chevaux de Frise, 20 mm FP&B
- Chevaux de Frise (16th Century), 10 mm Pendraken OT19
Chevaux de Frise, approximately 4 m long, 25 cm strong beams (body, shaft), through which pointed slats (feathers) are stuck crosswise in such a way that nobody may crawl through between them, formerly popular as an obstacle in field fortifications and fortresses.
Source: Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, 6. Auflage 1905–1909