Koto Fortress

Discussions on all aspects of the Japanese Empire, from the capture of Taiwan until the end of the Second World War.
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YC Chen
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Re: Koto Fortress

#31

Post by YC Chen » 21 Jun 2013, 10:09

Statist wrote:
YC Chen wrote:Do you have some other interesting information on Japanese fortresses in Manchuria? And what was the final destiny of the 41cm gun? Some information found on the Internet mention that Chinese fisherman could still see the 41cm gun placed on the Soviet territory across the river until 1960s, then it disappeared.
Hello, in 2009-2010 I worked in Russian military archive in Podolsk (CAMO) near Moscow, there are many documents about August war 1945. In 2009-2011 I am twice went to the Hutou and saw fortification of Hutou fortress.
The plan of 410-mm howitzers casemate is a part of Soviet album of Japanese fortification in Manchuria, 1945. One exemplar of this album are located in CAMO, other exemplar in Central museum of Artillery (St. Petersburg). I think one of my copy achieved to this forum.
CAMO documents says, in 1946 Red army moved Japanese 410-mm and 305-mm howitzers from Hutou to the nearest soviet city Iman and sent them by rail to the West. With them were sent to repair two Russian 305-mm howitzers model 1915. Two other Russian 305-mm howitzers left standing in their positions near city Iman. One of them were standing close to the bank of Iman river, at a distance of 2-3 kilometers from Hutou. I think Chinese fishman until 1960s could saw this gun. But your message very interesting, I don’t know place of Ussuri river, where a fisherman could saw the gun.
Wow, that is very interesting! Do you know the final fate of the 41cm? Was it finally scrapped or is it still preserved somewhere?

My information about the gun seen by fishermans is from the Internet so it is possible that this may be incorrect.

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Re: Koto Fortress

#32

Post by Statist » 01 Jul 2013, 05:43

YC Chen wrote:Wow, that is very interesting! Do you know the final fate of the 41cm? Was it finally scrapped or is it still preserved somewhere?
I'm sorry, but I don't know the final fate of the 41cm howitzer. I think it scrapped in 1960s.
The exception of Hutou's guns soviet army captured 2 305-mm howitzers and approximately 12 240-mm howitzers in Dongning fortress (东宁要塞), 7 280-mm old howitzers in Suifenhe fortress (绥芬河要塞), three on Tianchangshan hill (天长山), four on the Guanyuetai hill (观月台). One of them untill 1980s located in the Habarovsk city, now it scrapped.
http://rufort.info/index.php?topic=547.165
http://tsushima.su/forums/viewtopic.php?id=7203&p=10


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YC Chen
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Re: Koto Fortress

#33

Post by YC Chen » 01 Jul 2013, 10:44

Thank you for these interesting information! It's a pity that all these guns have been scrapped.

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YC Chen
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Re: Koto Fortress

#34

Post by YC Chen » 16 Jul 2013, 13:53

A website(in Japanese) useful for those interested in Koto Fortress:

http://ww3.tiki.ne.jp/~jcn-o/sikumi.htm


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tom!
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Re: Koto Fortress

#36

Post by tom! » 28 Aug 2013, 17:27

Hi.

Thx for sharing these impressive photos.

Yours

tom! :wink:

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: Koto Fortress

#37

Post by Akira Takizawa » 28 Aug 2013, 17:38

FreyFox,

Thank you for interesting photos. It is amazing.

Taki

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Re: Koto Fortress

#38

Post by FreyFox » 29 Aug 2013, 05:52

Here's a link to the album, where there are more such photos. It's defenses different Japanese fortresses in Manchuria. By Koto fortress there is a lot of photos. Image should be read in Russian, so they are described in more detail.
http://www.photo-war.com/eng/archives/album4430.htm


Аrtillery and machine-gun pillbox, Koto fortress.
http://www.photo-war.com/photo/shop/4488.jpg

305-mm howitzer type 7, Koto fortress.
http://www.photo-war.com/photo/shop/4501.jpg

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Re: Koto Fortress

#39

Post by FreyFox » 29 Aug 2013, 06:02

I would be grateful if there are photos of Japanese soldiers and officers and their biographies defending Koto Fortress.

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: Koto Fortress

#40

Post by Akira Takizawa » 29 Aug 2013, 06:33

FreyFox,

Great album! I have never expected such an album exists.

The Koto Fortress was top-secret and it was severely prohibited to take a photo. So, no photo is known in Japan.

Taki

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Re: Koto Fortress

#41

Post by FreyFox » 29 Aug 2013, 10:31

It is a pity that no photos defenders.
It is known that the commander of the garrison artillery captain Oki Masao (alternatively, the captain of the Oki Tadashi). It is a pity that there are no names of officers and their images..
During the assault, were killed in the battle nearly all the defenders, including militias and members of the families of Japanese officers. But this story is known to have a very bad thing.

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Re: Koto Fortress

#42

Post by photo-war » 29 Aug 2013, 14:03

Akira Takizawa wrote:FreyFox,

Great album! I have never expected such an album exists.

The Koto Fortress was top-secret and it was severely prohibited to take a photo. So, no photo is known in Japan.

Taki
Taki

All these photos were taken by Soviets and entire album was composed only for educational purposes in Soviet Army– to show different types of Japanese fortification. This album was not intended for civil use and many photos just had no chance to be known in Japan. The source I got this album to be scanned and published is a family archive of 7th and 9th Aviation Armies commander General-Colonel M.I. Sokolov and I have no idea how many copies of this album were made and survived.


Best regards,
Alexander

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Re: Koto Fortress

#43

Post by FreyFox » 29 Aug 2013, 14:43

Александр, доброго времени суток вам.
Подскажите, вы не занимаетесь продажей снимков, копий в электронном виде? Именно с этого альбома?

Судя по ранее попадавшимся мне в сети снимкам, есть еще подобные альбомы, причем самого разного состава. с фото,
которых нет даже у вас.

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Re: Koto Fortress

#44

Post by Akira Takizawa » 29 Aug 2013, 14:47

Alexander,

Thank you for publishing a precious album on the net.

There are people researching on Koto Fortress in Japan.
http://ww3.tiki.ne.jp/~jcn-o/kotou-top.htm

Probably, they would be much interested in this album. Would you send a line to them?

Taki

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Re: Koto Fortress

#45

Post by photo-war » 29 Aug 2013, 15:11

Taki if you post the link to this site I see no problem. Myself I am not able even to read what they are writing there :(

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