S3-casemate Maastricht

On the Tongerseweg is located this casemate of type S3.

The casemate, now in disuse and now referred to as a bunker, is located about 1 km from the border with Belgium, which, due to the particular location of Maastricht, is located to the west and to the south. One of the still "visible" artillery openings faces south-west. After the war when the bunkers had lost their strategic value for the defense of Maastricht and Limburg, the opening was bricked up.

The bunker is partly on private property, so the other 2 gun openings, facing west and north-west, as well as the entrance are not visible. These openings could be shut with a 2 cm thick steel hatch. The reinforced concrete was 80 cm thick.

Therefore, the designation S3 refers to the type of bunker that features 3 gun openings. The S refers to the name; Porcupine (Stekelvaren in Dutch) or Spiderhead. (Spinnekop in Dutch) The bunkers were given this nickname because of the small hooks sticking out of the concrete. Camouflage nets could be attached to these hooks. This type of bunker can be found in various places in Limburg and also in the Grebbelinie.

When the bunker was occupied, it had one machine gun, which was placed in one of the three gun openings, according to the commander's instructions. The total covering field of fire of the 3 gun openings together was 190 degrees. Just over half a circle.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• https://grebbelinie.nl/geschiedenis/kazematten/stekelvarken-s3