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{{short description|Using ladders to scale defensive walls}}
{{for|the [[SUV|sport utility vehicle]]|Cadillac Escalade}}
{{forabout|the siege tactic|the SUV|Cadillac Escalade|the attack of Geneva in 1602 and the Swiss celebration|L'Escalade|the proposed entertainment complex|Grand Canyon Escalade}}
 
[[Image:Scaling ladder in ancient China.JPG|150pxjpg|right|thumb|[[Xi'A replica of an]] Scalingancient scaling ladder inused ancientfor Chinaescalade, in ([[replicaXi'an]], [[China]])]]▼
{{Unreferenced|date=May 2007}}
'''Escalade''' is the act of [[wikt:scale#Verb|scaling]] [[defensive wall]]s or [[Rampart (fortification)|ramparts]] with the aid of [[ladder]]s. Escalade was a prominent feature of [[siege]]s in [[Ancient warfare|ancient]] and [[medieval warfare]], and though it is no longer common in [[modern warfare]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Firnhaber-Baker |first=Justine |date=2010 |title=Techniques of seigneurial war in the fourteenth century |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmedhist.2009.10.001 |journal=Journal of Medieval History |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=90–103 |doi=10.1016/j.jmedhist.2009.10.001 |s2cid=159915063 |issn=0304-4181}}</ref> escalade technologies are still developed and used in certain tactical applications.
 
== Overview ==
▲[[Image:Scaling ladder in ancient China.JPG|150px|right|thumb|[[Xi'an]] Scaling ladder in ancient China ([[replica]])]]
Escalade consisted simplyconsists of attacking soldiers advancing to the base of a wall, setting ladders, and climbing to engage the defending forces. ThisThough very simple and direct, it was also one of the most dangerous options available; escalade would generally be conducted in the face of [[arrow]] fire from the [[Battlement|battlements]], and the defenders would naturally attempt to push ladders away from the wall. [[Early thermal weapons|Heated or incendiary substances]] such as boiling water, [[heated sand]], and [[Pitch (resin)|pitch]] -coated missiles were sometimes poured on attacking soldiers. AsThis the result of all this,made it was often difficult for attackers to reach the top of the wall., Evenand whenthose theythat did so,would however,often they wouldquickly be heavily outnumberedoverwhelmed by the defenders. Often,on the objective of escalade was not to take the fortification itselfwalls, asonly itbeing was thought impossibleable to getpush sufficient numbers of troops upinto the ladders.defenses Rather,after infiltrationsuffering in this manner had the intention of opening the fortification's gates, to allow a more directheavy attackattrition.▼
'''Escalade''' is the act of scaling [[defensive wall]]s or ramparts with the aid of [[ladder]]s, and was a prominent feature of [[siege]] warfare in [[Middle Ages|medieval]] times. It was one of the most direct options available for attacking a fortification, but was also one of the most dangerous.
 
Fortifications were often constructed in such a way as to impede escalade, or at least to make it a less attractive option. Some of the measures takenCountermeasures to counter escalade included the digging of [[moat]]s (which prevented ladder-bearing soldiers from reaching the base of a wall), the construction of [[machicolation]]s (which facilitated attacks on enemy soldiers while they climbed), and walls incorporating a [[Talus_%28fortification%29Talus (fortification)|talus]] featurewalls (which could weaken ladders or were too tall for ladders to reach the top of).▼
▲Escalade consisted simply of soldiers advancing to the base of a wall, setting ladders, and climbing to engage the defending forces. This would generally be conducted in the face of [[arrow]] fire from the battlements, and the defenders would naturally attempt to push ladders away from the wall. [[Early thermal weapons|Heated or incendiary substances]] such as boiling water, [[sand]] and [[Pitch (resin)|pitch]] coated missiles were sometimes poured on attacking soldiers. As the result of all this, it was often difficult for attackers to reach the top of the wall. Even when they did so, however, they would be heavily outnumbered by the defenders. Often, the objective of escalade was not to take the fortification itself, as it was thought impossible to get sufficient numbers of troops up the ladders. Rather, infiltration in this manner had the intention of opening the fortification's gates, to allow a more direct attack.
 
