Why were fortresses often built pentagonal?
In: 6771
Any raised position have a disadvantage if the enemy is able to get close enough. The same fortifications that protects you from incoming shots from further away is now stopping you from firing at the enemy. This is true for both crossbows, cannons and muskets. There were a few solutions to this such as moats but they were not perfect. One of these solutions was to build the fortress such that there are towers that can shoot the outside of any wall. So even though the defenders on the walls can not fire at the enemies directly under them a tower further away can. But if you build a square fortress you still have blind spots. An enemy can approach a tower on a corner and use the tower itself to hide from the other towers as well as the walls. But if you make a pentagonal fortress then there are very little room to hide in this spot. The towers can all protect each other fully.
Latest Answers