(ed. After the war Oscarsborg was the last line of defense of the capital of Norway. 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. Its torpedo store contains British Mark VIII torpedo bodies, and a separate warhead store has their warheads, practice heads and firing pistols. In April 1940 the battery was armed with nine Whitehead Mk Vd torpedoes. The fortress is now largely a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. 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. One of the three 28 cm main battery guns at Oscarsborg. 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 Then the frames are lowered like an elevator down in the water to the tunnels below. The name of the fortress was given by royal resolution on 23 August 1855 after a visit by the Swedish-Norwegian King Oscar I. We had the Historical tour including the torpedo battery, this is a two-hour roundtrip on the island. Today, it is a museum. [8] A second observation bunker is situated just outside the entrance to the battery. Oscarsborg Fortress Today. At Oscarsborg today, please feel free to enjoy the Fortress museum. We had the Historical tour including the torpedo battery, this is a two-hour roundtrip on the island. [1], After the war the fortifications were dismantled, and only resurrected for a short period during the 1814 war with Sweden.[1]. When fired, the torpedo's own compressed air engine was started and it propelled itself. The earthquake of 345/346 likely damaged the monument and closed it. The battery was one of two in Norway and it was designed to launch its torpedoes from under the water level. Oscarsborg has primarily served as the Torpedo tubes are under water in … The Blücher unwittingly passed with 500 m of the torpedo battery. An early Christian chapel was constructed on the amphitheatre in the second half of the 4th century. We had a excellent guide that really knew the island and the islands history. The Torpedo Battery was long closed to the public and strictly confidential. "She is to be torpedoed" came the reply. Drobak (315) 1.8 mi. The officer school was officially shut down on 28 June 2002. Torpedo battery The second most important military facility of Oscarsborg fortress with Main Battery was the secret torpedo battery. Why not share it with other people interested in history? ): "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. You may bring your smartphone and enjoy a tour on your own. ... Oscarsborg Fortress (275) 1 min. The amphitheatre is included on the tentative list of Albania for inscribing it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The commander of the torpedo battery at Oscarsborg had at the time of the battle been on sick leave since March 1940. The site currently functions as a museum. The scenic s… The Battle of Drøbak Sound took place in Drøbak Sound, the northernmost part of the outer Oslofjord in southern Norway, on 9 April 1940. [5], After the deactivation of the last weapons systems, the remaining military activity on Oscarsborg consisted of the Coastal Artillery officer training programme. Map of Oslofjord and the fortress of Oscarsborg. The ship led the flotilla of warships into the Oslofjord on the night of 8 April, to seize Oslo, the capital of Norway. Anderssen would show himself worthy of the important task of leading the fortress' most lethal weapon system; having first served at the torpedo … On North Kaholmen the Torpedo battery which gave “Blücher” the deathblows early in the morning on the 9th of April 1940 can be visited. 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. Torpedo battery. See all. Having been constructed in 1898–1901, 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 flag in question was the same that had flown over the fortress until it was captured by the Germans in April 1940. The commander of Oscarsborg Fortress opened fire at point blank range. They apparently thought that the Oscarsborg guns were too old to be operational and only used for training. [1], During the occupation of Norway German forces were stationed at Oscarsborg. However, with the demise of the Soviet Union the world has changed. [4], At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. English: Oscarsborg Fortress is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. From 1890 new improved German guns were installed, an underwater barrier was built in 1874–79,[3] and an underwater torpedo battery was constructed. You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory. Date of experience: October 2017 Men stationed within the fortress’s hidden underground tunnels quickly load two of the torpedo chambers and fire. Historic Sites. The officer school was officially shut down on 28 June 2002. After the deactivation of the last weapons systems, the remaining military activity on Oscarsborg consisted of the Coastal Artillery officer training programme. 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. Fjeld, Odd T. The fortifications were however not involved in battle during the Hannibal War. “The Most Holy” is the name given to the Torpedo Battery at Oscarsborg. The underground torpedo battery remained secretly active until 1993. The torpedoes were delivered in 1900 from the Whitehead torpedo factory in Fiume, then part of Austria-Hungary. Enter your email address and password to log on. [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. An underwater stone wall (jeté), minefield, torpedo battery and entrenchments was also built. We had a excellent guide that really knew the island and the islands history. 