How dangerous is a salient really? What are some examples in history of one?
by 
Richard Sorge
ANSWERS: 2
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this is the definition that i found sa·li·ent (sl-nt, slynt) adj. 1. Projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding. 2. Strikingly conspicuous; prominent. See Synonyms at noticeable. 3. Springing; jumping: salient tree toads. n. 1. A military position that projects into the position of the enemy. 2. A projecting angle or part. I suppose a good example of this is The Battle of the Bulge in WWII. It's dangerous because it means that the enemy is pushing into your line and may break it, seperating your troops and possibly has a free run at their objective
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There have actually been several famous salients in history. Strategists agree that a salient can be either a benefit or a curse depending on the situation and the relative strength of the opponents. Two that I am very familiar with are the "Horseshoe" at the 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania in the American Civil War and the Kursk salient at the Battle of Kursk in July of 1943. The soldiers defending a salient have several advantages: interior lines for moving troops around and an excellent springboard to launch an offensive in one of three directions that will, by definition, begin behind the majority of the enemy's front line. Those outside, by contrast, have to move supplies and troops all the way around a salient in order to attack or react. However, those inside the salient have at least one disadvantage, and it's a big one. Dangling out from there own friendly lines, the troops in a salient are extremely vulnerable to being cut off from their own rear areas and surrounded.
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