Armored fortress Trašte
and infantry base Grabovac
and infantry base Grabovac
Position
Lovćen eastern defense zone
Defensive line:
Goražda - Trašte – Radišević – coast to the Arza fortress
Tactical mission task
Preventing landings in the Trašte Bay
Control of the direction of Radanovići, towards Budva
Defense of Župska dolina and Tivat
Construction period
1907–1909.
Crew
5 officers
143 non-commissioned officers and soldiers
Weapons
Armored howitzers M-6 100 mm, 4 pcs.
Armored machine guns MG-M4 8 mm, 2 pcs.
Armored artillery observation post
Infantry weapons
Lovćen eastern defense zone
Defensive line:
Goražda - Trašte – Radišević – coast to the Arza fortress
Tactical mission task
Preventing landings in the Trašte Bay
Control of the direction of Radanovići, towards Budva
Defense of Župska dolina and Tivat
Construction period
1907–1909.
Crew
5 officers
143 non-commissioned officers and soldiers
Weapons
Armored howitzers M-6 100 mm, 4 pcs.
Armored machine guns MG-M4 8 mm, 2 pcs.
Armored artillery observation post
Infantry weapons
THE YOUNGEST FORTRESS IN BOKA
On the way to the fortress, you passed the remains of an infantry base and a large cistern (at the right side of the trail), where rainwater is still collected. Trašte (popularly known as Grabovac Fortress) was built before the First World War in order to more effectively defend Tivat, where the navy was stationed, and to shoot at enemy positions in the event of a landing in Trašte Bay. The entrance to the barracks (1) is in the middle of the building, which once housed soldiers' living quarters and warehouses on the ground floor. On the upper floor there was a kitchen and rooms for officers, from where a corridor led to the combat part (2) which had 4 armored batteries and 1 observation post, all protected by heavy metal domes. In this part there is an entrance to an underground corridor 400 meters long, which led to the infantry base at the top of the ridge towards the bay of Trašte (3).
Fortress Trašte / Grabovac¹
OPTICAL TELEGRAPH
All fortresses in the Boka defense system were optically connected. At least two to three of the closest could be seen from one. This was, among other things, important for the direct exchange of information.
Today, few people know about the optical telegraph. Before the introduction of wired systems – telegraph and telephone, information were transmitted through it. On fortress Kom, there was a device (as in picture) which functioned like a traffic light. The task of the optical telegraph operator was to send and receive coded messages between the command of the military camp in Crkvice and the main command in Tivat. Two-way communication routes are shown on an old Austro-Hungarian map:
Today, few people know about the optical telegraph. Before the introduction of wired systems – telegraph and telephone, information were transmitted through it. On fortress Kom, there was a device (as in picture) which functioned like a traffic light. The task of the optical telegraph operator was to send and receive coded messages between the command of the military camp in Crkvice and the main command in Tivat. Two-way communication routes are shown on an old Austro-Hungarian map:
Casemate barracks and artillery casemates (1 and 2)
OPTICAL TELEGRAPH
Casemate barracks and artillery casemates (1 and 2) are parts of the fortress secured by strong walls, vaults or embankments, intended to accommodate crew, ammunition or artillery.The infantry base (3) was intended for the immediate defense of the fortress, it was armed with light artillery. The place for anti-aircraft weapons, with an exit (4) on the roof. The escarpment capoiner (5) is a protruding element on the fortress, next to the entrance to the barracks. In the case of an immediate attack, it improves visibility. Trench (6) is the buried part around the fortress.
A soldier behind an anti-aircraft machine gun ¹ on the roof of the fortress Trašte, next to the exit (4)
MILITARY PORT DEFENSE
In order to protect the southern border and the port in Boka, Austro-Hungary built 83 fortresses and auxiliary fortifications by 1914, in which there were 3,500 soldiers, 218 cannons, 99 machine guns, 46 reflectors and 9 torpedo tubes.If you want to find out what artillery the Montenegrin army had, visit the Vrmac fortress.
STRENGTHENING THE LOVĆEN DEFENSE ZONE
Since the artillery owned by Montenegro was able to demolish the stone walls of the fortresses, those that were strategically important, such as Vrmac, Goražde, Škaljari and Trašte / Grabovac, received newer generation artillery, with a range of up to 8 km, which housed in metal capsules under steel, movable domes.
Armored domes at the Trašte / Grabovac fortress, in the concrete, combat area
Armored capsule for howitzer crew²
ARTILLERY FIRE PLAN
The Boka belt fortress was one of the largest and most modern defensive systems in Europe at the time. It leaves good connoisseurs of military science breathless, both because of the engineering endeavors and the quality of construction of fortresses, and because of the brilliantly set defense system in the natural environment of the Bay, which is reflected in the illustration of the artillery fire plan covering Boka:
Artillery fire plan
ARTILLERY BEFORE THE FIRST WORLD WAR
The Boka belt fortress was one of the largest and most modern defensive systems in Europe at the time. It leaves good connoisseurs of military science breathless, both because of the engineering endeavors and the quality of construction of fortresses, and because of the brilliantly set defense system in the natural environment of the Bay, which is reflected in the illustration of the artillery fire plan covering Boka:
Fortress cannon 150 mm, before the war the defense of the coast had 14 such cannons
Howitzer 150 mm, from the position of Kobila¹
Small cannons from 30 – 60 mm¹. Before the war, there were 48 of them
Mortar from the Radišević fortress¹, the oldest generation of artillery for the defense of the sea lineThere were 32 mortars on the coastal fortresses before the war
Anti-aircraft artillery on Obosnik ¹
¹ Source: Radojica Pavićević
² Source: Volker Pachauer
³ Source: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv
4 Source: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung
Important Note: Explore the fortresses and use the trails at your own risk.
² Source: Volker Pachauer
³ Source: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv
4 Source: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung
Important Note: Explore the fortresses and use the trails at your own risk.
