[3], Having been constructed in 1898–1901,[4] and taken into service on 15 July 1901,[5] the underground torpedo facility remained one of the few Norwegian defence installations unknown to German military intelligence at the point of the 9 April 1940 invasion. The officer school was officially shut down in 2002. (ed. [1], After the war the fortifications were dismantled, and only resurrected for a short period during the 1814 war with Sweden.[1]. The commander of Oscarsborg Fortress opened fire at point blank range. The Amphitheatre of Durrës was built in the beginning of the 2nd century AD. Sørviknes Torpedobatteri / Huge bunker / torpedo battery in Norwegian fjord. One of the three 28 cm main battery guns at Oscarsborg. Having been constructed in 1898â1901, and put into service on 15 July 1901, the underground torpedo facility remained one of the few Norwegian defence installations unknown to German military intelligence at the point of the 9 April 1940 invasion. The main armament was three 28 cm calibre guns manufactured by Krupp. We had the Historical tour including the torpedo battery, this is a two-hour roundtrip on the island. The fortress is situated on two small islets, and on the mainland to the west and east, in the fjord and was military territory until 2003 when it was made a publicly available resort island. Anderssen was a retired naval officer who lived in Drøbak and had spent many years of his life in command of the torpedo battery at Oscarsborg. By the end of the 19th century the art of war developed rapidly and the new fortress was soon obsolete. During the Cold War Oscarsborg formed a last line of defence for the capital city, with the underground torpedo battery remaining secretly active up until 1 January 1993, having been modernized in the 1980s. This action allowed the Norwegian royal family, the government and members of parliament enough time to flee from the capital, and mobilize resistance towards the invaders. The amphitheatre is included on the tentative list of Albania for inscribing it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration! The chapel was initially decorated with frescoes; in the 6th century, mosaics were added. The narrows at Drøbak, called Drøbaksundet, is a natural point for the naval defence of Oslo, the capital of Norway. The battery was decommissioned in 1993, and is now a museum. Why not share it with other people interested in history? Built in 1901, it was equipped with three shore-mounted dual elevators firing the torpedoes via underwater tunnels. [4] The battery has three torpedo tunnels which could fire six torpedoes without reloading and a total of nine torpedoes were stored and ready for use. A medieval chapel was built in the 13th century, also decorated with frescoes. The battery was one of two in Norway and it was designed to launch its torpedoes from under the water level. KommandørkapteinAnderssen donned his old uniform and was transported by boat over the fjord to the torpedo battery. Today, the battery is a museum forming part of the Oscarsborg Fortress complex. The flag in question was the same that had flown over the fortress until it was captured by the Germans in April 1940. By the end of the 19th century the art of war developed rapidly and the new fortress was soon obsolete. On North Kaholmen the Torpedo battery which gave âBlücherâ the deathblows early in the morning on the 9th of April 1940 can be visited. [4], At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. The site currently functions as a museum. [6] Each weapon carried a 100 kg TNT warhead[7] and targets were spotted from an observation bunker just above the battery.[4]. I did not have a boring second and the trip could happily lasted another hour. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. They even had a underground torpedo battery, that remained a secret up until 1993. The commander of the torpedo battery at Oscarsborg had at the time of the battle been on sick leave since March 1940. It was built in 1898-1901. The first defences were constructed during the reign of Christian IV of Denmark and Norway and were ready in 1644. FYI: We also have another fully preserved torpedobattery as a museum in Norway: The former german "Torpedobatterie Hjelte" (Herdla torpedobattery, in Askøy outside Bergen). An early Christian chapel was constructed on the amphitheatre in the second half of the 4th century. The ship soon drifts with range of Oscarborgâs torpedo battery. The approach to Oslo is to the right – the open sea, Skagerrak to the left. The battery was one of two in Norway and differed from the other torpedo battery, at Kvarven Fort, in that it was designed to launch its torpedoes from under the water level, instead of by torpedo tube from above ground as was the case with the battery at Kvarven outside Present for duty under his direct command at the Main Battery were 28 officers and men, but only enough trained artillerymen to man one of the big Krupp guns, which required a crew of 11. The commander of a land-based torpedo battery called the commander of Oscarsborg Fortress asking: "Is she to be torpedoed?" In 2004 the University of Parma started restoration work to save the monument. The Battle of Drøbak Sound took place in Drøbak Sound, the northernmost part of the outer Oslofjord in southern Norway, on 9 April 1940. However, with the demise of the Soviet Union the world has changed. On April 9, 1940, Oscarsborg Fortress passed its first real test: The fortâs armaments managed to sink the German flagship, Blücher. It was used for performances until the 4th century AD. We had a excellent guide that really knew the island and the islands history. The tension was also growing between the two countries in the union and so the Norwegians decided to upgrade the fortress. Two torpedoes are loaded side by side, in two open steel frames. An underwater barrier