Fortress


Position of the fortresses.

Map
All the fortresses are triangular except Chaudfontaine, Embourg, Flémalle and Pontisse wich are quadrangular. There were also two declassified, old fortresses 'La Citadelle' and 'La Chartreuse'


Organisation.

(Situation august 1, 1914)

Commander : Colonel Marcin

Deputy : Colonel Eckstein

1° Bataillon

Commander : Major Laitat

  Fortress     Commander     Large / Small  
  Barchon     Capitaine Commandant Hannefstingels     Large  
  Evegnée     Capitaine Commandant Genonceaux     Small  
  Fléron     Capitaine Commandant Mozin     Large  
  Chaudfontaine     Capitaine Commandant Namèche     Small  

2° Bataillon

Commander : Major Sapin

  Fortress     Commander     Large / Small  
  Embourg     Capitaine Commandant Bovier     Small  
  Boncelles     Capitaine Commandant Lefert     Large  

3° Bataillon

Commander : Major Doneux

  Fortress     Commander     Large / Small  
  Flémalle     Capitaine Commandant Falise     Large  
  Hollogne     Capitaine Commandant Cuisinier     Small  
  Loncin     Capitaine Commandant Naessens     Large  

4° Bataillon

Commander : X (?)

  Fortress     Commander     Large / Small  
  Lantin     Capitaine Commandant Fabry     Small  
  Liers     Capitaine Commandant Demany     Small  
  Pontisse     Capitaine Commandant Speesen     Large  


Equipment.

The construction of these fortresses was, together with these of Namur, executed in 3 years, from 1888 to 1891. They where build in concrete, wich however wasn't reinforced, and had steel cupolas.
The armament consisted of 5,7 cm Nordenfeld , 12 cm Krupp, 15 cm Krupp and 21 cm Krupp guns. The cupolas had an armour with a thickness of 22 cm. As already mentioned there where large and small fortresses.

  The large fortresses disposed of :  
  1 cupola with two guns of 15 cm
  2 cupolas with each two guns of 12 cm
  2 cupolas with each one howitzer of 21 cm
  4 cupolas with each one 5,7 cm Nordenfeld
  9 guns 5,7 cm Nordenfeld in different casemates 

  The small fortresses disposed of :  
  1 cupola with two guns of 15 cm
  2 cupolas with each two guns of 12 cm
  1 cupola with one howitzer of 21 cm
  3 cupolas with each one 5,7 cm Nordenfeld
  9 guns 5,7 cm Nordenfeld in different casemates 

Each fortress had a company of infantry and received in addition a platoon of the 14° Régiment de forteresse.
A more detailed description of the fortresses and their equipment will be given on a page wich is under construction.


5,7 cm Nordenfeld in casemate

5,7 cm in casemate
Specifications
 Gun :  manufacturer :  Nordenfeld
 length :  1,504 m
 diameter :  57 mm
 weight :  193 kg
 weight gun carriage :  690 kg
 grooves :    24
 Cyclic rate :    36 rpm
 Ammunition :  shrapnel :  weight 3,67 kg, range 0,3 km  

Crew
 1 NCO or corporal  
 3 soldiers


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Date of last maintenance : 01 January 2000.
Belgian Fronts © 2000 Jo Vermeulen, All Rights Reserved.