Kazemat, Lunet III Utrecht

English translation

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Description

Cluster 46. Double VIS-Casemate / Machine-gun Casemate.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

DOUBLE VIS-CASEMATE / MACHINE-GUN CASEMATE, as executed in very limited, serial form and in reinforced concrete, added to the existing defence system, small fortification work. Such works formed part of the modernisation of defence through so-called 'living field fortification', which usually had a dispersed character. Between 1928 and 1935, the Voorschrift Inrichten Stellingen no. 77 (V.I.S.) appeared in a number of parts. These publications arose from the desire to standardise the construction of reinforced concrete group shelters and combat positions, which had hitherto been lacking. The provisions were intended for the construction of positions in wartime conditions by the troops themselves. For peacetime, the engineers would make other designs. Because the V.I.S. was intended for inexperienced conscript soldiers, the designs of the casemates were as simple as possible, with rectangular forms. Different construction possibilities per casemate type were given (single or double), which could be adapted to the (wartime and terrain) conditions under which construction had to take place. The armament (cannon or machine-gun) and the resistance capacity could also vary per structure (namely W 12-15, W 15-21 or W 21-28). The first part of the V.I.S. was part VII, Construction of heavy reinforced concrete shelters. It applied from the date of publication as a norm for the entire Dutch armed forces. Contrary to what the title suggests, part VII deals mainly with combat positions. Only two of the ten example designs concern shelters. The provisions from the V.I.S. were strongly theoretical in nature or based on knowledge and experiences from neighbouring countries and the First World War. There were therefore various critical voices from military circles, both about the health risks to personnel, and from a tactical-technical perspective. Only after a number of V.I.S. casemates (in peacetime) had been built did an exercise casemate come into being, intended for the training of operating personnel. This led to some adjustments to the works already constructed. In the Fortress Holland, a total of approximately 40 V.I.S. casemates were built, of which 34 were on new or improved accesses in the East Front Fortress Holland. Some of these came into being on the Lunettes near Utrecht, including a double example on Lunet IV and another in the wall on the south-east side of Lunet III. Double V.I.S. casemates are very rare, because only a few were built, and moreover not all of them still exist.

Description

DOUBLE VIS-CASEMATE / MACHINE-GUN CASEMATE on Lunet III is one of the V.I.S. casemates that were built in the mid-1930s on the four Lunettes near Utrecht. The casemate was built to cover and defend the access from the Houtense Vlakte. The casemate, executed in reinforced concrete, is largely hidden beneath a layer of earth, but the facades with entrances and the gun embrasures are partly clearly visible. The work was built according to the Voorschrift Inrichten Stellingen (V.I.S). The casemate is one storey high, with an approximately T-shaped floor plan and is provided with a flat roof. On the side of the gun embrasures for the machine-gun, the walls have a thickness of (more than) 2.30 m, at the top there is a covering of 1.50 metres of concrete, plus a layer of earth. The funnel-shaped interior walls of the gun embrasures are reinforced with a serration of rail bars. The entrances are located in both south-western facade sections. Above the entrance in relief "1936". The interior comprises two combat rooms with mounting positions for machine-guns and a large so-called waiting room, which - unlike the single version - is directly accessible via an exterior door; the northern of the two combat rooms is only indirectly accessible.

Valuation

The DOUBLE VIS-CASEMATE / MACHINE-GUN CASEMATE on Lunet III is of general interest because of:

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

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

The component dates from 1936 and is an example of a double casemate built according to the Voorschrift Inrichten Stellingen. These provisions appeared between 1928 and 1935 with the aim of standardising positions and intended for their construction in wartime by the troops themselves.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical cohesion with the other components of the complex and in relation to comparable (single executed) examples on several other Lunettes near Utrecht.

* The component is rare because only a few double V.I.S. casemates were built in the Netherlands - not all of which still exist.

* The component is fairly well preserved and can be reasonably identified in the field, with the earth covering to be regarded as an originally intended addition.