went from the main islet of Kaholmen and south-west to Hurum on the western side of the fjord, thus making it impossible for large vessels to sail west of the fortress. Churches & Cathedrals. [8] A second observation bunker is situated just outside the entrance to the battery. It's absolutely free, easy, and you can do it even without registration (of course you an also create an free account)! Historical tour including the torpedo battery â 2 hours This tour gives an insight in the history of Oscarsborg fortress, the events leading up to the second world war, the sinking of the âBlücherâ, the Jeté (the underwater embankment), the main fortress and all the other fortifications. Both the guns and the torpedo battery worked flawlessly when Oscarsborg encountered one of the German invasion flotillas; they sank the heavy cruiser Blücher, and threw back the German naval force heading for Oslo, thus managing to save the Norwegian King and government from being taken prisoner. The narrows at Drøbak, called Drøbaksundet, is a natural point for the naval defence of Oslo, the capital of Norway. Map of Oslofjord and the fortress of Oscarsborg. The officer school was officially shut down on 28 June 2002. Anderssen would show himself worthy of the important task of leading the fortress' most lethal weapon system; having first served at the torpedo ⦠After the war Oscarsborg was the last line of defense of the capital of Norway. A new torpedo battery was completed in 1901. A natural cave had been enlarged and enhanced with three chambers loaded with torpedoes produced in Rijeka, Croatia. Oscarsborg Fortress (Oscarsborg festning in Norwegian) is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. Still unaware of the hidden underground Torpedo Battery, ... Oscarsborg Fortress was subjected to aerial bombardment for almost nine hours and was hit with approximately 500 bombs. At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. During the Cold War Oscarsborg formed a last line of defence for the capital city, with the underground torpedo battery remaining secretly active up until 1 January 1993,having been modernized in the 1980s. Oscarsborg fortress was until 2002 guarding the sea entrance to Oslo. From 1890 new improved German guns were installed, an underwater barrier was built in 1874–79, and an underwater torpedo battery was constructed. Oscarsborg Fortress (Norwegian language: Oscarsborg festning) is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. There were also a number of guns with smaller calibres on the mainland. The underground torpedo battery remained secretly active until 1993. The scenic surroundings is much used for conferences and excursions. An underwater barrier went from the main islet of Kaholmen and south-west to Hurum on the western side of the fjord, thus making it impossible for large vessels to sail west of the fortress. At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. [1], The fortress was returned to Norwegian control on 12 May 1945 when Captain Thorleif Unneberg took command of the fortifications and raised the Norwegian flag following the capitulation of all German forces in Norway four days earlier. The scenic s⦠At the start of the new millennium the school was shut down and now the fortress serves as a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. Date of experience: October 2017 Two torpedoes fired by land-based torpedo batteries struck the ship, causing serious damage. The amphitheatre has an elliptical shape with axes of 132 metres and 113 metres. Both the guns and the torpedo battery worked flawlessly when Oscarsborg encountered one of the German invasion flotillas; they sank the heavy cruiser Blücher,[9] and threw back the German naval force heading for Oslo, thus managing to save the Norwegian King and government from being taken prisoner. If you know where it is it the Oscarsborg torpedo battery can still be seen when you pass the fortress. The fortress is now largely a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. There are guided tours around the fortress. [11] Visitors take a short motor launch trip from Drøbak. Then one of the two frames is lowered like an elevator down into the water to the tunnels below. The first defences were constructed during the reign of Christian IV of Denmark and Norway and were ready in 1644. The fortress is best known for sinking the German heavy cruiser Blücher on 9 April 1940. WW2 made Oscarsborg widely known. Oscarsborg has primarily served as the See all. When the negotiations with Sweden took place in 1905, the Oscarsborg fortress was regarded as the strongest fortress in northern Europe, with a defensive line that stretched 10 km from the Heer Entrenchment in the east to the top of Håøya in the west. Why not share it with other people interested in history? At around 0400 on April 9, six ships came into view. It marked the end of the "Phoney War" and the beginning of World War II in Western Europe. Oscarsborg fortress started the battle and gave the orders to fire (Had they not the Germans would not have been fired on) but Kops and Husvik batteries with 5.9 inchers and 57mm guns respectively also did a ton of personel killing and caused massive damage to the firecontrol areas. Exploring WWII coastal artillery fortress bunker in Norway. ): "Klar til strid - Kystartilleriet gjennom århundrene", Kystartilleriets Offisersforening, Oslo 1999 ISBN 82-995208-0-0, Stangeland, Gro & Eva Valebrokk: "Norges bedste Værn og Fæste - Nasjonale festningsverk", Wigestrand Forlag AS, Stavanger 2001 ISBN 82-91370-35-4, Articles with Norwegian-language external links, Articles containing Norwegian-language text, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military history of Norway during World War II, Historical overview of Oscarsborg Fortress, http://www.kriegsmarine-reich.co.uk/heavy-cruiser-blucher.htm, Ferry service