A tour of the coastal artillery batteries that protected the Cartagena Arsenal

@ElentirENG ES 7·14·2024 · 21:19 0

The Cartagena Military Arsenal (Murcia) is one of the main bases of the Spanish Navy, along with Rota (Cádiz) and Ferrol (La Coruña).

The formidable Fortress of La Mola, in Menorca, and its enormous Vickers guns
The two Munáiz-Argüelles cannons of the Battery J-3 of Monteferro, in the Vigo Estuary

The arsenal was built in the 18th century, and at that time coastal artillery positions began to be built to protect it. The defenses of Cartagena were notably expanded with the 1926 defense plan, approved during the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera.

Within the framework of this plan, several batteries were built. Battery C-9 of Cenizas (in Rincón de San Ginés) was built in 1930 and deactivated in 1994, being equipped with two large 381 mm Vickers cannons (which are still in their positions). To protect this battery, the Cape Negrete Anti-Aircraft Battery was built, armed in 1931 with four 105 mm Vickers Model 1923 cannons and de-armed in 1953.

In addition, near the Portmán lighthouse, Battery C-8 of La Chapa was built in 1928, equipped with four 152.4 mm Vickers Model 1923 cannons. She fired her last shots in 1993 and was deactivated in 1994. Unfortunately, her cannons were scrapped.

The Loma Larga Battery was built in Campillo de Adentro. It was gunned in 1935 with four 240 mm Ordóñez howitzers and was disarmed in 1940, its parts being sent to Ceuta.

The most famous artillery position in the Cartagena area is Battery C-1 of Castillitos. It was built between 1933 and 1936, and was armed with two 381 mm Vickers cannons like those of the Ash Battery. These pieces fired for the last time in 1977 and were sealed in 1990. The battery was deactivated in 1994, but still retains its cannons.

Finally, to provide support to the Castillitos Battery, the Battery C-2 of Jorel was built between 1931 and 1932. It was armed with four 152.4 mm Vickers Model 1923 cannons. This battery was deactivated in 1994. It preserves three of its pieces. The missing one was transferred to the Cartagena Artillery Museum.

The always interesting YouTube channel Aventuras Entresierras (which I recommend you subscribe to if you like it the exploration of old military positions) has published today a video taking a route through those old artillery positions (the video is in Spanish, you can activate the automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):

You can see some screenshots of this interesting video here. We start with one of the two large 381 mm Vickers of the Battery C-9 of Cenizas, painted olive green. Behind the piece we see its telemetry bunker.

The beautiful appearance of the Battery C-1 of Castillitos. As you can see, the different batteries in this area were decorated with historicist motifs, something very fashionable at the time in which they were designed.

One of the two 381 mm Vickers from the Battery C-1 of Castillitos. Below the barrel of the cannon we see Alfred taking advantage of a good shade on a hot day.

One of the three 152.4 mm Vickers Model 1923 from Battery C-2 of Jorel. As in the rest of the batteries in the video, in addition to the military interest of these fortifications, it is worth highlighting the incredible landscapes that can be seen from them.