Description
Only Block 1 of the proposed gros ouvrage was actually built, with five more combat blocks and two entry blocks deferred to a second phase that was never pursued. The large single block was arranged on two levels with a remarkably heavy armament. The proposed gros ouvrage would have been one of the most heavily armed artillery positions in the Line.
The single existing block was armed as follows:
- Block 1: combined infantry/artillery/entrance block with three automatic rifle cloches (GFM), one observation cloche (VDP) and one machine gun turret, as well as seven light machine guns, two heavy twin machine guns, three machine gun/47 mm anti-tank guns (JM/AC47), all in embrasures, and two 81mm mortars on the lower level. This block would have been the most northerly of the fully constructed ensemble.
The planned additional blocks were:
- Block 2 (unbuilt): Artillery block with one twin 75mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
- Block 3 (unbuilt): Artillery block with one twin 75mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
- Block 4 (unbuilt): Artillery block with one twin 75mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
- Block 5 (unbuilt): Artillery block with one twin 135mm gun turret, one grenade launcher cloche (LG) and one GFM cloche.
- Block 6 (unbuilt): Artillery block with two GFM cloches, two machine gun cloches (JM), two AC47/JM embrasures and two light machine gun embrasures.
- Personnel entry (unbuilt): two GFM cloches, one grenade launcher cloche, two AC47/JM embrasures and two light machine gun embrasures.
- Munitions entry (unbuilt): two GFM cloches,one AC47/JM embrasure, one heavy twin machine gun and two light machine gun embrasures.
If built as intended, Bois-du-Four would have resembled its neighbor Bréhain, apart from Bois-du-Four's unusual initial block. A compact arrangement of combat blocks would have been connected to separate munitions and personnel entrances via a long, deeply buried underground gallery of more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in length, with a utility area, barracks and an "M1" magazine located near the entries. The entries were to be located in a small ravine, giving shelter and allowing for simpler access to the level of the galleries.
Read more about this topic: Ouvrage Bois-du-Four
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