The Fort with Retractable 57mm Turrets

The Forte Bramafam was built to defend the Torino-Modane railway line and the Frejus tunnel, ensuring the Italian entrance remained under fire from potential attacks. Constructed between 1874 and 1889, it became one of the largest fortified works of the late 19th century. It was designed to guard the valleys and control the surrounding area, specifically watching over the entrance to the railway tunnel.

By 1892, the French intelligence service - the Deuxième Bureau - reported that the fort was now complete and would soon be equipped with artillery in turrets. It adopted the first armored installations used by Italian fortifications. These were armored mounts produced by the German company Gruson, armed with 120 mm guns. The fort also featured four retractable 57mm Schnellfeuerkanone L/25 cannons. These were metal turrets that normally adhered to the surface of the roof, using a counterweight mechanism to raise the gun for firing before returning to their initial position.

The fort's purpose shifted through the decades. It was partially disarmed during the First World War and served as a prison for Austrians working on the roads and the Frejus tunnel. By the 1930s, the work was integrated with two modern resistance centers in caves and armed with 120/21 towers. During an offensive in 1940, the fort was targeted by enemy artillery and bombs dropped by aircraft, but only some external structures were damaged. A small German garrison took control in 1943 and mined the surrounding area for fear of partisans, only abandoning the site in April 1945.

An association for the study of military history and architecture now runs the museum and has restored over 6,000 square meters of the space. Visitors can walk through the barracks, the troop quarters, the atrium, and the guard house. The association even rebuilt and put back one of the 57mm retractable turrets for visitors to see.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons