Emplacement of the mortar battery 65 in Myllypuro. Front: base of the gun; behind: two recesses for ammunitions. (1999)There were about 55 batteries equipped with arms in land front 1917. There were 200 guns in these batteries. If we count reserves and field artillery the summary is 440 guns. Batteries were located in the background by side of the roads.
Common mainland front artillery battery is usually for four pieces, which were stand in one direct line, each in it’s own position. Gun emplacements were usually prop up with wood balks. Embankment consists of soil bank or rock walls. Shelters located between the guns and they were built using wood balks or concrete.
152 mm (6") Canet gun in land front of Helsinki 1918. Shelters were between the gun emplacements and under the embankment. (Photo: Military museum)The most utilized gun was 152 millimeters (6") heavy, 190 puds. cannon, model 1877 without recoil system. Rest of the gunnery is also from same period: 152 mm (6"), 120 puds. siege cannon, 229 mm (9") coastal artillery cannon and 280 mm (11") coastal artillery type mortars. Range of the old gunnery was about 5 - 9 kilometers.
The most powerful and modern guns were 152 mm (6"), 45 caliber cannons model Canet. There were 8 Canet batteries in mainland front. Canet guns have better rate of fire and 13 kilometers range.
280 mm (11") mortar in it's emplacement in Leppävaara, battery 104, spring 1918. Note the net for camouflage over the emplacement. (Picture from book: Suomen Vapaussota kuvissa - II osa, Otava 1934)In the end of the war there were probably intention to supply 305 mm (12"), 52 caliber guns. There are still four batteries in the fortification area probably for this size of gunnery. each battery is for two big guns. All of these four batteries are unfinished. There were also anti-aircraft guns in the land front, but there is not exact information about guns and machine guns quantity or types.
Emplacement for 305 mm (12") gun in Munkkiniemi. (1966)There are many batteries still in the land front. All wooden constructions have been vanished. Sometimes it is hard to recognize features from the ground vegetation. Big mortar battery number 65 is in rather good condition in Myllypuro, but this battery is differed than the other ordinary batteries in land front. Good example for ordinary battery is in Malmi, battery number 72.
Black and white picture: 152 mm (6") 190 puds gun in land front, spring 1918 (Photo: Military museum). Color picture: Emplacement for same type of gun. Wooden constructions have disappeared. Maununneva, battery 91. (1998)
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