Caponiers of land front were designed for two or maybe three machine guns. It is possible that there were also small caliber cannons in caponiers. Caponiers have also shelters. All guns and shelters could situated in the same constructions or each machine guns have own positions and shelter located near background.
Caponiers were stronger than ordinary machine gun positions. In Maununneva (object XXIII:1) concrete roof of caponier is two meters besides there were steel balk reinforcement in the roof. Caponier was placed background of the hills and it shooting to flank of enemy. Embrasures were safe in the end of small gorges.
Plan for machine gun caponiers, date 22.3.1916. Above: all guns and shelter are situated at the same construction. Below: Two separated machine gun positions and shelter. (Russian construction drawing 1569, National Board of Antiquities, archives of the Department of Monuments and Sites)
Caponier is quite rear construction in the land front of Helsinki. There is known only four caponiers nowadays and two of them are unfinished. Caponiers didn't noticed in last big surveys during 1970-90'ies. Objects were so damaged that they were registered as shelters or ordinary machine gun positions. It is obvious that more caponiers will be find in the near future.
Badly damaged caponier in Maununneva XXIII:1. Left: recesses for ammunition. On the upper right corner: firing position. (1998)
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