Ouvrage Gordolon
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| Ouvrage Gordolon | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line, Alpine Line | |
| Southeast France | |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | France |
| Location | |
  Ouvrage Gordolon | |
| Coordinates | 43°59′43″N 7°18′39″E / 43.99518°N 7.31091°E |
| Site history | |
| Built by | CORF |
| In use | Abandoned |
| Materials | Concrete, steel |
| Battles/wars | Italian invasion of France, Operation Dragoon |
| Ouvrage Gordolon | |
|---|---|
| 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: | 3 |
| Strength: | 5 officers, 246 men |
Ouvrage Gordolon is a work (gros ouvrage) of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also known as the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one and two infantry blocks at an altitude of 728 metres (2,388 ft).[1] Gordolon was built by Borie contractors at a cost of 21.4 million francs. Work started in November 1931 and was completed in April 1934.[2]
Ouvrage Gordolon was planned to control the road through Roquebilliėre in coordination with Ouvrage Flaut. Both ouvrages are unusual for the Alps in having anti-tank guns, which were more commonly used at the main Maginot Line, in the more favorable tank country of northeastern France. The compact plan was laid out on two levels, with a planned expansion of the barracks never carried out.[3]
- Block 1 (entry): one machine gun cloche and one machine gun embrasure.[4]
- Block 2 (infantry): one machine gun cloche, one twin heavy machine gun cloche, one grenade launcher cloche, one machine gun/47mm anti-tank gun embrasure and two 81mm mortar embrasures.[5]
- Block 3 (infantry): one machine gun cloche, two twin heavy machine gun cloches, one observation cloche, two 75mm gun embrasures and two 81mm mortar embrasures.[6]
A fourth block was planned as a casemate with two heavy machine gun embrasures, but not built. Two observation posts included the post at Pas d'Albéras.[3]
