Cupola's view from inside:
The second door on the left side leads to the main cellar (this is a view from the other side):
Note the original Finnish numbers 1 and 2 on the doors:
The cellar:
RTR 4
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
The cellar has 2 unusual features. First, the wall, which once divided the cellar into 2 chambers, was made of wood:
The recesses in the concrete walls were specially left so that the wooden partition could be installed later. It is difficult to say whether the partition was later demolished or simply rotted. I wonder what was the reason to make a wooden wall to split the cellar in half?
The second strange thing is that it seems that they tried to make lower half of the cellar's walls thicker by adding an extra layer of concrete. The reason is also unclear. Generally the Soviets could do that, but again - what for?
The corridor runs further to the left flank gunpit:
The recesses in the concrete walls were specially left so that the wooden partition could be installed later. It is difficult to say whether the partition was later demolished or simply rotted. I wonder what was the reason to make a wooden wall to split the cellar in half?
The second strange thing is that it seems that they tried to make lower half of the cellar's walls thicker by adding an extra layer of concrete. The reason is also unclear. Generally the Soviets could do that, but again - what for?
The corridor runs further to the left flank gunpit:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
We thought it was a blocked passage, but no - it was just a niche, probably for some kind of tools.
The passage to pillbox and first rounds locker casemate, turned into someone's sleeping place. Again, note the difference between initial construction and later added concrete elements:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
Here the gun basement studs were visible:
The next object was fire control tower at 61.23107, 30.40736:
I still think about Rautaveräjä tower - perhaps they were also going to cover its first tier with large stones, and for this they made “hooks” out of wire? Pay attention to the stones lying on the ground on the other side of the tower - perhaps they wanted to completely cover this tower with stones? Unfortunately, there are not so many Heinäsenmaa pictures at SA-kuva.
The next object was fire control tower at 61.23107, 30.40736:
I still think about Rautaveräjä tower - perhaps they were also going to cover its first tier with large stones, and for this they made “hooks” out of wire? Pay attention to the stones lying on the ground on the other side of the tower - perhaps they wanted to completely cover this tower with stones? Unfortunately, there are not so many Heinäsenmaa pictures at SA-kuva.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Eugenius on 21 Sep 2023 23:14, edited 1 time in total.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
Ground floor:
Slot for bringing the rangefinder up and down was present as well:
Of course, the original spiral staircase disappeared many years ago, but you still may climb up. The pipes are definitely of Soviet origin - it looks the tower was somehow used during Soviet experiments in 1950-ies.
The first floor:
The floor level was raised and partially covered the opening of the original staircase:
Slot for bringing the rangefinder up and down was present as well:
Of course, the original spiral staircase disappeared many years ago, but you still may climb up. The pipes are definitely of Soviet origin - it looks the tower was somehow used during Soviet experiments in 1950-ies.
The first floor:
The floor level was raised and partially covered the opening of the original staircase:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
It looks a kind of device was once standing here:
The second floor and original exit to the roof:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Eugenius on 22 Sep 2023 00:02, edited 1 time in total.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
Remains of another device's basement:
This roof exit was apparently made by the Soviets:
There was a separate chamber on the second floor. The brick stove chimney appears to have been built by the Soviets as well, but it is on its original place.
This roof exit was apparently made by the Soviets:
There was a separate chamber on the second floor. The brick stove chimney appears to have been built by the Soviets as well, but it is on its original place.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Mangrove
- Member
- Posts: 2001
- Joined: 25 Dec 2004 01:33
Re: RTR 4
Here is a sketch of Heinäsenmaa and positions of 33. Raskas Patteri drawn sometime after 11 June 1942. Original at the National Archives of Finland, folder T-7737/1:
1) Two pre-war 152/45-C gun positions on rock.
2) Pre-war concrete forward observer tower
3) Two wartime 47/40-OL gun positions built from logs and gravel.
4) Open wartime anti-tank gun position on rock.
5) Two covered wartime machine gun positions on rocky ground.
6) Four open wartime machine gun positions on rock.
1) Two pre-war 152/45-C gun positions on rock.
2) Pre-war concrete forward observer tower
3) Two wartime 47/40-OL gun positions built from logs and gravel.
4) Open wartime anti-tank gun position on rock.
5) Two covered wartime machine gun positions on rocky ground.
6) Four open wartime machine gun positions on rock.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
Mangrove, many thanks for the map you shared, but it looks a number of other objects was built on the island after June 1942.
