Continental powers must hold long land borders, making fortresses, siegecraft, and mounted patrols enduring specialties. Vauban's French system reflects the need to defend and reduce fortified positions along those frontiers. Britain faces a different problem because an invader must first establish a landing across the sea. Its answer is a standing force able to attack the foothold rapidly, before reinforcement becomes safer and easier.
Notable Point · 1:12:04-1:14:35
Borders determine fortifications and response forces
France's fortified land frontiers favored Vauban's siege system, while Britain emphasized mobile forces able to crush a landing before it gained a secure foothold.