A vedette is a mounted sentry or
picket, who has the function of bringing information, giving signals or warnings of danger, etc., to a main body of
troop
A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troop Ro ...
s. In modern terms, the soldiers who man listening-posts are the equivalent of vedettes.
Naval
Navies use the term ''vedette'' to refer to a small scouting or patrol boat.
The term has also been used for specific naval vessels (see
USS ''Vedette''), and a class of flying boat (see
Canadian Vickers Vedette
The Canadian Vickers Vedette was the first aircraft designed and built in Canada to meet a specification for Canadian conditions. It was a single-engine biplane flying boat purchased to meet a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) demand for a smaller ...
).
Structures
All around
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in the south western part of central southern England covering . It is part of a system of chalk downlands throughout eastern and southern England formed by the rocks of the Chalk Group and largely lies wi ...
in southern England, the roads connecting the plain with the surrounding countryside feature brick-built guard-posts, manned by security officers whenever there is military activity beyond such points. They are known as vedettes, and each one is named for a local geographic feature.
The Gardjola is a prominent
guard tower
A guard tower is any military tower used for guarding an area. These towers are usually operated by military personnel, and are structures built in areas of established control. These include military bases and cities occupied by military forces. ...
on Maltese forts in Malta and an example of a vedette.
It may be referred to in French as an ''
échauguette''.
Notes
References
*
Cavalry units and formations
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