庚子大沽口之战再分析——以大沽炮台火炮装备及使用情况为中心

Reevaluation of the Role of Artillery in the Battle of Taku in 1900

在海防战事中,武器装备对战斗的结局具有重大影响,但人的因素依然对战争胜负起到了决定性作用。本文通过叶祖珪《沿江沿海各省炮台图说》等新见史料,对庚子大沽口之战时大沽各炮台的火炮配置与战斗中的使用情况做了梳理。尽管大沽炮台装备精良,但在建筑设计上存在忽视后路防御的致命弱点,火炮配置和运用方面也有众多不合理之处。联军从炮台背后发起攻击、守军素质不佳,是导致炮台迅速陷落的直接原因。

In coastal defense warfare,weapons have a major impact on the outcome of a single battle,but human factors still play a decisive role in the outcome of the entire war.This article uses new historical materials such as Ye Zugui’s Maps and Introduction of River and Coastal Forts with Canons to detail the weapons and operations of the Taku Fort during its defense against forces of the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900.Although it was equipped with superior weaponry,the design of the building neglected to maintain a sufficient level of firepower at its rear.Moreover,the troops garrisoning the fortress suffered from lack of training.As a result,the forces of the EightNation Alliance were able to strike from behind and rapidly capture the fortress.