[[File:Battle of Badajoz.jpg|thumb|left|The escalade during the [[Siege of Badajoz (1812)|Siege of Badajoz]] in 1812, part of the [[Peninsular War]]]]
▲Fortifications were often constructed in such a way as to impede escalade, or at least to make it a less attractive option. Some of the measures taken to counter escalade included the digging of [[moat]]s (which prevented ladder-bearing soldiers from reaching the base of a wall), the construction of [[machicolation]]s (which facilitated attacks on enemy soldiers while they climbed), and walls incorporating a [[Talus_%28fortification%29|talus]] feature.
Because of the difficulties involved, escalade was usuallytypically very costly for the attackers. Two critical factors in determining the success or failure of escalade were the number of ladders and the speed with which they could be arranged. A slow attack gave the defenders too much time to pick off the attackers with arrows, while having too few ladders meant that the number of troops would be insufficient to capture the battlements. A third important factor was the estimation of the height of the wall. If the ladders were made too long, they could be pushed over by the defenders, and if they were too short, the attackers would not be able to reach the top of the wall. Tactics employed included getting as many men as possible on the ladder at the same time (the more men that were on the ladder at the same time, the heavier it became, making pushing it over difficult), attacking by night, or scaling a remote section of the wall.▼
 
Escalade was, in essence, an attempt to overwhelm defenders in a [[Frontal assault|direct assault]] rather than sit through a protracted siege. Attackers would generally attempt escalade if they had reasonreasons for wanting a swift conclusion, or if they had an overwhelming superiority in numbers. Otherwise, less costly siege tactics were often preferred.▼
▲Because of the difficulties involved, escalade was usually very costly for the attackers. Two critical factors in determining the success or failure of escalade were the number of ladders and the speed with which they could be arranged. A slow attack gave the defenders too much time to pick off the attackers with arrows, while having too few ladders meant that the number of troops would be insufficient to capture the battlements.
 
== Modern warfare ==
▲Escalade was, in essence, an attempt to overwhelm defenders in a direct assault rather than sit through a protracted siege. Attackers would generally attempt escalade if they had reason for wanting a swift conclusion, or if they had an overwhelming superiority in numbers. Otherwise, less costly siege tactics were often preferred.
[[File:GIGN29 Domenjod 140618.jpg|thumb|[[GIGN]] operators using a modern assault ladder installed on the roof of a [[Sherpa Light]] armored vehicle]]
Escalade is no longer common in modern warfare, as new technologies and tactics have essentially made escalade obsolete; for example, most fortified walls that would have required attackers to use escalade may now simply be destroyed by [[Explosive weapon|explosives]] or nullified by [[military aircraft]].
 
However, escalade still exists as a viable (albeit niche) combat tactic, and is occasionally used by [[Police tactical unit|police tactical]], [[Counterterrorism|counterterrorist]], and [[special forces]] units to raid a structure through its upper levels, either to avoid a barricaded entrance or line of sight, or to breach the structure from multiple points. Mechanical assault ladders, typically installed on the roof of vehicles and featuring ramps that can extend or angle themselves to reach an entry point such as a [[window sill]] or [[balcony]], are often used in this capacity.
Modern assaulters sometimes use off-the-shelf ladders or firefighting ladder trucks to attack a building through upper windows and balconies. Purpose-modified vans and trucks with a variety of ramps, ladders, and stairs on the roof are also available. [[SWAT]] teams and other special forces units often put these to use to raid a house through an upper window and the front door simultaneously.
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
== See also ==
* [[Siege tower]]
* [[L'Escalade]], the celebration of the of the surprise attack by Duke Charles Emmanuel of [[Savoy]]'s troop on the city of [[Geneva]] in [[1602]]. The attack was conducted by escalade, which gave its name (in [[French language|French]]) to the yearly event.
* [[L'Escalade]], the commemoration of the failed attack on [[Geneva]] by [[Savoy]] in 1602, conducted by escalade
[[Category:Siege tactics|Escalade]]▼
 
▲[[Category:Siege tactics|Escalade]]
[[ja:雲梯]]
[[Category:Assault tactics]]
[[zh:云梯]]
[[Category:Ladders]]
[[Category:Siege equipment]]
[[Category:Siege engines]]
[[Category:Medieval siege engines]]
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