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FORTRESS STUDY GROUP
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Casemate 77 |
The coast of Menorca has a number of C20th pillboxes, generally dating from the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939). The Republican Government controlled Menorca, whereas the Nationalist rebels controlled neighbouring Mallorca. Towards the end of the Civil War, Menorca was isolated as the last outpost of the Republicans. An invasion was avoided, with the help of the British who assisted the negotiations for the surrender of the island.
The surviving pillboxes do not appear to have been built to a standard design, but appear to be purpose designed to suit the local terrain and achieve the required fields of fire. They are generally constructed with reinforced concrete walls and reinforced concrete barrel vaulted roofs. The external walls and roofs are normally covered with soil and rocks for additional protection and camouflage.
The following are examples of Menorcan pillboxes; all dimensions are very approximate.
Son Bou - Punta d'Atalitx Pillbox.
Located on Punta d'Atalitx headland between Son Bou and Sant Tomas; internal dimensions of approximately 4x4m with two embrasures approximately 1500mm wide by 300 mm high. The pillbox is unsafe to enter because a steel floor has partially collapsed into what appears to be a basement. There is a walled enclosure by the entrance door. The pillbox is camouflaged with soil and rocks. One embrasure faces towards Son Bou beach and the other faces towards the cliffs near Sant Tomas.
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San Tomas-Escull Codrell Pillboxes
Two pillboxes located on the Escull Codrell headland each with two embrasures, one facing out to sea and one facing along the coast. Both pillboxes have locked steel access doors and are in good condition.
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San Tomas - Punta Negra Pillbox
Located on the east cliff of Punta Negra headland facing Sant Tomas beach. Internal dimensions of approximately 3.5x3.5m by 3.0m high. Two embrasures facing Sant Tomas beach each approximately 1200mmx300mm.
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The embrasures are at low level in the pillbox chamber and provide a commanding view of the beach. The entrance is a rectangular pit with an opening into a barrel vaulted reinforced concrete tunnel with steps and a gradient leading down to the pillbox chamber. The tunnel is approximately 20m long and the reinforced concrete roof is well concealed with earth and rocks. Overall condition is good.
Fornells Pillbox
Fornells is a fishing village and natural harbour situated on the north coast of Menorca. The harbour is in the shape of a bottle with the neck at the entrance. On the coastal headland is a defence tower built by the British between 1801 and 1802 during British rule. The tower is in the style of a Martello tower and guarded the entrance to Fornells harbour.
Fornells Defence tower.
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A C20th pillbox of reinforced concrete construction with a barrel vaulted roof is located near sea level, guarding the entrance to the harbour. The pillbox consists of single chamber approximately 6x3m by 3.5m high with a single embrasure facing the harbour entrance.
Fornells pillbox.
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The embrasure is located in the 3m wall and tapers from approximately 1000x400mm externally to 300x300mm internally. There are two entrance doors, one at the opposite end to the embrasure and one in the 6m wall in the corner adjacent to the other door. A heavyweight steel door still exists and an external blast wall protects one entrance door. Externally the reinforced concrete is still partially camouflaged with rocks set in mortar.
Fornells pillbox.
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Within the natural harbour lies a small island on which there is a fortification of undetermined date. Also facing the harbour entrance, close to the pillbox, are partially filled-in defensive trench works.
Mahón Fortresses.
Mahón port is the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean. Three major fortresses were built to defend its entrance:
Fort Marlborough - (British, built 1710-1726); St. Phillip's Castle - (British, built early C18th); Isabella II Fortress (La Mola) - (Spanish, mid C19th).
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Whilst the above fortresses do not contain notable pillboxes there are many interesting fortification features and the following are examples of C20th fortification remains:
St Philip's Castle: Naval guns, magazines, searchlights and a torpedo blockhouse.
St Philip's Castle, later demolished, drawn from a 1756 plan claiming to be accurate, but looks a bit too elaborate.
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La Mola Fortress:
Two Vickers Armstrong 15-in naval guns (last fired 1991), complete with turrets, magazines, shell hoists and machinery rooms. Torpedo blockhouse, underwater-mines control building and German artillery guns.
La Mola Fortress.
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La Mola Fortress.
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La Mola Fortress; 15-in Vickers naval gun.
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La Mola Fortress; torpedo blockhouse.
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All three fortresses are open to the public but St. Philip's Castle (see Casemate 73 p6. Ed.) and La Mola Fortress are by guided tour only.
This article has been published by the Pillbox Study Group in their magazine Loopholes, and is published here in a modified form, with permission of the Editor, Alistair Graham Kerr. Ed.
