Gorge (fortification)

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A gorge in field fortification is the "unexposed side of a fieldwork",^[1] typically the rear of an independent fieldwork or detached outwork in front of the main fortress or defensive position.

Outworks with open gorges[]

Straith describes three commonly used classes of field work: "works open at the gorge, works enclosed all round and lines." He lists the following as works open at the gorge:^[2]

• Redan
• Lunette
• Redan with flanks
• Double Redan
• Tenaille-head
• Bastion-head

Closed works are the redoubt, star fort and bastioned fort.^[2]

Gorges of 'half-closed works' were usually closed either by a parapet or stockade.^[3]

Footnotes[]

References[]

Literature[]

• _ (1878). Text Book of Fortification and Military Engineering, Part 1. London: HMSO.
• Neumann, Hartwig (1994) Festungsbaukunst und Festungsbautechnik. Deutsche Wehrbauarchitektur vom XV. – XX. Jahrhundert. Mit einer Bibliographie deutschsprachiger Publikationen über Festungsforschung und Festungsnutzung 1945–1987. 2nd edition, special edition. Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5929-8, (Architectura militaris 1).
• Straith, Hector (1850). Treatise on Fortification and Artillery, Volume 1. London: Allen.