155 mm Artillery Tower Fort de Souville

The tower, (designed by Lieutenant Colonel Bussière) built in 1890-1891 at Fort Souville, was an innovation because it was the first time a heavy piece of equipment (184 tons) could be raised and lowered by means of a hydraulic piston and an 80-ton counterweight.
The tower was used at the beginning of the Battle of Verdun in 1916 and fired 600 shells, but was rendered unusable by an explosion in one of the guns.
In 1917, the tower was repaired and equipped with a single gun, with a generator replacing the steam engine. It was connected to a network of underground galleries leading to Fort Souville and shelters.
The entire structure, including the tower, observation post, and Pamart, was surrounded by a thick network of barbed wire and accessed via trenches with chicanes.

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Source

• Text: Adri Kramer
• Photos: Adri Kramer