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. 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. Sørviknes Torpedobatteri / Huge bunker / torpedo battery in Norwegian fjord. After the deactivation of the last weapons systems, the remaining military activity on Oscarsborg consisted of the Coastal Artillery officer training programme. Oberst Eriksen gave the command to load the three guns of the main battery. The Amphitheatre of Durrës was built in the beginning of the 2nd century AD. It was built in 1898-1901. The officer school was officially shut down in 2002. © 2021 SpottingHistory.com. The approach to Oslo is to the right – the open sea, Skagerrak to the left. 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. A natural cave had been enlarged and enhanced with three chambers loaded with torpedoes produced in Rijeka, Croatia. 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. Oberst Birger Eriksen, the commander of Oscarsborg on 9 April 1940. Two torpedoes are loaded side by side, in an open steel frame. The chapel with mosaics is preserved. Why not share it with other people interested in history? 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. At around 0400 on April 9, six ships came into view. 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. KommandørkapteinAnderssen donned his old uniform and was transported by boat over the fjord to the torpedo battery. After the war the fortifications were dismantled, and only resurrected for a short period during the 1814 war with Sweden. [12], Coordinates: 59°40′25″N 10°36′24″E / 59.67361°N 10.60667°E / 59.67361; 10.60667. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. If you know where it is it the Oscarsborg torpedo battery can still be seen when you pass the fortress. The Fortress Museum provides guided … A new torpedo battery was completed in 1901. The fortress is best known for sinking the German heavy cruiser Blücher on 9 April 1940. The battery was decommissioned in 1993, and is now a museum. At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. It is built on a slope of the hill, and inside the amphitheatre there are staircases and galleries at different levels. It is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Balkan Peninsula with once having a capacity of 20,000 people. Together with the Torpedo Workshop beside the entrance, a visit to the Torpedo Battery gives an exciting introduction into one of the most ‘secret’ parts of Oscarsborg Fortress. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com. National Fortification Heritage. [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. 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. The Germans were unaware of a torpedo battery near Oscarsborg's main gun battery at North Kaholmen Island. Churches & Cathedrals. There are guided tours around the fortress. Oscarsborg Fortress (Oscarsborg festning in Norwegian) is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. The amphitheatre has an elliptical shape with axes of 132 metres and 113 metres. Built in 1901, it was equipped with three shore-mounted dual elevators firing the torpedoes via underwater tunnels. They even had a underground torpedo battery, that remained a secret up until 1993. 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. Then one of the two frames is lowered like an elevator down into the water to the tunnels below. During this period Oscarsborg served as a military school for officer training. Follow us to get best travel tips to interesting historic sites! [2], The fortress is now largely a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. The scenic surroundings is much used for conferences and excursions. Drøbak Church (33) 19 min. Colonel Birger Eriksen was present on the occasion and made a speech. The commander of a land-based torpedo battery called the commander of Oscarsborg Fortress asking: "Is she to be torpedoed?" 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. The guns are on the island in the centre, the torpedo battery is on the smaller island to the right. From 1890 new improved German guns were installed, an underwater barrier was built in 1874–79, and an underwater torpedo battery was constructed. 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. Two torpedoes fired by land-based torpedo batteries struck the ship, causing serious damage. The torpedoes finished off Blücher. Exploring WWII coastal artillery fortress bunker in Norway. The chapel was initially decorated with frescoes; in the 6th century, mosaics were added. The main armament was three 28 cm calibre guns manufactured by Krupp. The fortress get a new battery of 105 mm guns BSKA. WW2 made Oscarsborg widely known. Historical tour including the torpedo battery – 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 “Blücher”, the Jeté (the underwater embankment), the main fortress and all the other fortifications. At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. 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. In 2004 the University of Parma started restoration work to save the monument. Historic Sites. There were also a number of guns with smaller calibres on the mainland. