Chambers696
Member
Hi everyone! I have been thinking for a while now where the best place for my first report would be and then it came to me; what about the abandoned military base I visited whilst on holiday in Spain in 2005. Perfect!
I have had these photos for years and never really known much about the place we visited, all I remembered is the long journey up the mountain on a thin track with no barriers, and that exploring the place was pretty amazing along with the view!
It was quite an eerie place as there was no one around, only the odd explorer.
I have done some research and managed to find out that we visited the Guns of Cartagena. Its nice to finally know! I have managed to dig up the following info on various websites:
"During the early part of the 20th century a system of coastal defences was constructed to protect the vital harbour of Cartagena. This included forts, guns, fire control systems, searchlights and many other elements.
The system included four of the largest artillery pieces ever made – huge 38.1 Vickers guns with a range of some 20 miles. These guns remain in place.
Some people believed the ‘Guns of Navarone’ film was made here but that is not true.
There are two batteries at either side of the shore line, Cenizas and Castillitos. Cenizas protected Cartagena from the North and on the Cape Tiniso the Castillitos battery (the one I visited) protected from the South. Apparently Castillitos is named for its unique architectural style.
Each battery had two guns Vickers 1923 model of 38.1 cm in size. The tube of the barrel measures 17.7 m and weighs 86.3 metric tonnes. Its reach was 35 Km and the projectile weighed 885 kg". Vickers guns were made in England which I found quite fascinating; it must have been fun transporting these babies to Spain!
"The guns were apparently last fired on the 26th April 1973 by Republicans at a group of Nationalist cruisers and you can see the target that was blasted from Castillitos in the Cartagena Military Museum.
Underground were facilities such as the powder-magazine or the gunnery direction room. What makes the Tinoso battery so interesting is not just the huge guns, but the way in which the underground machinery rooms have survived. The pieces that are too big to be stolen have largely been left in place, although anything that can be unscrewed and taken away has been removed. Particularly sad is the way in which the silhouettes of battleships, used for identification purposes, in the observation posts have been vandalised. These unique illustrations will probably be completely destroyed soon.
The battery, and others nearby, seem to have just been abandoned without any attempt to protect such unique relics. The authorities talk of schemes to restore batteries and promote the coast defence heritage while the vandals get on happily with their work of destroying unique machinery, toppling buildings and spray painting".
This place was an amazing visit and I hope worthy to show to you! Enjoy
Part of the castle
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One of the giant canons
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I have since learnt these were for open rail carriages
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Entering one of the DARK tunnels
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I think these were for post possibly?
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Outside the possible post building. Loved the roof!
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A view across the site
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A view the other way, there was so much to explore we could never have done it all!
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Closer to one of the canons
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Ready and waiting...
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Part of the entrance I think
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Amazing!
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I have since learnt these mechanical bits on the ceiling were to transport the projectiles as they were so heavy
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The store for the projection charges
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Some more of the lifting mechanism
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Not too sure what this is, it was pitch black so this is what my flash found
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One of the less darker tunnels
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Near the entrance
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I think these were workshops/garages judging by the pits in the floor
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One of the sadly roof-less buildings but what a view that was!
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I think these were barracks?
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I'm not sure about these posher buildings
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Inside one of the guns
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Is this where the ammo was sent up?
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Another cluster of sadly decaying buildings
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And lets not forget the view!
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Hope this is ok for my first one
any comments will be appreciated!
I have had these photos for years and never really known much about the place we visited, all I remembered is the long journey up the mountain on a thin track with no barriers, and that exploring the place was pretty amazing along with the view!
It was quite an eerie place as there was no one around, only the odd explorer.
I have done some research and managed to find out that we visited the Guns of Cartagena. Its nice to finally know! I have managed to dig up the following info on various websites:
"During the early part of the 20th century a system of coastal defences was constructed to protect the vital harbour of Cartagena. This included forts, guns, fire control systems, searchlights and many other elements.
The system included four of the largest artillery pieces ever made – huge 38.1 Vickers guns with a range of some 20 miles. These guns remain in place.
Some people believed the ‘Guns of Navarone’ film was made here but that is not true.
There are two batteries at either side of the shore line, Cenizas and Castillitos. Cenizas protected Cartagena from the North and on the Cape Tiniso the Castillitos battery (the one I visited) protected from the South. Apparently Castillitos is named for its unique architectural style.
Each battery had two guns Vickers 1923 model of 38.1 cm in size. The tube of the barrel measures 17.7 m and weighs 86.3 metric tonnes. Its reach was 35 Km and the projectile weighed 885 kg". Vickers guns were made in England which I found quite fascinating; it must have been fun transporting these babies to Spain!
"The guns were apparently last fired on the 26th April 1973 by Republicans at a group of Nationalist cruisers and you can see the target that was blasted from Castillitos in the Cartagena Military Museum.
Underground were facilities such as the powder-magazine or the gunnery direction room. What makes the Tinoso battery so interesting is not just the huge guns, but the way in which the underground machinery rooms have survived. The pieces that are too big to be stolen have largely been left in place, although anything that can be unscrewed and taken away has been removed. Particularly sad is the way in which the silhouettes of battleships, used for identification purposes, in the observation posts have been vandalised. These unique illustrations will probably be completely destroyed soon.
The battery, and others nearby, seem to have just been abandoned without any attempt to protect such unique relics. The authorities talk of schemes to restore batteries and promote the coast defence heritage while the vandals get on happily with their work of destroying unique machinery, toppling buildings and spray painting".
This place was an amazing visit and I hope worthy to show to you! Enjoy
Part of the castle
One of the giant canons
I have since learnt these were for open rail carriages
Entering one of the DARK tunnels
I think these were for post possibly?
Outside the possible post building. Loved the roof!
A view across the site
A view the other way, there was so much to explore we could never have done it all!
Closer to one of the canons
Ready and waiting...
Part of the entrance I think
Amazing!
I have since learnt these mechanical bits on the ceiling were to transport the projectiles as they were so heavy
The store for the projection charges
Some more of the lifting mechanism
Not too sure what this is, it was pitch black so this is what my flash found
One of the less darker tunnels
Near the entrance
I think these were workshops/garages judging by the pits in the floor
One of the sadly roof-less buildings but what a view that was!
I think these were barracks?
I'm not sure about these posher buildings
Inside one of the guns
Is this where the ammo was sent up?
Another cluster of sadly decaying buildings
And lets not forget the view!
Hope this is ok for my first one
any comments will be appreciated!
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