Fort "Shants" (also known as Alexandrovskaya Battery, also Alexander and Nikolay Shants)

Fort "Shantz" (also known as Alexandrovskaya Battery, or Alexander and Nikolay Shantsy) is a historical and architectural monument of the 18th century. It is located in the western part of Kotlin Island, within the territory of the Western Kotlin State Nature Reserve. It was created to protect the city from the Swedes during the Great Northern War—in 1706, and was rebuilt several times.

In 1706, slightly ahead of the current right flank of the battery, an earthen redoubt "Alexander-Shantz" was erected, which for a long time served as the main defensive structure on the island. At the beginning of the 19th century, nearby on the southern shore of Kotlin, a timber-earth "Alexandrovskaya" battery was built. Additionally, to protect the approaches to both fortifications, a small infantry redoubt "Mikhail" was placed between them. All these structures were radically rebuilt in the summer of 1855 during the urgent strengthening of Kronstadt due to the threat of an attack by the Anglo-French squadron. On the northern shore was now Battery No. 7 ("Alexander-Shantz"), on the southern shore—Battery No. 8 ("Nikolay-Shantz"), and between them—Battery letter "V" (later named "Curtain").

The fortifications were not seriously modernized and lasted until the end of the 19th century. Later, it was decided to build a complex of long-term batteries on their site, which received the name Fort "Shantz." In 1897, construction began on the central (mortar) and northern (gun) batteries. It continued for five years. The structures were made of concrete based on the designs of Forts "A" and "V," which were taken as a basis. However, necessary changes were made to suit local conditions. The gun battery, in addition to its main armament, was equipped with four guns intended to combat possible enemy landings. To illuminate the adjacent section of the roadstead on the right flank, a searchlight was installed, which could be hidden in a shaft if necessary. After some time, on the left flank of the group, a southern (gun) battery was built, similar in construction, equipment, and armament to the northern one.

By the 1930s, the "Shantz" battery had lost its combat significance, its armament was removed, and it was decided to create a command post for the Commander of the Coastal Defense of the Baltic Sea in some of the vacated casemates.

During the Great Patriotic War, no stationary coastal guns were installed at the "Shantz" battery, but at the same time, the Separate Railway Artillery Battery No. 19-A (two guns, caliber 180 mm), moving along the Kronstadt – "Rif" branch, was stationed there. After the victory, the fort never returned to service. The railway branch was dismantled, and part of the fortifications was buried under earth. "Stalkers" wander through the open galleries and caponiers; there are piles of garbage everywhere, and the walls are covered with graffiti. A strong impression is made by the inexplicably preserved armored cupola above the observation post, the shaft through which the searchlight was raised, and the massive foundations of the rotating platforms for the guns.

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantz_(fort)