to Oscarsborg's main island, The official website for the fortress today, Site on the Norwegian coastal defences in 1940, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Oscarsborg_Fortress?oldid=2572517. It is built on a slope of the hill, and inside the amphitheatre there are staircases and galleries at different levels. Torpedo tubes are under water in ⦠- Duration: 17:22. The scenic surroundings is much used for conferences and excursions. From 1890 new improved German guns were installed, an underwater barrier was built in 1874–79,[3] and an underwater torpedo battery was constructed. The amphitheatre was covered over in the 16th century, after the Ottoman occupation, when the wall was built nearby. The battery was one of two in Norway and it was designed to launch its torpedoes from under the water level. [12], Coordinates: 59°40′25″N 10°36′24″E / 59.67361°N 10.60667°E / 59.67361; 10.60667. Oscarsborg fortress model The fortress was returned to Norwegian control on 12 May 1945 when Captain Thorleif Unneberg took command of the fortifications and raised the Norwegian flag following the capitulation of all German forces in Norway four days earlier. They apparently thought that the Oscarsborg guns were too old to be operational and only used for training. The fortress is situated on two small islets, and on the mainland to the west and east, in the fjord and was military territory until 2003 when it was made a publicly available resort island. [10], During the Cold War Oscarsborg formed a last line of defence for the capital city, with the underground torpedo battery remaining secretly active up until 1 January 1993,[1] having been modernized in the 1980s. Oberst Birger Eriksen, the commander of Oscarsborg on 9 April 1940. Together with the Torpedo Workshop beside the entrance, a visit to the Torpedo Battery gives an exciting introduction into one of the most âsecretâ parts of Oscarsborg Fortress. The Fortress Museum provides guided ⦠... Oscarsborg Fortress (275) 1 min. [1], During the occupation of Norway German forces were stationed at Oscarsborg. Due to this, the retired Kommandørkaptein (Commander Senior Grade) Andreas Anderssen, who lived in nearby Drøbak, had been assigned as temporary commander for the battery. Its torpedo store contains British Mark VIII torpedo bodies, and a separate warhead store has their warheads, practice heads and firing pistols. Historic Sites. You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory. The battery was one of two in Norway and differed from the other torpedo battery, at Kvarven Fort, in that it was designed to launch its torpedoes from under the water level,[6] instead of by torpedo tube from above ground as was the case with the battery at Kvarven outside Bergen. You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. Oberst Eriksen gave the command to load the three guns of the main battery. Today, it is a museum. During this period Oscarsborg served as a military school for officer training. Fjeld, Odd T. The Torpedo Battery was long closed to the public and strictly confidential. [2], The fortress is now largely a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. The officer school was officially shut down on 28 June 2002. When fired, the torpedo's own compressed air engine was started and it propelled itself. We had a excellent guide that really knew the island and the islands history. It was from here that Andreas Andersen and his men, under the direction of Colonel Birger Eriksen, fired the two crucial torpedoes that sunk the German cruiser Blücher on 9 April, 1940. The earthquake of 345/346 likely damaged the monument and closed it. Drøbak Church (33) 19 min. The fortress is now largely a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. After the war the fortifications were dismantled, and only resurrected for a short period during the 1814 war with Sweden. The fortress is situated on two small islets, and on the mainland to the west and east, in the fjord and was military territory until 2003 when it was made a publicly available resort island. Visitors take a short motor launch trip from Drøbak. After the deactivation of the last weapons systems, the remaining military activity on Oscarsborg consisted of the Coastal Artillery officer training programme. And they never knew about the torpedo battery even though it had been there since the early 1900s - major intelligence failure. Two torpedoes are loaded side by side, in an open steel frame. The torpedoes were delivered in 1900 from the Whitehead torpedo factory in Fiume, then part of Austria-Hungary. An underwater stone wall (jeté), minefield, torpedo battery and entrenchments was also built. Having been constructed in 1898–1901, and taken into service on 15 July 1901, the underground torpedo facility remained one of the few Norwegian defence installations unknown to German military intelligence at the point of the 1940 invasion. Enter your email address and password to log on. The guns are on the island in the centre, the torpedo battery is on the smaller island to the right. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. In 1989 the minefields in the Oslo fjord were taken off, in 1993 torpedo and artillery batteries in Oscarsborg were finally disarmed. The torpedoes finished off Blücher. "She is to be torpedoed" came the reply. Around 1830 the discussion started for a renewed fortification of the Drøbak Narrows and the first stage was ready in 1848, the next in 1853. When the negotiations with Sweden took place in 1905, the Oscarsborg fortress was regarded as the strongest fortress in northern Europe, with a defensive line that stretched 10 km from the Heer Entrenchment in the east to the top of Håøya in the west. Colonel Birger Eriksen was present on the occasion and made a speech. All rights reserved. Historic Sites. 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