Manning the Rammas Echor

[The Mouth of Sauron]

Tolkien stated that the Rammas Echor was "ten leagues or more" in length.

How many men would Gondor have had to devote to garrisoning an out-wall that length?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

Tolkien stated that the Rammas Echor was "ten leagues or more" in length.

How many men would Gondor have had to devote to garrisoning an out-wall that length?

This is one of those math story problems I hated in school; hence, I became an English major.

But as an English major once force-fed a wide range of world literature (some of which I even enjoyed), I believe the answer is obvious...

42.

P.S. Considering a "league" is 3 statute miles (thus Rammas Echor was approximately 30 miles long), the correct answer would be that Gondor, even at the height of its power, could not man the whole wall; therefore small forts or bastions judiciously-spaced were the more likely means of defense.

[Inziladun]

Deja vu.

The Rammas may have been more of a morale booster to the Minas Tirith denizens than a serious defense. As Morth said, trying to keep such a barrier fully manned would have required more soldiery than Minas Tirith could muster, and if it was tried anyway, once invaders overcame the wall there would have been little between them and the City.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Deja vu.

The Rammas may have been more of a morale booster to the Minas Tirith denizens than a serious defense. As Morth said, trying to keep such a barrier fully manned would have required more soldiery than Minas Tirith could muster, and if it was tried anyway, once invaders overcame the wall there would have been little between them and the City.

The wall was meant to impede invaders, not stop them. A series of redoubts (like the Causeway Forts along the road to Osgiliath), could be defended for a time, but it was simply a delaying tactic. As a historical example, Hadrian's Wall in Northern England was never fully defended, nor was it meant to be. But there were milecastles supported by troops.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

The wall was meant to impede invaders, not stop them. A series of redoubts (like the Causeway Forts along the road to Osgiliath), could be defended for a time, but it was simply a delaying tactic. As a historical example, Hadrian's Wall in Northern England was never fully defended, nor was it meant to be. But there were milecastles supported by troops.

I agree on the impediment idea, but I still think the Wall would have had some psychological benefit after Ithilien fell, giving some sense of security to those in Minas Tirith.

[tom the eldest]

Im imagining that the wall is just a wall,no soldier can get up the wall.instead mYbe the are several entrances,and that entrances is guarded by a fort(causeway fort could be an example).and so that could save up men,bacause the only thing that need to be manned is the fort itself.