Main page Tours and offers Visa-free tours About Saint-Petersburg Contacts
N.B. Please find actual information about my tours on my new web-site Your guide in St Petersburg!
The fort "Count Milyutin".
The first artillery battery was created here in 1807–1808. Just there was a threat of war with Britain, so Kronstadt fortress was armed hastily. But situation changed quickly and after the French Invasion of Russia in 1812 arming of all sea-fortresses was almost stopped.
Modern fort was built in the mid 19th century according to the project of military engineer Eduard Totleben. It was armed by 11-in guns. After the Crimean War (1853-1856) the fort was reconstructed several times.
Tsar Alexander II visited this fort in 1880 and ordered to name it “The Count Milyutin” (before this fort was known as the Third southern battery). Dmitry Milyutin (June 28, 1816– January 25, 1912) was Minister of War (1861–1881) during the reign of Alexander II and the last Field Marshal of Imperial Russia (1898). He was responsible for sweeping military reforms that changed the face of the Russian army in the 1860s and 1870s.
The guns were mounted in
armored turrets and they
turned by steam engines.
However old 11-in guns lost their significance with the development of artillery.
That’s why the fort was
re-equipped with 6-in guns in the beginning of XX th century.
The 6-in Canet guns were placed there. All steam engines gave way to modern diesel generators and electric lighting. There were carried out some experiments on the wireless radio communication between neighboring forts in 1899.
After the Russian revolution fort Milyutinwas an important part of the Kronstadt fortress. It was one of the most modernized fortifications in Kronstadt fortified area. During the rebellion of 1921 the Red army stormed this fort several times and suffered great losses.
In 1930-s all casemates were renovated. Before the World War II, the anti-aircraft guns were installed on the Fort Milyutin. Fort played an important role in the air defense of Kronstadt. Strong guns of the fort supported the land army on the Oranienbaum bridgehead.
However, after the war, the Kronstadt fortress was disarmed in 1950-1960-s. As a result, the fort Milyutin and almost all another forts can be visited by everyone.