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. [11] Visitors take a short motor launch trip from Drøbak. At Oscarsborg the torpedo battery is a concrete construction inside a cave mined into the rock of the North Kaholmen island. Oscarsborg fortress model Today, the battery is a museum forming part of the Oscarsborg Fortress complex. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. On April 9, 1940, Oscarsborg Fortress passed its first real test: The fort’s armaments managed to sink the German flagship, Blücher. There were also a number of guns with smaller calibres (15 cm and 57 mm) on the mainland. Now Oscarsborg is largely a civilian attraction (still some military there, though very minor), and it’s a perfect site to take with your family. 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 two open steel frames. [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. 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. 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. Colonel Birger Eriksen's brave decission to sink "the Blücher", made it possible for the Norwegian king, the government and the Norwegian gold holdings to come into safety. The name of the fortress was given by royal resolution on 23 August 1855 after a visit by the Swedish-Norwegian King Oscar I. I did not have a boring second and the trip could happily lasted another hour. [6] Each weapon carried a 100 kg TNT warhead[7] and targets were spotted from an observation bunker just above the battery.[4]. 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. The fortifications were however not involved in battle during the Hannibal War. 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. It's absolutely free, easy, and you can do it even without registration (of course you an also create an free account)! Oscarsborg Fortress (Norwegian language: Oscarsborg festning) is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. The burning ship continued up the fjord. It marked the end of the "Phoney War" and the beginning of World War II in Western Europe. Visitors take a short motor launch trip from Drøbak. Artillery from the Fortress and its torpedo battery sank what was then considered the German Navy’s pride: the “Blücher”. Photo: Oscarsborg . The main armament was three 28 cm calibre guns manufactured by Krupp. The fortress is now largely a civilian resort and attraction, open for visitors. Oscarsborg Fortress' Main Island seen from the south-west. 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. 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. The battery was one of two in Norway and it was designed to launch its torpedoes from under the water level. The first defences were constructed during the reign of Christian IV of Denmark and Norway and were ready in 1644. The tension was also growing between the two countries in the union and so the Norwegians decided to upgrade the fortress. Oscarsborg Fortress is one of 14 fortresses under the management of National Fortification Heritage. The first defences were constructed during the reign of Christian IV of Denmark and Norway and were ready in 1644. An underwater stone wall (jeté), minefield, torpedo battery and entrenchments was also built. By the end of the 19th century the art of war developed rapidly and the new fortress was soon obsolete. When Norway was invaded on 9 April 1940, all of the fortress' armament was over 40 years old, and of German origin. Two old 28 cm (11 in) coastal guns in the Oscarsborg Fortress engaged the ship at very close range, scoring two hits. [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. The scenic surroundings is much used for conferences and excursions. The amphitheatre was covered over in the 16th century, after the Ottoman occupation, when the wall was built nearby. FYI: We also have another fully preserved torpedobattery as a museum in Norway: The former german "Torpedobatterie Hjelte" (Herdla torpedobattery, in Askøy outside Bergen). The narrows at Drøbak, called Drøbaksundet, is a natural point for the naval defence of Oslo, the capital of Norway. 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. Oscarborg fortress, view from Drøbak. In 1989 the minefields in the Oslo fjord were taken off, in 1993 torpedo and artillery batteries in Oscarsborg were finally disarmed. The narrows at Drøbak, called Drøbaksundet, is a natural point for the naval defence of Oslo, the capital of Norway. In command of Oscarsborg Fortress was 64-year-old Coastal Artillery Oberst (Colonel) Birger Kristian Eriksen, only six months from retirement. All rights reserved. It was used for performances until the 4th century AD. Oscarsborg formed a last line detence for Oslo. The ship soon drifts with range of Oscarborg’s torpedo battery. By the end of the 19th century the art of war developed rapidly and the new fortress was soon obsolete. The tension was also growing between the two countries in the union and so the Norwegians decided to upgrade the fortress. Oscarsborg fortress was until 2002 guarding the sea entrance to Oslo. A medieval chapel was built in the 13th century, also decorated with frescoes. 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. It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration! - Duration: 17:22. 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