Machine gun bunker C11 is part of the Salpa Line strongpoint (Finnish: Salpa-Asema) at Askola in the Luumäki region of Southern Finland. The region was one of the most heavily fortified areas of the Salpa Line, with more than 120 different structures. Most of the reinforced-concrete structures were built during the interim peace of 1940–1941, in between the Winter War and the Continuation War. The defences were strengthened with steel positions constructed from tank turrets in 1944.
The reinforced-concrete machine-gun bunker is the most typical type of permanent fortification found along the Salpa Line. Just under 170 single-machine-gun bunkers were constructed. These bunkers were armed with either Soviet or German Maxim machine guns. Their primary role was to deliver flanking fire against the enemy’s expected direction of attack. The machine gun embrasure was protected externally by either a concrete flanking wall or a natural rock face.
The weapons chamber of machine gun bunker C11 measures approximately 2 by 2 metres. The bunker also contains observation facilities, like a 1940-pattern steel observation cupola placed at the top. It offered accommodation for up to 20 men.
The ceilings in the accommodation rooms are lined with wood, while the weapon chamber has steel-plated ceilings. The exposed bunker wall is covered with camouflage plaster. The centreline of the firing sector is 20°, running parallel to the anti-tank stone barrier east of the bunker.
The bunker is partially furnished. The weapon chamber still contains the machine-gun mount with its traverse mechanism, as well as other equipment. A close-defence firing loophole is located next to the entrance. Outside the bunker is a radio rod antenna.
BT-5 tank turret
Finland made good use of captured Soviet armor during World War Two, but not all captured enemy tanks could be restored back to operational condition. Obsolete or unused turrets were reused on the defence line as firing positions equipped either with a tank gun or a light machine gun.
Several dozen of these were installed in the Luumäki area. The turret position located in front of the bunker, numbered 1340, is the most common type and was constructed using the turret of a BT-5 tank.
Visit
This bunker is part of the Salpa-Asema or Strongpoint at Askola, Luumäki, Finland. It is located next to Highway 6 between Lappeenranta and Kouvola on the south side between the road and the railway. You can park your car along the road and a short walk into the forest will take you there.
Unfortunately on our visit the bunker was closed.
