Manual of Military Engineering - Chapter I - Preliminary

Nov 4, 2026

Manual of Military Engineering presents principles and practical guidance for fortification and related military works. It explains the purpose of fortification as strengthening ground and improving the efficiency of defenders while enabling decisive offensive actions. Key conditions include choosing the right ground, clearing the foreground, concealment, providing cover, creating obstacles, and improving internal communications for counter-attacks. The chapter also covers knowledge of fire effects, rifle sighting distances, bullet trajectories, and defensive design considerations. It includes material thickness guidance for protection against modern rifle bullets.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages328

Reading Time13 h 47 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Part I

Part II

Chapter I - Preliminary

Objects of Fortification

Fire Effect and Rifle Characteristics

Proof Thickness of Materials

MANUAL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING. GENERAL STAFF,WAR OFFICE. 以江 ,( LOND0N: PRINTED FOB HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFICE,BY HARRISON AND SONS,ST.MARTIN’S LANE,PRINTERS N ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY. And to be purchased,either directly or through any Bookseller,fromWYMAN AND SONS,LTD.,FRTTEB LANE,E.C.;orOLIVER AND BOYD,EDINBUBGH;Or上.PONSONBY,116,GBAFTOx SrREET,DUBLIN. 1905. Price One Shilliny. 0, 0t:三3■八2Cn10000元20了\#C (4的4 5,000〈Wt.1146435,0009105—H&S 5289)10的/5n} a,7.2 o& Lr wui*347~5A,+/10.4.g 1h.4r Wu31074 m. for the guidance of all concerned. ld Gn d ○ WSUud q WAR OFFICE,8th August,1905. # CONTENTS. | CHAPTER. | SUBJECT. | | | PAGE. | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 一
II. | PART I.
Tn ^rnmD
FIELD GEOMETRI .. .. . . .. | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | . | | | 12 | | | WoRKING PARTIES AND ExECUTION OF IN-
口 — rm | | | 14 | | | | | | | | V. | MATERIALS .. .. .. . .. .. | | | 17 | | VI. | REVET】ENTS.. .. .. .. .. .. | | | 23 | | VII. | .. | | | 25 | | VIII. | IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING COVER,STOCKADES,
&c... .. .. .. . .. .. | | | 26 | | | | | | | | IX. | EARTHWORKS.. .. .. .. .. .. | | | 31 | | X. | OBSTACLES .. .. .. .. .. . | | | 41 | | XI. | DEFENCE OR PosTS,VILLAGES AND CAMPs .. | | | 44 | | XII. | TBMPOBARY RoADS.. . .. .. .. | | | 51 | | XIII. | KNOTTING AND LASHINGS.. .. .. .. | | | 52 | | XIV. | MILITARY BRIDGES., .. .. .. .. | | | 55 | | XV. | CAMPING ARRANGEMENTS.. .. .. .. | | | 68 | | XVI.
XVII. | HASTY DEMOLITIONs WITH ExPLOSIVES.. .
DEMOLITION OF RAILWAYS AND TELE-
GRAPHS WITHOUT ExPLOSIVES ..
PART II. | | | 78 | | | | | | | | | | | | 96 | | | | | | | | XVIII.
XIX. | STRENGTH OF MATERIALS AND BuoTANCY ..
BLOCKS AND TACKLES—USE OF SPARS.. .. | | | 101
107 | | | | | | | | XX.
XXI. | FRAME AND CANTILEVEB BRIDGES,FBA
TRESTLES,SUSPENSION BRIDGES,AND C
PIERS
DEMOLITION ORMULE AND WORKING PA | | MED
ASK | 109 | | | | | RTY | | | | TABLE,&c.
·· | | | 118 | | XXIT. | RoADS—BoNING AND LEVELLING
·· | | | 123 | | XXIII. | RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPHS ..
.·
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
··
::
INDEY
··
·· | | ·· | 128
137 | | | | | | 140 | MANUAL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING. (This book is divided into two parts. Oficcrs should bethoroughly acquainted with the matter dealt zvith in Part I.Part II contains infor'mation useful for reference. The types of the various wo:ks describeil will vary according tothe conditions of time,labour',and material. Oficer's and Non-commissioned Officer's in charge of worksshould,while bearing the principles in zind,learn to modify thetypes ascording to locai conditions.) # CHAPTER I.—PRELIMINARY.. (See also"CoMBINED TRAINING,"1905,Section 123,andfollowing sections.) 1.The object of fortification is to strengthen ground,and by Objects ofthus economising the numbers of the defenders,to swell the fortifca-tiontorce available tor ofensive movements, by which alonedecisive results can be obtained.This object is secured byfulfilling,as far as possible,the following conditions:— (a)The position to be defended must be chosen with due Generalregard to tactical requirements,and with a view principles.to economising men;its strong and weak pointsmust be carefuliy studied. (b)The enemy in attacking should be exposed as muchas possible to the fire of the defenders during theadvance.To this end the foreground may requiremore or less clearing. (c)Every endeavour must be made to deceive the cnemyas to the strength and dispositi

FAQs

What is the object of fortification according to the manual?

Fortification strengthens ground and economises defenders, increasing the available fortification force for offensive movements. Decisive results are pursued by fulfilling specified conditions.

What conditions must guide the choice and preparation of a defended position?

The manual lists principles including choosing the ground for tactical requirements, studying strong and weak points, clearing the foreground to expose the enemy, concealment, provision of cover, creation of obstacles, and improving communications for counter-attack.

How does the chapter address firearms and defensive design inputs?

It emphasizes a thorough knowledge of the fire effect of all arms to design good defence works. It notes modern rifle sighting distances and the bullet slope of descent, and provides guidance on material thickness proof against rifle bullets.

Nov 4, 2026

Uploaded by WPS_1790064749