Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions.: Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military AcademyMercur, James
History
Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions.: Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy
Mercur, James
Defensive (Military science); Military engineering; Offensive (Military science); Siege warfare
In the special case of a battery on the crowning of the covered way,
the traverses have been already constructed in running the sap. The
splinter-proofs may be constructed by blinding portions of the sap, or
by mining them under the traverses. Owing to the height of the parapet,
embrasures of some depth will have to be cut through it. This is done
by a shallow sap started by one man, who is subsequently assisted
by a second, if the splay requires it. The cheeks are revetted with
sand-bags, covered with hides. The mouth of the embrasure is left
closed with the head parapet of the sap until fire is to be opened,
when the earth is dug away or blown away by the gun.
=54.= =Battery Behind the Crest of a Hill= (Pl. V., Figs.
57-59).--In a battery behind the crest of a hill the front ditch may
be omitted, the gun-portions may be entirely in excavation, and the
platforms given such a reference as to require a shallow groove to be
cut through the crest to allow the gun to fire. When the ground falls
away very rapidly to the rear it may be stepped under the traverses
to prevent their sliding, and the rear of the gun emplacement may
be raised when necessary to give the platform the proper slope. The
central trench is cut deep enough to give 5 feet of cover over the
splinter-proofs.
=55.= =Batteries on Sloping Ground= (Pl. VII., Figs.
70-72).--When the ground to be occupied by the battery slopes towards
or from the place or falls off on either side, the battery is
constructed essentially as upon level ground. The central passage is
driven, following the surface of the ground, the gun emplacements,
front and rear trench are excavated as before described, the additional
excavation or filling required in each gun emplacement to make the
platform horizontal is regulated for the particular site, any excess
of earth being used to give greater cover on the more exposed side,
and any deficiency being supplied from the front or rear trench, as
may be most convenient. Where the extra work imposed by the slope is
considerable, a third relief may be required to finish the battery, and
its arming may be necessarily postponed until the next night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account