Casemate

Casemate, originally a loopholed gallery, since called a 'caponier,' from which, without risk of loss to themselves, the garrison of a fort could fire upon an enemy who had obtained possession of the ditch. The term is now applied to any bomb-proof vaulted chamber, even when merely used as quarters for the garrison. Casemates are utilised to cover guns, magazines, stores, or hospitals, from high-angle or vertical fire. When a gun casemate is constructed on the parapet, it is called a 'Haxo' casemate and has a bomb-proof masonry arch, covered as much as possible with earth. The ordinary gun casemate is usually under the parapet, and large enough to form a barrack. Iron shields are used to protect the embrasures or port-holes through which the guns fire in important works, and in many of modern construction, revolving iron turrets take the place of casemates. Mortar casemates, similar to those in which guns are placed, but with the front wall omitted, are generally under the parapet. The great want of ventilation in casemates renders them bad places for barracks; and the artillerymen are nearly stifled with smoke when firing from such confined places. See BOMB-PROOF.