Chinese coastal batteries

[forttravel]

New location - Zhoushan Island, opium war relic park, so called: "archaized fort barbette".

[YC Chen]

The Dinghai Battery in Zhoushan, most probably a reconstruction.

Perhaps the most interesting and well-preserved of those "old" 1870s forts is the Qilu Fort(崎碌炮台) in Shantou, Guangdong Province. It has retained most of its original structure(built of stone and battered earth) and has been carefully restored. Here is one bird-eyes view from the Internet.

[YC Chen]

Some very nice photos of Qilu Fort, kindly provided by a friend. Note the wave-like stairs designed for easier movement of cannons and other heavy equipment. Was it a Chinese invention, or did this feature also appeared on coastal forts of other countries?

[forttravel]

Unknown location, but building construction from stone blocks and island shape in background (Liugongdao?) gives a supposition it is one of auxhillary forts from Weihaiwei, isn't it?

[Statist]

This place is East battery of Yantai (Cheefoo), right flank. Today firing position is absent, but lower level is exist.

[Statist]

This picture shows how the lower casemate looks.

Drawing of the a stone wall is the same as at the old photos

East 120 Krupp 2 old.jpg (36.38 KiB) Viewed 15977 times

East 120 Krupp old.jpg (37.56 KiB) Viewed 15977 times

East 120 Krupp .jpg (123.35 KiB) Viewed 15977 times

[forttravel]

I don't think so, because on background it's Liugongdao island visible. In Yantai there is no island on east side from East battery. But some architectural elements like a shape of bricks and it's work pattern could be similar, both locations it is a design of Hanneken.

[Statist]

In the east side from East battery is not an island. There is a peninsula in 1500 m from East battery.

There are two pictures. They show the view of the peninsula. The first is my own picture from shore of East battery, the second from https://ssl.panoramio.com/photo/97366000

97366000.jpg (49.94 KiB) Viewed 15934 times

[forttravel]

Thanks Statist! I didn't realise it is so wide view from emplacement to right direction to see peninsula.

[YC Chen]

Wonderful work Statist! Such a detailed identification work is impressive.

[forttravel]

A plan of East Battery via YC Chen collection.

[Statist]

forttravel , YC Chen thank you! This is a very interesting plan, it consists a fortification of two periods. The first period is Chinese fortification of 19 century, the second period is a Japanese fortification of II World War. The number 13 is casemate of 120 mm Krupp gun. I think number 10 is the casemate of another 120 mm gun on the left flank.

This pictures below shows a big caserne (number 03) and a main gun emplacements (numbers 04, 05, 07)

[forttravel]

We can see Yantai East battery the some right flank secondary 12 cm gun on lower picture and West battery main 15 cm gun on upper picture.

[forttravel]

Second piece of West battery main gun (see Japanese flag on both pictures).

[Statist]

I believe the big guns to belonging East battery, this is 210 mm Krupp guns. In the West battery upper curb stones and niches for shells look different. The coastline is removed from the West battery at a much greater distance than the East battery.

West battery1.jpg (105.54 KiB) Viewed 15709 times

The gun position is situated in the West battery

West battery3.jpg (105.62 KiB) Viewed 15709 times

The niche for shells is situated in the West battery