Barrage

A Barrage (from French of the same spelling) is the barrier formed by artillery fire. In land warfare to "put down" a barrage meant to concentrate artillery fire to clear ground on a line parallel to the front of an infantry attack and paralyze the defence. The main Naval barrage in the First World War was across the Straights of Dover, and was designed to keep enemy submarines from interfering with the passage of transport across, and merchant traffic in general.

See also: Bombardment.