The forts of madness

[Skybird]

text (http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,728754,00.html)

photo gallery (http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-61594.html)

Looks like a nightmare to me. Silent Hill Offshore Edition, so to speak.

[TarJak]

Nice find. Thanks for sharing SB.

[Schroeder]

Why would being on one be more unbearable than being on a submarine? The living conditions seem to be pretty comparable.:06:

[krashkart]

Add zombie nurses and give them all rusty six-shooters. :)

Can you image being assigned to one of those forts for six weeks at a time?

[Platapus]

Thanks for posting this.


I never knew this stuff existed. Awesome read. :yeah:

[Platapus]

In the picture gallery, can anyone spot the error in the captioning? :know:

[Raptor1]

In the picture gallery, can anyone spot the error in the captioning? :know:

Would that be the reference to the forts mounting "3.5 artillery guns", while in fact they would be mounting QF 3.7" guns?

[Platapus]

Would that be the reference to the forts mounting "3.5 artillery guns", while in fact they would be mounting QF 3.7" guns?

Wow, that could be another error. I am not familiar with the QF 3.7" gun.

But in any case, the error I found could be spotted by anyone. :smug:

But you peaked my interest, I think I will be doing some research on the QF 3.7" gun. Thanks :yeah:

In looking at the recuperator, I think you are right!

You rock!!

[Raptor1]

Hmm, if it's not that then...

"Four of the seven towers of the fort in the Thames Estuary are visible in this undated photo." while in fact you can see five of them?

[Safe-Keeper]

Sick. Heard about the towers, but to see them portrayed in this way is really something else.

[GoldenRivet]

Surely you guys knew these were depicted in the SHIII GWX mod in historically accurate locations?;)

[Schroeder]

Surely you guys knew these were depicted in the SHIII GWX mod in historically accurate locations?;)
And you think I was stupid enough to ever go through the Channel after 1940?;)

[GoldenRivet]

And you think I was stupid enough to ever go through the Channel after 1940?;)

Or off the west coast of Ireland too i think :cool:

[Oberon]

I think I stumbled across some form of concrete tower in the middle of the water in one of the Scottish marshaling zones at some point.

[Jimbuna]

Surely you guys knew these were depicted in the SHIII GWX mod in historically accurate locations?;)


http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9040/v13l.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/v13l.jpg/)

[TLAM Strike]

Reminds me a lot of the Al Basra Oil Terminal today...

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7835/0e42290c.th.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/0e42290c.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9761/47961476.th.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/47961476.jpg/)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/1116/041020n1348l170.th.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/041020n1348l170.jpg/)

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/1659/050701n4309a061.th.jpg (http://img543.imageshack.us/i/050701n4309a061.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5655/fd22a53c.th.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/fd22a53c.jpg/)

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8639/081006n8861f001.th.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/i/081006n8861f001.jpg/)

Or the Korean Movement Sea Base
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/969/539we.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/539we.jpg/)
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4863/052809koreanavy800.th.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/052809koreanavy800.jpg/)
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3610/20090603124055enlus0174.th.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/20090603124055enlus0174.jpg/)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8190/r3778301758106.th.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/r3778301758106.jpg/)

[Schroeder]

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9040/v13l.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/v13l.jpg/)
Er...isn't the V1 flying into the wrong direction?:o

[TLAM Strike]

Er...isn't the V1 flying into the wrong direction?:o

Maybe its an early production JB-2 Loon?

[Oberon]

Er...isn't the V1 flying into the wrong direction?:o

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7599/qter000z.jpg

:yep:

[krashkart]

Haha! :rotfl2:

[Skybird]

Er...isn't the V1 flying into the wrong direction?:o
Maybe the pilot was scared and decided to flee...? :88)

:woot:

[Sailor Steve]

They don't have pilots. I like Oberon's best. :rock:

[TLAM Strike]

They don't have pilots.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4080/v120fi20103.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

Okay, rephrase. They earliest test versions had pilots. The service versions didn't. The piloted ones never flew over England. :O:

[Skybird]

They don't have pilots. I like Oberon's best. :rock:
Schlauberger! ;)

[Raptor1]

Okay, rephrase. They earliest test versions had pilots. The service versions didn't. The piloted ones never flew over England. :O:

Actually, I don't think any of the test versions were manned. The manned ones came later, when they were developed to be used as piloted bombs (Well, the idea was that the pilot would bail out before hitting the target, but nobody was really under the impression that he had any significant chance of surviving).

They were never used in combat, of course.

[Platapus]

Hmm, if it's not that then...

"Four of the seven towers of the fort in the Thames Estuary are visible in this undated photo." while in fact you can see five of them?

Excellent! But in picture number 10 there are six towers (count the legs) :know:

[Raptor1]

Excellent! But in picture number 10 there are six towers (count the legs) :know:

Yes, but the forts themselves aren't really visible. And if you count the legs I think you can actually see all seven of them...

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Well, if I could have brought a stack of books, I think I would have found duty on these things bearable and even enjoyable.

[Platapus]

Yes, but the forts themselves aren't really visible. And if you count the legs I think you can actually see all seven of them...

I am not sure about number seven being visible. On the far left you can see a catwalk extending off image. I think that catwalk connects with number 7.

In reading the description, it seems that tower 7 was off by itself as it had the searchlights.

Can you imagine being on that tower? Talk about drawing fire! :o

[krashkart]

I have to feel for the guys stationed on the earlier forts. The lower ranks had to sleep in the bowels of the supports.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/KnockJohn.jpg/300px-KnockJohn.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/KnockJohn.jpg)

I'm taking a guess that this was one of those earlier Maunsell forts?

[Jimbuna]

Er...isn't the V1 flying into the wrong direction?:o

It was a screenshot taken during the testing phase :DL

Excellent! But in picture number 10 there are six towers (count the legs) :know:

Yes, but the forts themselves aren't really visible. And if you count the legs I think you can actually see all seven of them...

If you look very carefully all 7 are on view :yep:

[Oberon]

I have to feel for the guys stationed on the earlier forts. The lower ranks had to sleep in the bowels of the supports.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/KnockJohn.jpg/300px-KnockJohn.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/KnockJohn.jpg)

I'm taking a guess that this was one of those earlier Maunsell forts?

http://www.gnometech.freeserve.co.uk/assets/images/fortp.gif

The platforms with just two pillars are Navy forts, and the ones in the OP are the Army forts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Sea_Forts

One Maunsell Sea Fort is now a nation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand


Whenever I think of Maunsell though, I always think of Richard Maunsell who designed completely different things:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Maunsell

[Diopos]

...
One Maunsell Sea Fort is now a nation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand
...

Wonder how can you declare a state without any "land" ...:hmmm:

.

[Platapus]

Wonder how can you declare a state without any "land" ...:hmmm:

.

Ask the Holy See. They had that problem until 1929