Ouvrage Flaut

Ouvrage Flaut is a work (gros ouvrage) of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also called the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one artillery block at an altitude of 771 metres (2,530 ft). The position was intended, acting with Ouvrage Gordolon, to stop an approach by Italian forces from the north towards Nice through the Vésibie Valley.[1]

Ouvrage Flaut
Part of Maginot Line, Alpine Line
Southeast France
Entry to Flaut
Ouvrage Flaut
Coordinates44.003039°N 7.330931°E / 44.003039; 7.330931
Site information
Controlled byFrance
Site history
Built byCORF
In useAbandoned
MaterialsConcrete, steel, rock excavation
Battles/warsItalian invasion of France, Operation Dragoon
Ouvrage Flaut
Type of work:Large artillery work (Gros ouvrage)
sector
└─sub-sector		Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps
└─Tinée-Vésible, Quartier Tournairet-Vésubie
Regiment:94th BAF, 167th RAP
Number of blocks:5
Strength:7 officers, 296 men

Description

Flaut was built between November 1931 and March 1935, by a contractor named Borie. The cost was 23.5 million francs.[2] The ouvrage is laid out in the shape of a T, with a gallery running straight into the hillside to block 3 with the barracks, ammunition magazine and usine in galleries to either side. Halfway to Block 3 a long gallery extends to the left, connecting to blocks 4 and 5.[3]

  • Block 1 (entry): one machine gun cloche, one grenade launcher cloche and one machine gun/47mm anti-tank gun embrasure.[4]
  • Block 2 (artillery): one machine gun cloche and two 81mm mortar embrasures.[5]
  • Block 3 (artillery): one machine gun cloche, two heavy twin machine gun cloches, one observation cloche and two 76mm gun embrasures.[6]
  • Block 4 (artillery): one machine gun cloche, one heavy twin machine gun cloche, one observation cloche, one heavy twin machine gun embrasure and two 81mm mortar embrasures.[7]
  • Block 5 (infantry): one machine gun cloche, one observation cloche and one heavy twin machine gun embrasure.[8]

A sixth block was proposed with a 75mm gun turret but not built. Five observation posts reported to Flaut, including Caire-Saint-Saveur, Tête Saint-Saveur, and Castel-Viel.[3]

History

During 1940 the artillery of Flaut was heavily involved in firing against III Italian Corps.[1]

See also

References
  1. Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "Flaut (go de)". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  2. Mary, Tome 4, p. 29
  3. Mary, Tome 5, p. 52
  4. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Flaut (go de) Bloc 1". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  5. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Flaut (go de) Bloc 2". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  6. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Flaut (go de) Bloc 3". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  7. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Flaut (go de) Bloc 4". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  8. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Flaut (go de) Bloc 5". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.

Bibliography
  • Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
  • Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, Stackpole Books, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
  • Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. The Maginot Line: History and Guide, Pen and Sword, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84884-068-3
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001. ISBN 2-908182-88-2 (in French)
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 4 - La fortification alpine. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-915239-46-1 (in French)
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5 (in French)
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