Falmouth mattered as an anchorage and resupply point, but its surrounding water, rock, heights, and separated forts complicated any attempt to capture it. The defences did not wall off every beach; they made the prize less attractive relative to the force and time needed to take it. The height and rocky approaches of Pendennis and St Mawes also made them difficult for sailing warships to silence with cannon fire. Later Martello towers, Palmerston-era forts, and Chain Home extended the same principle by forcing attackers to spend more force, time, or ingenuity without making every approach impossible.
Notable Point · 5:51-11:56
Falmouth shows deterrence through cost and geography
Pendennis and St Mawes protected Carrick Roads by making a useful naval anchorage too costly and awkward to seize, illustrating the long history of defence by deterrence.