Maginot Line Ouvrage Molvange

 fortification, Maginot line

Gros Ouvrage in the Thionville sector of the Maginot line with a total of 9 combat blocks and 2 entry blocks. At full strength the ouvrage contained nearly 800 men and officers in two regiments. This ouvrage was unique in that all of its weapons were either in armoured cupolas or revolving turrets.

The ouvrage was used through the 1990's by the French army with most of the surrounding land being off limits. The observation block #7 had microwave relay transmitter equipment installed, but around 2007 the equipment and tower were removed and the remains of the block covered in dirt.

In 2006 the Block 5 75mm turret and Block 6 machine gun turret were removed for transfer to the Ouvrage Fermont museum. The armoured turret roof domes were left in place.

The blocks were laid out as follows.

Ammunition entry: an incline, two automatic rifle cupolas (GFM), one machine gun/47 mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC47).

Personnel entry: a shaft, one GFM cupola, 1 JM/AC47 embrasure

Block 1: Observation block with one GFM cupola, one periscope cupola (VDP) and one machine gun cupola (JM).

Block 2: Infantry block with machine gun turret and two GFM cupolas.

Block 3: Artillery block with one 81 mm mortar turret, one GFM cupola and one grenade launcher cupola.

Block 4: Artillery block with one 135 mm gun turret and one GFM cupola.

Block 5: Artillery block with one 75 mm gun turret.

Block 6: Infantry block with one machine gun turret, one GFM cupola and one JM cupola.

Block 7: Infantry block with one GFM cupola and one VDP cupola.

Block 8: Artillery block with 75 mm gun turret and two GFM cupolas.

Block 10: Artillery block with one 75 mm gun turret, one GFM cupola and one grenade launcher cupola (LG).

maginot.fortiff.be/index.php?p=3303

www.darkplaces.org/Frankreich/WW2/Ligne_Maginot/SF_de_T...

www.mablehome.com/molvange/molvange/molvange-plan.htm