Deadly Crossfire

If enemy troops landed on the beach and started across the moat, howitzers in the bastions extending outward from the fort's six exterior walls could catch them in a crossfire. These technologically advanced bastions were designed for 71 howitzers, which could fire canisters spewing golf ball-sized iron balls in a shotgun pattern along the exterior walls or as far as 150 yards over the moat and beach into the sea. If attacking soldiers reached the moat, 24-pound flank defense howitzer cannon in the flanking bastions could spray a devastating curtain of fire from each bastion.