Central block fort Barchon

his the central massif of Fort Barchon.

When this fort was completed in 1888, it had two turrets with one 210 mm gun, one turret with two 150 mm guns, two turrets with two 120 mm guns per turret, and four turrets with 57 mm guns for the proximity defense of the fort itself. When World War I broke out in August 1914, these cannons were already actually outdated with their 26 years of age. So were the turrets. These were not able to cope with the heavier shells that had been developed in the meantime.

Except for the 57 mm guns, the guns were supplied by the Krupp company from Germany. The 57 mm guns were from Nordenfeld of Great Britain.

When the Belgian forts around Liege were rearmed in the 1930's in relation to geopolitical developments in Germany, the fort received two turrets with a 150 mm gun, two turrets with two 105 mm guns per turret, and the four guns for proximity defense were replaced by 75 mm guns.

On the central massif, the two holes are still visible where the two turrets with the 150 cannon stood. The underlying tunnel structure is also visible as a result. The turrets and cannons were removed when the fort had lost its strategic value for the defense of Belgium, and sold as scrap metal.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• La Position Fortifiée de Liège, Coenen & Vernier