A 19th-century-era block house in Fort York, Toronto

In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. Originally blockhouses were constructed as part of a large plan, to "block" access to vital points in the scheme. But from the Age of Exploration to the nineteenth century standard patterns of blockhouses were constructed for defence in frontier areas, particularly South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 86 KB) Taken by me, User:CannedLizard. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 86 KB) Taken by me, User:CannedLizard. ... A blockhouse at Fort York in 2004 Fort York is an historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength City of Toronto, Ontario, Canadas Location. ... Military science concerns itself with the study and of the diverse technical, psychological, and practical phenomena that encompass the events that make up warfare, especially armed combat. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... The so-called Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century, during which European ships were traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Blockhouses may be made of masonry where available, but were commonly made from very heavy timbers, sometimes even logs arranged in the manner of a log cabin. They were usually two or even three storeys, with all storeys being provided with embrasures or loopholes, and the uppermost storey would be roofed. If the structure was of timber, usually the upper storey would project outward from the lower so the upper storey defenders could fire on enemy attacking the lower storey, or perhaps pour water on any fires. When the structure had only one storey, its loopholes were often placed close to the ceiling, with a bench lining the walls inside for defenders to stand on, so that attackers could not easily reach the loopholes. Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar. ... Timber Timber is a term used to describe wood that has been processed for use —from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use —such as structural material for construction or wood pulp for paper production. ... A log can be: a cut portion of a tree bole or large branch (see logging) a time-sequential data record (see data logging) an Evil old man with the intent of world dominationEvil a logarithm used in mathematical calculations a log (speed) to measure the speed of a ship... Details of cabin corner joint with squared off logs A log cabin is a small house built from logs. ... This article is about the floor of a room or building. ... Categories: Fortification | Architectural elements | Stub ... The term loophole could refer to a number of things: See Embrasure; a slit in a castle wall Loophole (1954 movie) Loophole (1981 movie) for other meaning see Loophole at Wikionary Cash Loopholes ...

Blockhouses were normally entered via a sturdy, barred door at ground level. Most blockhouses were roughly square in plan, but some of the more elaborate ones were hexagonal or octagonal, to provide better all-around fire. In some cases, blockhouses became the basis for complete forts, by building a palisade with the blockhouse at one corner, and possibly a second tower at the opposite corner. Many historical stone blockhouses have survived, and a few timber ones have been restored at historical sites. In New Zealand, a number of one storey timber blockhouses survive from the Maori Wars, while stone blockhouses from the Boer War are relatively common in South Africa. A plan is a proposed or intended method of getting from one set of circumstances to another. ... A regular hexagon A hexagon is a polygon with six edges and six vertices. ... One of the 8 semi-regular tessellations: octagons and squares An octagon is a polygon that has eight sides. ... Palisade and Moat A palisade is a Medieval wooden fence or wall of variable height, used as a defensive structure. ... The term Māori Wars, now more commonly referred to as the New Zealand Wars, or sometimes The Land Wars, refers to a series of conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872. ... Boer guerrillas during the Second Boer War There were two Boer wars, one from December 16, 1880-March 23, 1881 and the second from October 11, 1899-May 31, 1902 both between the British and the settlers of Dutch, French and German origin (called Boers, Afrikaners or Voortrekkers) in South...

Concrete blockhouses

A pillbox on the East coast of England. Part of the defences build during World War II (the railings are a modern addition)

During the First and Second World Wars many types of blockhouses were built, when time allowed they were usually constructed of reinforced concrete. The major difference between a blockhouses and a bunker is that a bunker is constructed mostly below ground level while a blockhouse is constructed mostly above ground level. A pillbox on the East coast on England. ... A pillbox on the East coast on England. ... A bunker is a defensive warfare fortification to protect personnel or equipment. ...

Some blockhouses like those constructed in England in 1940 were built for traditional fortification reasons, they were often hexagonal in shape and were called pillboxes. Between 20 and 30 thousand were built in Britain during the WWII. A bunker is a defensive warfare fortification to protect oneself. ...

In London the Admiralty Citadel is one of the most sturdy above ground structures built during World War II. It was constructed in 1940-1941 as a bomb-proof operations centre for the Admiralty, with foundations nine metres deep and a concrete roof six metres thick. A number of military citadels exist under central London, dating mostly from the Second World War and the Cold War. ...

WWII Flak Tower in Vienna

In Berlin and other cities during World War II some massive blockhouses were built as air-raid shelters and anti-aircraft artillery platforms. They were called Hochbunker "High Bunkers" and those which functioned as anti-aircraft artillery platforms were also called Flak Towers. Some were over 6 stories high. Several survive to this day because the cost of demolition would be prohibitive. The Pallasstrasse air-raid shelter, Schöneberg has a post-war block of flats built over the shelter. During the Cold War the shelter was in use as a NATO food-store.[1] For Copyright see http://de. ... For Copyright see http://de. ... Flak towers (German: Flakturm) were large AA gun blockhouses used by the Luftwaffe to prevent overflights of key areas in certain cities in World War II. They also served as air-raid shelters for tens of thousands of people and to coordinate air defence. ... Vienna (German: Wien [viːn]; Hungarian: Bécs, Czech: Vídeň, Slovak: Viedeň, Romany Vidnya; Serbian: Beč) is the capital of Austria, and also one of Austrias nine states (Land Wien). ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... Air raid shelters are structures for the protection of the civil population as well as military personnel against enemy attacks from the air. ... Flak towers (German: Flakturm) were large AA gun blockhouses used by the Luftwaffe to prevent overflights of key areas in certain cities in World War II. They also served as air-raid shelters for tens of thousands of people and to coordinate air defence. ... Schöneberg is a district of Berlin. ... For the generic term for a high-tension struggle between countries, see cold war (war). ...

External links

1. Berlin Air-raid Shelters, Flak Towers and Bunkers

• http://www.heritage.me.uk/misc/pillboxes.htm
• Information on Australian World War 2
• British World War 2 Fortifications
• Bunker Pictures: Pictures, locations, information about bunkers from WW2 and The Atlantikwall