Online Encyclopedia

REDAN

Online Encyclopedia
Originally appearing in Volume V22, Page 967 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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REDAN  , in fortification, a

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work of V-shape presenting a salient angle towards the expected attack . The
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gorge (
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rear) of a redan is open . When unsupported by other
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works, it has the disadvantage that its fire is divergent and but few guns can be brought to bear directly towards the front . Further, both its faces are usually open to enfilade . Redans were therefore almost always used in conjunction with other works, one of the most
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common forms being the " lines of redans " used as field works . These consisted of lengths of plain trenches facing the front, with redans at intervals along the
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line . In the
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present day the
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term redan is loosely applied to works merely possessing saliency, as in the case of the celebrated bastions Nos . 3 and 2 at Sevastopol in 1854–55, usually called the "Redan " and " Little Redan " respectively (see
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CRIMEAN WAR) . The " Redan " was a large work of irregular outline, generally resembling a redan, but having the salient angle blunted or rounded off and the side faces broken into several minor fronts so as to obtain a field of fire in many directions .

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