> What was the effectiveness of these forts? Very, until firepower significantly increased and powerful long range direct hits with piercing high explosive she

> What was the effectiveness of these forts? Very, until firepower significantly increased and powerful long range direct hits with piercing high explosive shells as well as ballistic shots (mortar, long range artillery) would just render the defence moot. From the article: > Fortifications of this type continued to be effective while the attackers were armed only with cannons, where the majority of the damage inflicted was caused by momentum from the impact of solid shot. While only low explosives such as black powder were available, explosive shells were largely ineffective against such fortifications. The development of mortars, high explosives, and the consequent large increase in the destructive power of explosive shells. Plunging fire rendered the intricate geometry of such fortifications irrelevant. Warfare was to become more mobile You can see this in WW1 (e.g battle of Verdun), where battlefields and front lines are very spread out and mobile[0], and key points like forts[1] are out of town, have much simpler geometry, and are dug deep to protect from artillery. Also, growing use of reinforced concrete. Trivia: there was a level on C&C 3 (GDI Mission 10, Sarajevo) that I remember playing and as the map unfolded I saw that this was actually sort of a Vauban fort! [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun#/media/File:Ground_captured_by_the_German_5th_Army,_Verdun,_February_to_June_1916.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun#/media/File:G... [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun#/media/File:Fort_Douaumont_Anfang_1916.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun#/media/File:F... [2]: https://youtu.be/hPmhXC41mUQ?t=1575 https://youtu.be/hPmhXC41mUQ?t=1575