In
the design of permanent fortification the term rasante referred to the method
of developing the profiles of successive works of a fortification in such
a way that outworks protected retired works and the enceinte of a fortified
place from being seen or readily distinguished at any appreciable distance
from the fortification. When retired works could not be seen clearly, if
at all, they could not be accurately bombarded by distant artillery fire.
The idea of rasante fortifications was developed by Cormontaingne, a French
engineer of the early eighteenth century, whose improvements on Vauban's
methods called for protecting all but a few feet of the upper part of masonry
scarp walls from the enemy's view and reducing the command of retired works
over advanced works to a minimum consistent with an effective and vigorous
defense.
In
the design of permanent fortification the term rasante referred to the method
of developing the profiles of successive works of a fortification in such
a way that outworks protected retired works and the enceinte of a fortified
place from being seen or readily distinguished at any appreciable distance
from the fortification. When retired works could not be seen clearly, if
at all, they could not be accurately bombarded by distant artillery fire.
The idea of rasante fortifications was developed by Cormontaingne, a French
engineer of the early eighteenth century, whose improvements on Vauban's
methods called for protecting all but a few feet of the upper part of masonry
scarp walls from the enemy's view and reducing the command of retired works
over advanced works to a minimum consistent with an effective and vigorous
defense.
