General information on the “Wood of the Furnace”

Work strengthened with artillery of 81mm.

SF Crusnes become 42eCAF in 1940

It is a curious work and not “traditional”, because of its single block. In fact only a small portion of what had been initially envisaged was carried out. Moreover, in this block, a staircase is inserted deeply and does not lead to nothing. It would have led to the galleries of the finished unit.

The work would then have been equipped with two turrets of 75/33, a turret of 75/32 and a turret of 135 which would have strongly oversize the firepower of the SF.

The only built block gives, moreover, an idea of the power envisaged because alone it is armed with 5 JM, 3 AC47, 1 TM and 2 81.

In 1940 It is not worried by the German troops.

Caption plan. H: men; B: crenel under concrete; C: bell; T: turret; Infanterie_: armament of infantry; Artillerie_: artillery armament; Observatoires_: armoured observatories

In top: geographical coordinates relating to the geodetic network French 1993

Photographer

Gerald Goeltl

Large a thank you with the photographer!

Entry

Two blocks of entry (men and ammunition) were to be built thereafter.

Entry

Another sight of the entry, with crenel of JM/AC47.

Staff waiting room

Room with 6 superimposed beds, a FM crenel and a grenade chute.

Grenade chute

Chute of the staff waiting room.

Crenel for JM/AC47

Defense of the entry.

Crenel for JM/AC47

Crenel JM/AC47, seen interior of the casemate. Currently there is no more armament in the fort.

Western frontage

This frontage is protected from the enemy shootings by a slope (the border is with far, in front of the photograph).

Western flanking

Towards the west the fort has of a crenel JM and a crenel JM/AC47. A FM beats the accesses of the ditch diamond.

Bell GFM

This beautiful photograph shows us 3 of the 4 bells overhanging the turret of machine-guns of the work. A GFM is in the foreground.

Floor of GFM

Mobile floor to adapt to the size of being useful sound. (Sight of the bottom of the bell).

In the axis of the bell, a rigid sheath evacuates the casings of 7.5 of FM.

Recuperator of casings

Recuperator seals casings of FM. It is tight to prevent that the pollutant gases produced by the powder residues do not poison the atmosphere. A manual ventilator (on the recuperator) makes it possible to evacuate pollutant gases.

Frontage Is

This frontage is protected from the enemy shootings by a slope (the border is with far, in front of the photograph).

Flanking Is

Flanking with 1 crenel JM, 1 crenel JM/AC47, protected by a crenel FM. In the ditch one sees the two crenels of 81.

Crenel of 81

Sight external of the crenel for mortar of 81mm.

Bell VDP

Bell with direct and periscopic vision working for artillery.

Floor of the VDP

Mobile floor which adapts to the size of the observer.

Well of access to “nothing”

Staircase, on standby, which would have led to the underground galleries of the fort when it would have been built in its totality.

Turret of machine-guns

It is overhung by a GFM (1st plan) and a VDP (2nd plan). Here it is in eclipsed position.

Overall picture

Sight side border. The turret of machine-guns is with frontal action (i.e. vis-a-vis the border). It is below the 4 bells.

With share for the bells, the structure of the fort leaves only little catch to the enemy tended shootings.

Before-armour of turret

The before-armour, around the moving part, is partially disengaged from the concrete (contrary to the turrets of 75mm for example) what gives to the unit an air of flying saucer.

In the second plan one sees the VDP, then a GFM.

Support turret

This metal part (under the body of turret) is used to maintain the turret in driving position during its rotation movements and of setting out of battery.

In bottom on the left, one sees part of the beam which balances the turret and makes it possible to put it out of battery arm of men, in the event of breakdown of electrical motor.

Noria of turret

For the rise of the ammunition at the station of shooting.

Room s/o

Room of service for the warrant officers of the turret.

Room

Room of service for serving as the turret.

PC

Room of the commander of the fort (Lt Roland de Mecquenem in 1940).

Cook

With cooker with coal. Its evacuation of smoke was dismounted. In addition practically all the material of the fort (ventilation, generators) was dismounted at the time of the German occupation.