So, let's continue exploring the fire control tower. Here are roof views in both directions - the exit on top left corner was made by the Soviets, the original exit is on the right edge of the picture:
The concrete cube looks to be also installed after the war - probably it was a basement of any kind of equipment:
Something was mounted on the rim:
View from the top. Verkkosaari is clearly visible on the right:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
Original chimney and the one built after the war:
On the other side of the tower on the ground lies this massive hoop made of rail (!). I guess it was once installed on the rim on top of tower:
One of embankments, which covered water or heating pipes:
On the other side of the tower on the ground lies this massive hoop made of rail (!). I guess it was once installed on the rim on top of tower:
One of embankments, which covered water or heating pipes:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
These strange "mounds" in the photo are actually the foundation supports of a building that once stood here:
That building had water or heating supply as well:
An open MG nest with small shelter in the unfinished trench at 61.23093, 30.40776:
This building at 61.23067, 30.40874 was probably a power station, which supplied electricity and maybe also heating to other buildings on the island:
That building had water or heating supply as well:
An open MG nest with small shelter in the unfinished trench at 61.23093, 30.40776:
This building at 61.23067, 30.40874 was probably a power station, which supplied electricity and maybe also heating to other buildings on the island:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
On the above picture you may see a kind of a ramp in front of entrance to the building. Here are some internal views.
If you look from inside, it seems that the entrance opening was originally larger:
The building has another side entrance:
Rusty poster says: "RESTRICTED AREA". Only later we found out that this building was one of the places with higher radiation level.
If you look from inside, it seems that the entrance opening was originally larger:
The building has another side entrance:
Rusty poster says: "RESTRICTED AREA". Only later we found out that this building was one of the places with higher radiation level.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
There were 2 separate rooms there, the purpose of this is unknown:
Another one had power generators' basements:
I've got a map of Heinäsenmaa of unknown date, and there is a building shown on that map exactly on the place, where this power station is located:
The interesting thing is that there is a kind of rail line shown coming south from that building. The building is marked "V a." - could that mean "Valonheitin asema"?
There was also a cable vault near that building:
Another one had power generators' basements:
I've got a map of Heinäsenmaa of unknown date, and there is a building shown on that map exactly on the place, where this power station is located:
The interesting thing is that there is a kind of rail line shown coming south from that building. The building is marked "V a." - could that mean "Valonheitin asema"?
There was also a cable vault near that building:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
There was an interesting concrete trench with firing positions approximately at 61.23013, 30.40748:
On the one end of the trench there was an MG nest with small shelter though partly damaged:
On the other end there was either larger shelter or anti-tank gun position:
On the one end of the trench there was an MG nest with small shelter though partly damaged:
On the other end there was either larger shelter or anti-tank gun position:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Eugenius
- Member
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 18 Dec 2017 19:31
- Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Re: RTR 4
A separate gunpit was located at 61.23033, 30.40642. Well, my first impression was that this was a strategic nuclear missile silo - the diameter was not large, there was no overhang, and the Soviets had built concrete guides on the side, quite similar to the ones that held the rails for the sliding cover of the silo. However, I have never heard about deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles on Heinäsenmaa - perhaps Mangrove will provide documents confirming that the Finns had placed such missiles there by 1944? 
The gunpit is overgrown, so I managed to picture it only by halves. Note how the surface is damaged:
Concrete guides are visible on this picture:
There were 2 trenches cut in rock and leading to the gunpit. One trench was obviously unfinished and there was such a structure in the middle of it:
Generally it quite resembles what we already saw at Rautaveräjä - looks like it was decided to add a separately standing gun to already existing 2 guns, and this concrete well was quite similar to those two at Rautaveräjä. We saw a number of such pyramidal wells in trenches, when exploring Finnish fortifications along Syväri, but we thought those were for drainage.
The gunpit is overgrown, so I managed to picture it only by halves. Note how the surface is damaged:
Concrete guides are visible on this picture:
There were 2 trenches cut in rock and leading to the gunpit. One trench was obviously unfinished and there was such a structure in the middle of it:
Generally it quite resembles what we already saw at Rautaveräjä - looks like it was decided to add a separately standing gun to already existing 2 guns, and this concrete well was quite similar to those two at Rautaveräjä. We saw a number of such pyramidal wells in trenches, when exploring Finnish fortifications along Syväri, but we thought those were for drainage.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.