Schuilplaats, Betonnen werken omgeving Fort Spion Loenen aan de Vecht (Stichtse Vecht 26)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 16. Group shelters type P.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P as components of linear and access defence added in the Interwar period, with trench systems, casemates and the like. Most examples of these group shelters are located at some distance from the eastern bank of the Vecht in built-up or built-on terrain; a few others lie somewhat further east, in the vicinity of the fort. (Concrete) group shelters formed a response to the arrival of heavy projectiles and high-explosive grenades. The latter exploded when they hit their target and caused a rain of metal fragments, which could cause many casualties. Depending on the weight of the gun and the protection against it, there is a classification into resistance or protection classes, consisting of two numbers, e.g. W 12-15. The first indicates that the protection is sufficient for impacts of projectiles up to that calibre (in cm); the second that there is also protection against one or at most a few impacts up to this higher calibre. The earliest types of group shelters offered only protection against grenade fragments and were called 'fragment-proof'. Group shelters type P are, according to more or less uniform or standard design (especially) in the years 1939-1940 built in multiple locations in the Netherlands. The total number of built examples is approximately 700, of which in the New Hollandic Waterline approximately 570; the majority (approx. 400) of these still exist. The construction programme of the group shelters Type P was not completed at the outbreak of the Second World War and a number of examples are known never to have been completed. Type P (also called 'the pyramid' because of its distinctive shape) is presumably the most well-known type of concrete defensive work in the Netherlands. The type emerged from the so-called VIS 77 (Regulation for Preparing Positions no. 77), from 1928, and had as one of its purposes to form part of the defence of a number of existing and new accesses, including in particular (high-speed) roads and (electrified or to be electrified) railways. The group shelter Type P usually came into being in the immediate vicinity of already existing or at the same time realized casemates, gun emplacements, fortifications or trenches. Because the trenches and other (earthen) works were later almost everywhere levelled or demolished, the concrete shelters nowadays often lie partly below ground level. The wholly closed front or front side of the group shelters Type P was in many cases covered by earthworks which could form part of a glacis for the protection of the trench or a covered way. These earthworks are now mostly no longer present or only with difficulty recognizable, but in particular at forts or in otherwise broken terrain they are sometimes still present. There are various variants of Type P, both in terms of dimensions and protection class as well as in execution and detailing. For example, there are examples built in the protection classes W 15-21 and W 21-28 with dimensions ranging from approximately 5.50 x 7.20 x 4.70 m to 6.50 x 8.20 x 4.90 m (w x d x h). Numerous examples of Type P were built in inundatable areas, in some cases a visible pile foundation was applied, while often a retaining wall and occasionally a trough with stairs to hold back inundation water was incorporated in the then raised, square access and in still others a concrete foundation slab projecting all around is present.

Description

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P are single-storey, usually in reinforced, approximately 100 to 180 cm thick cast concrete executed, grenade-proof, military accommodations, which could provide shelter for 10-12 men of infantry / artillery. The group shelters Type P are built on a rectangular ground plan. The visible height above ground level varies. Both blind side walls and the throat side are executed vertically to approximately 3 m height. Above this these walls bend inward at approximately 45° angle, then transition into a flat roof. On the right side of the throat side is at locally varying height above ground level an (later either filled in or not) entrance opening. The entirely vertical, closed front side reflects the angles of 45° and thus ends as a 'truncated pointed gable'. In a number of cases, iron hooks or brackets were cast into the gable(s) which could serve to secure camouflage material. A characteristic component on top of the shelter type P is the conical, concrete 'outlet', which was intended for the use of a periscope. These periscopes, however, were rarely or never installed in practice. The interior of the group shelters Type P consists of a short corridor (usually with a concrete retaining wall or balustrade and usually a few descending steps) and from there a 'sluice' directed to the left which could be locked by a (consisting of several parts) heavy, steel door with bolts. Via a second, similar door one could turn right into a rear, almost square space, the actual shelter. The entrance could be covered from this space by a firing slit. The steel doors are often no longer present outside the terrains still used by Defence even after the Second World War, or they are invisible as a result of the group shelters being filled in with brick or concrete. The ceilings located at approximately two metres above floor level are flat and rectangular. In a number of cases interior components are still present, such as (remains of) wooden benches or a support for the machine gun for guarding the entrance. The group shelters in the area east of the Vecht, although in forested or built-up area, are in reasonable linear relationship. Particularly for the examples located closer to Fort Spion, the relationship with other components and field of fire and inundation zone are clearly recognizable.

Valuation

The GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P in the vicinity of Fort Spion are of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus was realized and subsequently by others for approximately 125 years was strengthened and improved.

* Architectural-historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic construction, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th century), b. the race with increasingly strengthening offensive means (20th century) c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century)

These are components from the period 1939-1940. These components are examples of reinforced concrete enlisted men's shelters Type Pyramid.

* Ensemble value and situational values as components of the New Hollandic Waterline and because of the functional and physical relationship with the other components of the complex, as well as because of the, especially for the most easterly located examples, clearly recognizable relationship with inundation zone and fields of fire.

* The components are representative (characteristic) because they are clearly recognizable as a component of a deconcentrated defence line added to the existing fortification system.

* The components are fairly well preserved and can still be clearly recognized in the field as built components.