In
both temporary and permanent fortifications a rampart was a mound of earth
that enclosed the fortified ground. Its basic purpose was to shield the interior
of a fortification from horizontal artillery fire and increase the relief
of the work to protect it against assault by storming or escalade. In most
cases the exterior side of the rampart formed the scarp wall which was retained
with at a slope of 1 base for 24 of height by a masonry wall buttressed by
internal counterforts. The interior side could either be revetted or allowed
to fall with a gentle slope to form the ramp of the terre-plein of the rampart.
Ramparts were rarely included in the profile of field fortifications, but
were employed on occasion to increase the relief of an important and provide
the artillery armament with a better command of the surrounding country than
it would otherwise have. In sea-coast field fortifications ramparts were
sometimes used to provide the artillery armament with a better angle to fire
down on warships engaging the fortification.
In
both temporary and permanent fortifications a rampart was a mound of earth
that enclosed the fortified ground. Its basic purpose was to shield the interior
of a fortification from horizontal artillery fire and increase the relief
of the work to protect it against assault by storming or escalade. In most
cases the exterior side of the rampart formed the scarp wall which was retained
with at a slope of 1 base for 24 of height by a masonry wall buttressed by
internal counterforts. The interior side could either be revetted or allowed
to fall with a gentle slope to form the ramp of the terre-plein of the rampart.
Ramparts were rarely included in the profile of field fortifications, but
were employed on occasion to increase the relief of an important and provide
the artillery armament with a better command of the surrounding country than
it would otherwise have. In sea-coast field fortifications ramparts were
sometimes used to provide the artillery armament with a better angle to fire
down on warships engaging the fortification.
