coastal artillery

coastal artillery, weapons for discharging missiles, placed along the shore for defense against naval attack. In the 15th century the Turks used coastal artillery when they positioned guns to defend the Dardanelles. By the 19th century all leading military powers had defensive artillery emplacements to protect their coastal cities, harbours, and strategic waterways. Coastal artillery reached its peak of development in the first quarter of the 20th century, when important harbours and naval bases were...