Fort "Grand Duke Constantine"
   Photo: Fort "Grand Duke Constantine"

Fort "Grand Duke Constantine" is one of the artillery of the forts defending the southern harbor of Kronstadt. It is one of the largest forts of the city.

In 1808, due to start in the Baltic Sea of ​​hostilities the British Navy Navy Department was decided the construction of wooden panels, called "Double South." She was armed with 37 guns and 12 unicorns. The garrison consisted of 250 people. In November 1824 the flood, and the battery is a little damaged, but by the spring of 1826 has been restored.

In 1834 the territory was built caponier battery (original niche), which is formed open on both sides of the inner harbor. Around the battery, the length of about 200 m, in the bottom of the bay were filled with 2 rows of piles to prevent the enemy to approach the courts. In the same year, I visited the Emperor Nicholas I, who renamed the battery in the fort "Constantine" in honor of his son, Grand Duke Constantine.

By the early 1850s, dilapidated wooden fort, and it was dismantled. Since the Crimean War began, built next to a temporary battery №4. In 1858 on the site of the old fort was begun construction of a wall of granite boulders, each weighing 10 tons was. Decorate the walls with granite slabs, each weighing - 6 tons. The height is 4 meters, length - 300 meters. In 1861, construction was completed. In October 1863 the fort strengthened three parapets (5, 15 and 3 guns), is remarkable for the first time in world practice.

In the years 1863-1865 Konstantinovsky fort and temporary battery number 4 are connected with each other, and the left flank of the fort was extended by 80 meters. Battery installed new 8 "guns Krupp. In 1866 and 1868 were built barracks on the right and in the middle part of the battery. In 1868 there was built a new 6-gun parapet. In the same year by the decree of Emperor Alexander II, the fort was renamed the South marine battery number 4, "Constantine."

In 1870, on the earthen traverse project colonel VF Petrushevskii was set spetspavilon optical rangefinder, the top of which is rotated, thus providing an opportunity to review a wide area. Also in 1870 there was established a mechanism of Pauker, allowing to bring the heavy guns reload speed from 5 minutes to 15 seconds. In 1872 it was held re-Fort 11 "rifled guns. In 1873 there was a 9" rifled mortar, and in 1878 - 14 "gun Krupp.

In 1890 they built a dam will connect the fort with Kotlin. On the dam we had a railroad.

In the years 1896-1901 reconstructed fort. Its area is increased, the right wing was extended. All metal parapets, except 5-gun battery parapet Swedes, have been removed. Behind the battery Schwede appeared concrete battery of eight 6 "guns Kane. On the right flank was built the concrete battery into two 57-mm guns and eight 11" guns. The left wing added special casemated traverses and 2 11 "guns.

In 1909, the left wing of the fort was armed with 2 10 "guns, and in 1911 the right of the battery Swedes and at the same left wing of the fort appeared with two 120-mm guns. Konstantinovsky fort did not participate in the First World and the Civil War .

In 1934-1935 the established here 2 machine gun bunker, and on the left - concrete fortifications for the four 45-mm cannon, which during World War II fired enemies who were trying to approach the Oranienbaum bridgehead.

In 1960 Konstantinovsky fort was disarmed and plundered. In the 1980s there was a depot. In 2000-2005 there were organized annual music festivals FORTDANCE. C 2006 the fort began to develop as a yacht club, cultural and tourist center. In 2010 there is organized across the state border checkpoint Russia for boats and yachts.

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Fort Grand Duke Constantine
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