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Montecchio Fortress- Colico

The only fort of World War I still intact with the 4 largest Italian cannons. The fort was built in the characteristic style of early 20th century buildings and designed by General Enrico Rocchi considered an expert in military constructions at the time. Built entirely in concrete and stone, it has two levels and the military quarters are situated in a separate wing from the central body. The two edifices are connected thanks to a tunnel dug out in the rock and protected by two metre thick tunnel vaults. Four cannons are situated on the top of the edifice placed in revolving structures which are protected by steel and cast iron domes. It is the most modern armament used in Italian fortifications during the First World war. The four cannons are the only remaining originals to this day. These weapons were constructed by a French industry called Schneider, as the Italian war industry was not able to supply the required number of cannons for all the fortifications. These 149/35 S models are not only the largest cannons in Italy but they are also in perfect working order even though the obvious removal of the striker does not allow it to fire. Each cannon can be rotated and lifted between –8 and +42°. It is also equipped with a brake, a counter-recoil mechanism and an air-compressed device which allows the gas produced by the blast to be expelled. Each cannon weighing 3,800 kg was capable of using various types of shells: 52 kg-Sharapnels could reach targets at a distance of 11.6 km while 149 S grenades weighing 42 kg fired up to 12.1 km away. The lighter 37 kg built-in grenades had a much longer range and could reach a distance of 14.2 km. One particular feature of the cannons was that they did not use propellant shells but jacket shells. The explosive was kept in the arms deposit dug under the mountain and when needed it was carried up to the upper floor with special hoists. While a team of artillery-men prepared the explosives to be used, the officials who were in charge of aiming calculated the trajectory with charts and firing tables from the commander’s room and gave orders to the men positioned at the cannons thanks to an inter-phone system. Finally an observation dome allowed the operation to be verified.

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