Battery "Prince Menshikov"

XQJ5+Q2 Kronstadt District, Saint Petersburg, Russia

In 1826, a wooden two-tier battery armed with 24 guns was erected at the entrance to the Merchant Harbor. In 1841, it was decided to build a four-tier casemated battery on this site (three enclosed tiers and one open tier). The project was drafted in three weeks by engineer-captain Zarzhetsky. Construction took place from 1843 to 1850. During the construction, the harbor wall and the old battery foundation were reinforced with piles and underwater counterforts. The completed battery was named after Admiral Prince Menshikov, the head of the Naval Ministry.

Kronstadt - a fort fortress

In 1826, a wooden two-tier battery armed with 24 guns was erected at the entrance to the Merchant Harbor. In 1841, it was decided to build a four-tier casemated battery on this site (three enclosed tiers and one open tier). The project was drafted in three weeks by engineer-captain Zarzhetsky. Construction lasted from 1843 to 1850. During construction, the harbor wall and the old battery foundation were reinforced with piles and underwater counterforts. The completed battery was named after Admiral Prince Menshikov, the head of the Naval Ministry.

Starting in 1854, the basis of the naval defense plans for the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland was the idea of using a mine-artillery position. The "Prince Menshikov" battery, together with the forts "Pavel I" and "Alexander I," covered the minefield (three barriers) in the area of the Southern fairway with their artillery fire.

In 1896, when the battery lost its defensive significance due to the development of artillery, the Minister of War signed a decree removing it from the list of defensive structures. Until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was used for storing ammunition and military supplies.

In 1942, two 100-mm guns were installed on the battery grounds. The new battery was designated No. 668.

In the postwar years, the two upper enclosed tiers of the battery were completely dismantled.

The location and firing sector of the battery were determined by its narrow purpose: to suppress enemy ships' attempts to break through the fairway to the Small Kronstadt Roadstead with frontal fire. In plan, the battery was a rectangle with two annexes on the rear edges. The enclosed tiers consisted of six casemates, each housing two three-pood guns. The battery's facade was shielded with granite slabs. The annexes housed hoists and magazines for bombs and charges, as well as staircases for personnel.

The main armament of the battery was as follows:

In the 19th century: 44 guns, of which 42 were three-pood bombarding guns

In the 20th century: two 100-mm B-34 guns, installed in 1942–1944 (battery No. 668)

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Menshikov_(battery)

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