Casemate 77

Fortress 43, Roman Legionary Fortresses 27BC-AD378:

Duncan B Campbell; illustrated by Brian Delf. ISBN 1.84176.895.2. 2006.

The Roman legions garrisoned not only the Mediterranean world, but also outposts as far-flung as Britain and Germany. Wherever they went, the legions threw up camps, fortified towns that provided protection as well as shelter. As time went on, permanent legionary bases were established, and the scale of the defenses was increased. Eventually, the early defenses, largely of earth and timber, were joined by more permanent works of stone. The legionary fortresses varied considerably in size (legions varied from 1000 to 6000 men), layout, and materials, but retained a remarkable degree of consistency. A Roman soldier would have quickly found his way around almost any fortress in any era. The primary role of the fortress was to house the soldiers, with common elements such as barracks, storehouses, and bathhouses, as well as officer's quarters and administrative buildings. The whole was surrounded by a wall, which only toward the end of the period was provided with significant flanking defenses.

Based on Roman sources and more modern excavations, the book deals extensively with the history of the legions, and their deployment around the Roman Empire. Within the fortresses, the emphasis is on the living accommodation and the support structures. Perhaps due to a dearth of information, relatively little attention is devoted to the strictly defensive elements, and the most interesting designs, from the final period, are covered only briefly. The final artwork, however, shows the small fortress at Betthorus, in present-day Jordan, that resembles early European feudal castles, with high walls and round towers, all of stone.

This book is an interesting, if brief, guide to the organization and employment of the Roman legions. Those primarily interested in fortifications, however, may find the lack of coverage somewhat disappointing.

Bolling Smith.

This review first appeared in the CDSG Journal, Vol. 20, Issue 2, May 2006, and is reprinted by kind permission of the author.

Fortress 44, American Coastal Defenses 1885-1950:

T McGovern & B Smith; illustrated by Peter Bull. ISBN 1.84176.922.3. 2006.

Both authors are FSG and CDSG members with impeccable credentials to write this volume of Fortress, which I am happy to report is up with the best of the series. Illustrative content, so important in a book of this kind, to catch the wandering eye, is top quality with sharp plans, lots of contemporary photos to bring active life to fortifications often now run down and neglected, and the text is well served by the McGovern Collection of photos, particularly the many pin-sharp aerials, including a fine photo of Fort Monroe on the cover.

The introduction delivers useful insights into the genesis, development and philosophy of America's coast defences; 'While virtually every nation recognized the superiority of forts over ships and relied on fortifications to protect their harbors, America took to them with particular enthusiasm. They particularly suited the American character. It required little manpower except during time of war and did not threaten the liberties of a people raised to distrust standing armies'. Not that this stopped them being periodically neglected and starved of resources, in common with all countries in all ages.

Battery Worth, Ft Casey, WA, in 1995; two 10-in guns on disappearing carriages. (McGovern Collection).

Battery Anderson, Ft Monroe, VA, in 1918; three M1890 12-in BL Mortars. (US Army Casemate Museum).

The authors set the scene for their period, starting with the early recognition that harbours would need protection while the nation gathered its manpower, through the post-War of 1812 Third System, the recommendations of the Endicott Board (1885) leading to the Endicott system which provided the basic pattern for American coast defences until their demise after WWII, being modified by the Taft Board (1906) to form the Endicott/Taft system on the way. 'It was the greatest defensive effort in the history of the country, and its remains still stand at virtually every significant harbor in the country. Compared to the older Third System works, the batteries of the breech-loading era, less obvious and less intuitive, have for decades been shrouded in ignorance and misperception. Only in recent years have the batteries and structures of the Modern Era (1885-1950) begun to receive the historical attention they deserve.' Much credit for this must go to the CDSG, and this book should be a considerable asset to help achieve that object.

The scale of the works is clearly indicated by map and list and the picture further clarified by the Chronology, a regular and most useful feature of the Fortress series. A chapter develops in more detail the various systems and programmes; the decision not to pursue the European turreted guns but rather the Buffington-Crozier disappearing carriage, and the spur to budget and works provided by the Spanish-American War in 1898; a major reorganization of the artillery in 1901 and the 1906 Taft Report which recommended new sites for modern guns and for the new territories, including Panama, Hawaii and the Philipines. The Coast Artillery (CAC) came into being in 1907 with a further reorganization, but between the two World Wars this service reached its nadir, only being revitalised in 1940; after the end of WWII no useful purpose could be proposed for a vast modern system, produced at great expense, and its demise was assured by the lessons of WWII and the demands for economy.

