Fort Photo: Fort "Grand Duke Constantine"

Fort "Grand Duke Constantine" is one of the artillery of the FORTS defending the southern Harbor of Kronstadt. Is one of the largest FORTS in the city.

In 1808 due to start in the Baltic sea military action of the English fleet of the Navy Department, it was decided the construction of the wooden batteries, called "Double South". She was armed with 37 guns and 12 unicorns. The garrison consisted of 250 people. In November 1824 the flood happened, and the battery is slightly damaged, but by the spring of 1826 was restored.

In 1834 on the site of the battery was built caponier (a kind of niche), which is formed open on two sides inner Harbor. Around the battery with a length of about 200 m, in the bottom of the Bay were scored 2 rows of piles, to prevent the approach of enemy ships. In the same year it was visited by Emperor Nicholas I, who renamed the battery in the Fort "Konstantin" in honor of their son Grand Duke Constantine.

By the early 1850s, wooden Fort is dilapidated, and it was dismantled. Since the Crimean war began, next built a temporary battery No. 4. In 1858 on the site of the former Fort was begun the building of the wall of granite boulders, the weight of each was 10 tons. Finished wall granite slabs, the weight of each 6 tons. Height was 4 meters, length – 300 meters. In 1861 the building was completed. In October 1863 the Fort was strengthened by three parapets (for 5, 15 and 3 guns), notably, for the first time in world practice.

In 1863-1865, Fort Constantine and temporary battery No. 4 connected with each other, and the left flank of the Fort extended by 80 metres. Battery installed new 8" Krupp guns. In 1866 and 1868 were built barracks on the right flank and in the middle part of the battery. In 1868 they built a new 6-gun parapet. In the same year by the decree of Emperor Alexander II, the Fort was renamed the South sea battery # 4 "Constantine".

In 1870, on the earthen traverse the project of Colonel V. F. petrushevski was installed spectabile for optical rangefinder, the upper part of which revolved thereby allow a wide view of the area. In 1870 there was a mechanism system Pauker, allows to increase the recharge rate of heavy guns from 5 minutes to 15 seconds. In 1872 he held the upgrading of the Fort 11" rifled guns. In 1873 appeared 9" rifled mortar, and in 1878 – 14" Krupp gun.

In 1890 he built a Causeway that connected the Fort with Kotlin. The dam held the railroad.

In 1896-1901, the Fort was reconstructed. Its area has increased, the right flank lengthened. All metal parapets, except 5-gun parapet of the battery Swede, were removed. Behind the battery Swede appeared concrete battery of eight 6" guns Kane. On the right flank was erected a battery on concrete two 57-mm guns and eight 11" guns. The left flank has received special casemated traverses and 2 11" guns.

In 1909 the left flank of the Fort was armed with 2 10" guns, and in 1911 on the right side of the battery Swede and on the left flank of the Fort appeared on two 120-mm guns. Constantine Fort did not participate in the First World and Civil wars.

In 1934-1935 here set 2 machine-gun Bunker and on the left flank – concrete fortifications for four 45-mm guns, which during the great Patriotic war were fired at enemies who tried to approach the Oranienbaum bridgehead.

In the 1960s, the years of Constantine the Fort was disarmed and plundered. In 1980-ies there was a carpool. In 2000-2005, there was organized the annual music festival FORTDANCE. C 2006 the Fort began to develop as a yacht club and a cultural and tourist center. In 2010 there was organized the checkpoint through the state border of Russia for small ships and yachts.

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