Russian guns Suomenlinna
1. The first cannons I encountered on the Suomenlinna Islands are in the fence of the Lutheran church on the island of Iso Mustasaari. This ship cannon obviously from the XVIII century, apparently, the Swedish.
2. Newer guns, preserved right in the positions, I first got caught on the island of Lancy Muste.
3. They are specially preserved in their original form, and are of greatest interest to those visiting Suomenlinna.
4. However, the most powerful battery, Kustaanmiekki, is located on Susisaari, the southernmost island of the fortress.
5. These are coastal defense weapons of the late 19th century, with a rather complex structure.
6. The paint is still preserved on thick trunks, they are almost not damaged by rust.
7. Before we look at the guns themselves, let us go down to the sub-refugee arsenal.
8. In addition to the doors, there are small windows traditional for the powder magazine.
9. Inside is a walk-through stone gallery.
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11. In the cellar itself, the crane-beam for moving heavy projectiles is preserved.
12. Let's go back to the shaft.
13. Lafet offshore coastal artillery. To change the direction of firing, the gun is placed on rails and can be moved around the circumference around the point of attachment.
14. To turn the gun used a worm gear.
15. On the wheels provided special gears.
16. A ladder was provided for climbing the platform.
17. The floor on the site is covered with intricate metal mesh.
18. A tap was provided to feed the charges.
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20. A massive barrel is installed in a riveted box carriage.
21. Shock absorbing devices were designed to absorb recoil energy.
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24. Traditionally, the inscriptions on the guns applied to the breech and the axle. The date indicated on the breech of the gun, says about its Russian origin.
25. Exactly: on the trunnion in Russian, the weight of the gun is indicated, about 16 tons. On the opposite axle weight is indicated without a lock.
26. Most of the guns are cast at the Perm Steel Cannon Plant.
27. Some of the guns are old, Krupp, converted at the Obukhov plant in St. Petersburg.
28. The gates on the guns are different. In Russian - piston type. Such bolts were widely used in large-caliber guns, although their rate of fire is lower compared to the wedge bolt.
29. V-bolt - a characteristic feature of Krupp guns. This shutter has more weight, but more convenient and safer.
30. So the wedge gate looks from the inside.
31. In one place of the island there is an entire collection of Russian cannons from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
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33. Such mortars were used in the First World War.
34. There are inscriptions in Russian on the missing turning mechanisms.
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36. Even in the fortress, you can see the carriage with giant wheels from a surviving infantry gun.
37. And this gun number 6663 was cast in St. Petersburg. The inscription Sh.O.T. I could not solve it. If you have any idea what this might mean, write in the comments.
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