Sundås batteri, Military coastal battery in Sandefjord, Norway
Sundås battery is a coastal fortification in Sandefjord comprising three gun positions, ammunition storage, observation posts, and command areas positioned along the Tønsbergfjord shoreline. The installation shows how military planners arranged different functions across the site to defend the fjord entrance.
The battery was built in 1899 during tensions between Norway and Sweden, designed to protect the marine harbor at Melsomvik and control access to Tønsberg. The fortification was part of a broader strategy to secure the region's vital waterways against potential threats.
The site speaks to Norway's coastal defense priorities of the late 1800s, where gun positions were built to guard major shipping routes and harbors. Walking through the preserved emplacements gives a sense of how communities relied on such fortifications to maintain control over their waters.
Access is through marked pathways with information boards that explain the military installations and offer views across the Tønsbergfjord. Sturdy shoes are recommended as you navigate the outdoor terrain and multiple positions scattered across the site.
The battery was equipped with two 15-centimeter Krupp L/25 cannons salvaged from the corvette Ellida, which could strike targets up to 10 kilometers away. This arrangement of repurposed naval weapons gave the position a firepower that was considerable for its era.
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