Countermining
Countermining is a military engineering practice focused on counteracting enemy mining operations, particularly tunnels dug beneath fortifications to breach walls or supply lines during sieges. The aim is to detect, intercept, and neutralize these tunnels while protecting the defenders’ works. It is a component of the broader field of sapping and mining and has been used to preserve fortress integrity when underground approaches were a threat.
Historically, countermining features prominently in siege warfare across various periods and cultures. Engineers on both sides
Techniques and considerations in countermining are typically described in historical engineering literature as focusing on reconnaissance,
See also: sapping and mining; siege warfare; tunnel warfare.