«Vallo Alpino» («Alpine Wall») Eastern Front – XXVI. Sector – Subsector XXVI. B.

Blockade (Sbarramento) "Mt. Murato" (Zidovje) - Official designation unknown

Situated near height 902, in the immediate vicinity of border crossing on S. Matteo (Viškovo) – Ruppa road. It includes four separate underground forts, a number of field-type MG and HMG nests, separate AT positions and passive AT defences (AT wall, mout and minefields).

 

Fort No. 1: N side of the main road close to GaF barracks, consisting of four combat blocks, two armed with 57/43 mm Nordenfelt ex-Navy AT guns and two HMGs in steel casemates flush with hill slopes. Also, one observatory concrete block with safety exit, for communication with nearby fort No. 2. Underground (logistical part) including caserne with ammo, food and drinking water storage. Generator room situated near the entrance block, air filters and gas-proof doors for anti-gas defence.

Fort No. 2: S side of the main road, two combat blocks with HMGs in steel casemates flush with hill slopes. One observatory concrete block for communication with forts No. 1 and No. 2, with safety exit. Underground (logistical part) including casernes with ammo, food and drinking water storage. Generator room situated near the entrance block, air filters and gas-proof doors for anti-gas defence.

Fort No. 3: W slope of Mt. Murato, above the forrest road that from border crossing leads towards Clana – S. Rocco. One steel turret armed with 2 HMGs. Separate observatory concrete block for communication with fort No. 2, with safety exit. Separate small concrete ventilation block. Underground (logistical part) including caserne with ammo, food and drinking water storage. Generator room situated close to caserne, near the observatory block. Air filters and gas-proof doors for anti-gas defence.

Fort No. 4: above the a.m. forrest road, some 100 m W from fort No. 3. Consists of 2 combat blocks with HMGs in steel casemates flush with hill slopes. One observatory concrete block with safety exit. Underground (logistical part) including caserne with ammo, food and drinking water storage. Generator room situated near the entrance block, air filters and gas-proof doors for anti-gas defence.

 

Present state of the forts:

Situated in easily accessible area, but with varying degree of preservation. Fort No. 1 has all its combat positions fully preserved and accessible. Entrance block is damaged to the point of unaccessibility, but it is possible to use the safety exit. However, combat blocks and observatories of all the other forts are blown up, and steel turret is removed. Logistical parts in reasonably good shape, not too unsafe. Naturally, vertical access ducts are to be negotiated carefully. AT blocks of fort No. 1 are quite visible, but it is not easy to find the remains of forts No. 3 and 4. Fort No. 4 has its entrance almost completely blocked by debris, but it is not impossible to squeeze through.