Covered path

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ideal-typical scheme for the “covered path”:
1. Arms place,
2. Bastion,
3. Trench,
4. The covered path between the trench and the glacis.
The covered path (front and left) of the fortress Wülzburg near Weißenburg in Middle Franconia.

The term covered path is a technical term from fortress construction . It describes a wide connection path that runs on the counter-rake (wall facing the enemy) or the outside of the main trench and is protected from enemy sight and fire by the rising glacis .

In the re-entering corners of a covered path there are usually short triangular exiting angles as weapon positions for the defender (the installation against sight and fire from covered weapon positions as collection points for failures was originally the main reason for the construction of covered paths ). In the throat of the arsenal there is usually a log house , a small stone or wooden house that is equipped with cannons and rifles for defense. The large gates of peace serve as connections to the covered path , leading in gate posts or open cuts through the wall and on bridges or dams over the moat. Ramps or stairs are also used to climb the counter-climbing from the bottom of the trench. You can get to the area in front of the covered path through cuts in the glacis, so-called sorties (French: exit).

The covered path served the fortress for various purposes:

  • as a protected transport route across the moat around the fortress
  • for the protected installation of forward guards across the trench
  • as a gathering place and receiving position for troops
  • to accommodate and attach artificial obstacles
  • and, in conjunction with its own parapet, also to coat the nearby foreland (glacis)

Detached works are sometimes not given a covered path in the manner described, but only a one to two meter wide, protected circular corridor , which can be used for both guard duty and infantry defense .

See also

literature

  • Hartwig Neumann : Fortress architecture and fortress construction technology. German defense architecture from the XV. to XX. Century (= Architectura militaris. Vol. 1). With a bibliography of German-language publications on fortress research and fortress use 1945–1987. 2nd edition, special edition. Bernard and Graefe, Bonn 1994, ISBN 3-7637-5929-8 .