Outpost (military)

Military post

For other uses, see Outpost.

Look up outpost in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Combat Outpost Keating in Nurestan Province, Afghanistan Part of a series on

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A military outpost is detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks, serving as the first line of defense. The station occupied by such troops, usually a small military base or settlement in an outlying frontier, limit, political boundary or in another country. Outposts can also be called miniature military bases based on size and number of troops it houses.[1] Oldest known use is from the 16th century "station when on duty, a fixed position or place," 1590s, from French poste "place where one is stationed,"

## Recent military use

[edit]

Military outposts, most recently referred to as combat outposts (COPs), served as a cornerstone of counterinsurgency doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan. These permanent or semi-permanent structures, often located in or near populated areas, enabled military forces to secure key lines of communication or infrastructure, secure and co-opt the populace, assist the government in restoring essential services, and force insurgents to operate elsewhere.[2] Combat outposts were almost unanimously described in positive terms by defense analysts and military officers as a means through which to carry out its counterinsurgency efforts.[3]

## See also

[edit]

* Blockhouse
* Border outpost
* Forward operating base
* Human outpost
* Military base
* Observation post
* Satellite airfield
* Screening (tactic)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Dictionary meaning: Outpost; TheFreeDictionary; An online Dictionary and Thesaurus
2. ^ Seidel, S. B. (2010). Planning Combat Outposts to Maximize Population Security. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved from [http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a538711.pdf Article title]
3. ^ Hsia, Timothy (2008). "A Quick Review of Combat Outposts (COPs)" (PDF). Small Wars Journal.

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Fortifications

Ancient|

* Abatis
* Acropolis
* Agger
* Broch
* Burgus
* Caltrop
* Castellum
* Castra
* Castros
* Chengqiang
* Circular rampart
* City gate
* Crannog
* Ditch
* Defensive wall
* Dun
* Faussebraye
* Gatehouse
* Gord
* Hillfort
* Landwehr
* Limes
* Nuraghe
* Oppidum
* Palisade
* Pincer gate
* Promontory fort
* Rampart
* Ringfort (Rath)
* Refuge castle
* Schwedenschanze
* Stockade
* Sudis
* Trou de loup
* Vallum
* Wagon fort (Laager)
* Vitrified fort

Post-classical|

* Advanced work
* Albarrana tower
* Alcazaba
* Alcázar
* Amba
* Arrowslit
* Barbican
* Bartizan
* Bastion
* Battery tower
* Battlement
* Bawn
* Bent entrance
* Bergfried
* Berm
* Boom
* Bretèche
* Bridge castle
* Bridge tower
* Burh
* Butter-churn tower
* Caer
* Castle
* Chamber gate
* Chartaque
* Chashi
* Chemin de ronde
* Chemise
* Cheval de frise
* Citadel
* Coercion castle
* Concentric castle
* Corner tower
* Counter-castle
* Curtain
* Drawbridge
* Enceinte
* Embrasure
* Flanking tower
* Fortified buildings (church, house, Dzong)
* Fujian tulou
* Ganerbenburg
* Gate tower
* Gabion
* Glacis
* Guard tower
* Gulyay-gorod
* Gusuku
* Half tower
* Hoarding
* Inner bailey
* Kasbah
* Keep
* Kremlin (Detinets)
* Ksar
* Landesburg
* Loophole
* L-plan castle
* Machicolation
* Merlon
* Moat
* Motte-and-bailey
* Murder hole
* Neck ditch
* Outer bailey
* Outwork
* Parapet
* Peel tower
* Portcullis
* Postern
* Powder tower
* Qalat
* Reduit
* Ribat
* Ricetto
* Ringwork
* Roundel
* Quadrangular castle
* Shell keep
* Shield wall
* Shiro
* Toll castle
* Tower castle
* Tower house
* Turret
* Viking ring fortress
* Wall tower
* Bailey (or ward)
* Watchtower
* Witch tower
* Yagura
* Yett
* Zwinger

Modern|

| Early modern|

* Abwurfdach
* Arsenal
* Barricade
* Bastion
* Blockhouse
* Breastwork
* Canal
* Caponier
* Casemate
* Cavalier
* Counterguard
* Couvreface
* Coupure
* Covertway
* Crownwork
* Device Forts
* Entrenchment
* Flèche
* Gorge
* Gunpowder magazine
* Hornwork
* Kotta mara
* Lunette
* Magazine
* Orillon
* Ostrog
* Palanka
* Place-of-arms
* Polygonal fort
* Presidio (Spanish America)
* Punji sticks
* Ravelin
* Redan
* Redoubt
* Retrenchment
* Sally port
* Sandbag
* Scarp and Counterscarp
* Sconce
* Schanze
* Sea fort
* Station
* Star fort
* Tenaille

|

19th century|

* Barbed wire
* Barbette
* Border outpost
* Bunker
* Coastal artillery
* Disappearing gun
* Fire control tower
* Gun turret
* Land mine
* Martello tower
* Outpost
* Polygonal fort
* Sangar
* Wire obstacles

20th century|

* Admiralty scaffolding
* Air raid shelter
* Anti-tank trench
* Barbed tape
* Belgian gate
* Blast shelter
* Blast wall
* Border security
* Bomb shelter
* Buoy
* Bremer wall
* Concertina wire
* Defensive fighting position
* British "hedgehog" road block
* Czech hedgehog
* Dragon's teeth
* Entry control point (ECP)
* Electric fence
* Fallout shelter
* Fire support base
* Flak tower
* Hardened aircraft shelter
* Hesco bastion
* Kabal
* Loophole
* Main line of resistance
* Missile launch facility
* Pillbox
* Revetment
* Sentry gun
* Spider hole
* Submarine pen
* Underground hangar
* Weapon storage area
* Weapons Storage and Security System

By topography|

* Cave castle
* Hill castle
* Hillfort
* Hillside castle
* Hilltop castle
* Island castle
* Lowland castle
* Marsh castle
* Moated castle
* Promontory fort
* Ridge castle
* Rocca
* Rock castle
* Spur castle
* Water castle
* Floating water castle

By role|

* Border barrier
* Coastal defence
* Coercion castle
* Counter-castle
* Fence
* Ganerbenburg
* Hunting lodge
* Imperial castle
* Kaiserpfalz
* Landesburg
* Lustschloss
* Military base
* Obstacle
* Ordensburg
* Refuge castle
* Toll castle
* Urban castle

By design|

* Bastion fort
* Bridge castle
* Circular rampart
* Concentric castle
* L-plan castle
* Motte-and-bailey castle
* Quadrangular castle
* Ringfort
* Ringwork
* Tower castle
* Z-plan castle

Lists|

* Bastion forts
* Castles
* Cities with defensive walls
* Defense line
* Fortified estate
* Fortifications
* Forts
* Military installations
* Walls

Related word|

* Castle town
* Château
* Dungeon
* Festung
* Fortified gateway
* Gatekeeper
* Loophole
* National redoubt
* Palas
* Picket
* Schloss
* Trench
* Vedette

Other topics|

* Civil defense
* Continuity of government
* Military urbanism
* Subterranean warfare
* Siege
* Siege engine
* list
* Tunnel warfare
* Trench warfare
* Urban warfare
* Guerrilla

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