There follows a series of chapters detailing the various aspects of Coast Defence in the Modern Era; Life in the Coast Artillery; The fort; Armaments and batteries; Seacoast ammunition; US Army controlled submarine mines; Fire control and position finding; Searchlights; The forts today and Recommended reading - a comprehensive coverage. The text is a model of clarity, easily readable and not overfull of jargon; a glossary explains technical terms and the inevitable military acronyms.

This introduction to the purpose, development, and eventual abandonment of American coastal defenses in the 'Modern Era' - an era characterized by the use of powerful breech-loading guns and mortars mounted in earth and concrete batteries - covers the emplacements, weapons, and equipment, as well as the men who defended their country in peace and war. It is highly recommended.

Charles Blackwood.

Fortress 45, German Defences in Italy in World War II:

Neil Short; illustrated by Chris Taylor. ISBN 1.84176.938.X. 2006.

Along with the well-known Gustav, Hitler, Caesar and Gothic Lines there were 60 or so more Lines, some short from mountain to sea, but the majority cutting across the full width of Italy; plus 5 in the NE towards Jugoslavia and 3, largely Italian, in Sicily. Most are shown clearly on two maps which give an idea of the formidable obstacles placed in front of the Allies, trying to advance beside the spine of Italy and across a series of rivers; difficult enough before the construction of well planned, executed, armed obstructions, defended by a resourceful enemy. With the geography and climate of Italy being what they are, and the history of success of invasion from the south (last time 1400 years earlier in AD536) being less than promising, it is difficult to see why Italy should have been thought of as a 'soft underbelly'.

It took most of two years for the Allies to reach the Alps from Salerno, and this book by FSG member Neil Short gives a very good exposition of the part played by the German fortifications, many lacking depth, poorly constructed due to shortages of materials and time, and undermanned. The lines varied in both depth and strength, the southernmost being lightly defended delaying positions, the Gustav Line using natural features, particularly powerful rivers, while the Hitler Line relied on an elaborate system of defences 500-1000m deep with strong AT positions and minefields; here there were many Panther turrets, MG Panzernester (dug-in armoured machine gun turrets) and Pak 38 and 40 AT guns. The last major defensive line before Rome was the Caesar Line, and after Rome came the Gothic Line (renamed Green Line), the last substantial prepared position before the Alps.

The Allies did well to overcome them, never having much numerical superiority, but with an advantage in tanks and artillery, and a substantial advantage in air power. Chances to by-pass and outflank the defences were few.

The various defence features of the major lines are described, with clear sharp computer graphic illustrations, and their performance in battle, and the aftermath. Photos are nearly all b/w and contemporary. It is clear there is remarkably little left to see on the ground, apart from some concrete bunkers and command posts near the beach at Rimini; most sites referred to are cemeteries.

This volume is well up to the standards we have come to expect from the Fortress series and I am happy to recommend it to members.

Charles Blackwood.

Fortress 47, Fortifications of the Incas 1200-1531:

H W & J E Kaufmann; illustrated by Adam Hook. ISBN 1.84176.939.8. 2006.

For thousands of years the Inca were just one of many peoples living on the long west coast of South America, until a sudden expansion over a remarkably short period of about 100 years saw them subjugate the territories and kingdoms surrounding their mountain stronghold at Cuzco. 'By 1525 they dominated much of the west of the continent, relying on fortified strongholds, an extensive system of roads and bridges, and obligatory military service to control local populations', until overcome after the arrival of the Spaniards in 1531.

There is much here on the Inca military infrastructure, construction materials and techniques, and administrative organization. Five major Inca 'fortress areas' are described, as well as the Spanish conquest of 1526-72. While the conquest is described, it is not really clear exactly why and how very small numbers of Spaniards prevailed against very large numbers of a pretty war-like people. Resistance and rebellions carried on into the 1780s, when the old Inca fortresses were last used in anger.

There were several different styles of fortress, many involving a series of narrow parapetted terraces, to the 3 lines of zig-zag walls of close-fit stone at Sacsayhuamá, still impressive today after being largely demolished by the Spaniards to build their palaces and churches.

A very readable and enjoyable introduction to a fascinating and unusual fortification story.

Charles Blackwood.

Fortress 48, Vietcong and NVA Tunnels and fortifications of the Vietnam War:

G Rottman; illustrated by C Taylor, A Mallinson & L Ray. ISBN 1.84603.003.X. 2006.

The author fought in Vietnam with the Special forces from 1969-70, so writes with some direct experience of his subject.

