Lunette (fortification)
Encyclopedia
In fortification
a lunette was originally an outwork
of half-moon shape; later it became a redan
with short flanks, in trace somewhat resembling a bastion
standing by itself without curtains on either side. The gorge was generally open.
One notable historical example of a lunette was the one used at the Battle of the Alamo
in San Antonio, Texas, in 1835.
Another were the Bagration flèches
, at the Battle of Borodino
, in 1812.
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
a lunette was originally an outwork
Outwork
An outwork is a minor defense, fortification, built or established outside the principal fortification limits, detached or semidetached. Outworks were developed in the 16th century, such as ravelins, lunettes , caponiers to shield bastions and fortification curtains from direct battery...
of half-moon shape; later it became a redan
Redan
Redan is a term related to fortifications. It is a work in a V-shaped salient angle toward an expected attack...
with short flanks, in trace somewhat resembling a bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
standing by itself without curtains on either side. The gorge was generally open.
One notable historical example of a lunette was the one used at the Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
in San Antonio, Texas, in 1835.
Another were the Bagration flèches
Bagration flèches
Bagration flèches , are certain historic military earthworks named after Pyotr Bagration who ordered their construction. They were the pivotal Russian strongholds on the left flank during the Battle of Borodino in 1812. Located south-west of Semyonovskoye village, flèches consisted of two...
, at the Battle of Borodino
Battle of Borodino
The Battle of Borodino , fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties...
, in 1812.