Many readers will be aware of the famous Vietnamese tunnels of Cu Chi, just one example of the many low-tech, extensive, versatile and ingenious defence systems built by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army to so effectively counter massive US firepower.

Started in the late 1940s and evolving through the First Indochina war with France the tunnels were well developed by the time the Americans arrived in 1965; soldiers have always dug, but few have dug like the VC/NVA whose works included defended villages, base camps, fortified complexes, hilltop defences, trench systems, individual fighting positions, crew-served weapons positions, bunkers and caches. Varying terrain, soil and weather conditions called for a wide variety of building and camouflage techniques. The VC/NVA forces did not normally plan to hold ground and fight off assaults; defensive doctrine specified avoidance of contact if possible, fighting withdrawal after contact - or very close contact indeed, 'hugging', to negate their enemy's long range weapons and artillery.

The book covers the various types of bunker, shelter and tunnel and their construction, using simple diagrams and b/w photos. It also describes how very effective, well camouflaged and difficult to locate they were, extremely resistant to massive firepower, and the very considerable problems in overcoming them. Computer graphics are generally gloomy, all very properly jungley no doubt but not very helpful or informative.

Very little remains of the structures today, either VC/NVA or US ('Free World forces' as the book has it).

A good book; cogent, readable and rewarding. One cannot help but admire the very effective efforts of a low-tech army using mainly natural materials and conditions against a high-tech opponent who never did succeed in fully overcoming them.

Charles Blackwood.

Fortress 49, The Spanish Main 1492-1800:

René Chartrand; illustrated by Donato Spedaliere. ISBN 1.84603.005.6. 2006.

The English term 'Spanish Main' and all that implies with gold, treasure, pirates, fever and violent death, beautiful islands and seas, came to mean the whole of the Caribbean. The Spanish were the first to exploit the area, but when the English, Dutch and particularly the French caught on to just how fabulously wealthy it was, they all decided to get into the action, and many raids against Spanish towns were successful, overcoming early weak defences; Drake famously at Santo Domingo in 1585 and Cartagena de Indias in 1586. Key to the protection of the Spanish treasure fleets were firstly the introduction of a convoy system, then the development of powerful fortifications where the convoys could gather and shelter; and key to that element was King Felipe II's fortification plan of 1588. This led to the identification of ten major ports to be properly fortified in stone, eight round the Caribbean, one in Florida (Castillo San Marcos, St Augustine) and one at Panama to protect the treasure from Peru.

Key to the location and subsequent design and building of these fortresses was the Italian military engineer, Bautista Antonelli. While the intent was good, fortresses are expensive and slow to build, and as Spanish fortunes failed in Europe in the 1600s, so too in the Indies where many of the islands were occupied as bases by raiding French and English, whom the Spanish could not eject. Raids continued into the late 1700s, initially by pirates and privateers and latterly by national forces.

Morro Castle, Havana, mid C18th. (Donato Spedaliere)

The fall of Havana to the British in 1762 sent shockwaves through Spain and led to the initiation of a vast programme of reforms, and enormous sums were lavished on fortifications, the main beneficiaries being Havana where the huge fortification of San Carlos de la Cabaña occupied the high ground used by the British in their attack, and the fort of Castillo de Santo Domingo de Atares (oddly enough the book fails to mention the considerably larger Castillo del Pricipe (1767); San Juan, with its much strengthened citadel and massive and powerful San Cristobal lines; Cartagena, Veracruz, and others; all successful in their subsequent defence. The British failed at San Juan in 1797 when confronted with San Cristobal.

A splendid book, with numerous coloured photos; I particularly welcome the extensive use of contemporary plans, in b/w and colour, which are given the prominence they deserve. There is an inclination in this series to reduce these older plans to thumbnails, when many are decorative and informative, in favour of photos, which are sometimes neither. There is delightful artwork by Donato Spedaliere - full or double page very detailed illustrations of minor fortresses as well as the well known and splendid works of Castillo San Marcos, Florida; Havana; and San Juan on Puerto Rico. There is a contradiction in the drawing of San Cristobal where the numbers of embrasures shown in three works do not match the numbers given in the caption. Evidence suggests the drawing is correct.

Beware of all the 'Morro's - a quick scout in Spanish-English dictionaries gives several meanings but the most likely would appear to be 'snout', or headland (point is punta), hence the word's popularity.

This book admirably tells the story of the Spanish Main, in clear and concise language, easy to read and thoroughly well illustrated. It's a cracker, right up my street and an excellent addition to the Fortress series.

Charles Blackwood.