Post by fots2 on Feb 23, 2010 22:07:35 GMT 8
On both sides of James Ravine on Corregidor’s north coast are two structures that were involved in the operation and control of anti-ship mines. These mines guarded the north and south channels of the entrance to Manila Bay. I do not know enough details about these structures to elaborate but in a few days another board member here will post information to fix that problem.
Part 1 of this Trip Report will show the Mine Casemate at the base of James Ravine’s western slope. There is no date on the building and it is not shown on the 1921 map. However, it is shown on the 1932 and later maps.
Layout of the Mine Casemate in James Ravine. You can use this as a reference when viewing the following photos.
Built into the hillside, the Casemate appears to be well protected. The additional protection of a 4ft thick blast wall in front of it makes it almost invisible today with all the vegetation in the area. Soldiers on both sides died at the nearby Bombproof Infantry Tunnel but this structure shows very little evidence of even small arms fire.
On the map you can see this small foot bridge across the stream leading to the Casemate. The blast wall straight ahead is nearly invisible and only part of the vertical right-hand side concrete wall can be seen. (Note that my hiking buddy Phantom had cleaned all the leaves and branches from the bridge by the time this photo was taken).
Looking back across the bridge, as with all things on Corregidor, you can see how solid this “foot bridge” was constructed. You could drive a car across it if need be.
Outer view of the rounded blast wall.
Inside view of the rounded blast wall.
Both ends of the wall are tapered.
Front centre of the blast wall is an open manhole with drainage pipes from the Casemate exiting into the nearby stream.
Approaching the left side entrance which is located behind the blast wall.
Part of the far left doorway can be seen under the tree past the blast wall.
Looking into the far left-side doorway which is half full of soil. Only the far left and far right ones are easily accessible.
Phantom and I theorize that all the soil between the blast wall and the Casemate’s front wall was pushed there by a bulldozer from above. This may have been an attempt to seal all seven entrances. The hillside is sloped but not excessive for that to be considered. Does anyone know for sure?
There is a tunnel into the hill just outside the far left-side entrance. It is quite low now due to all the soil but it can be entered by crawling on your stomach. It goes straight in a short ways then turns to the right. It appears to end after the turn but I did not go all the way in to verify that. It would be too difficult to get out of there quickly if it was “occupied”.
The tunnel entrance is below the tree roots.
After entering the far left-side entrance here is a view looking towards the back of the room. A side doorway at the right rear goes into the next room.
A view back towards the doorway in which we just entered. Outside you can see the start of the big pile of soil and the end of the blast wall past that.
The big hole at the rear may have been for ventilation. Others were also used as cable ducts because parts of cables still remain inside them.
View from the doorway into the second room.
Cable troughs and nut and bolt hangers still remain in the ceiling. The outside doorways are nearly sealed, one completely. The front half of this room is quite blackened perhaps from fires such as a flamethrower at work.
View from the opposite rear corner towards the front of the Casemate.
From the front looking towards the rear wall.
From left to right, you can see a large vent and a doorway into another section of the Casemate. The doorway towards the right goes into a small room which is the centre of the whole Casemate. I guess that this was an important room due to the wall paint suggesting many panels, switches or gauges etc of some sort were affixed here.
Interior view of the small room.
Outside the small room on the wall is a thick rectangular block of wood. Carved in it appears to be conduit paths towards the middle. Below it in faded red lettering is “+” and “-“. Someone wanted to be very sure everyone knew which polarity was which.
This photo shows some of the interior conduit holes in the walls. Cable hangers are still in place. The doorway to the right is at the front inside wall of the Casemate.
Looking inside one of the big rectangular holes in the rear walls you can see horizontal conduit pipes and what appears to be a vertical shaft at the rear.
After going through a very small room you enter into the largest room of the Casemate.
This room shows evidence of scrappers cutting rebar from the ceiling. The large hole in the floor may also be their work. The previous room still has metal hangers with nuts and bolts. I wonder why these easy targets were not touched.
View from the opposite rear corner looking towards the front.
You can see the last three outside doorways with soil and the blast wall outside. The fourth doorway goes to a small room in front of the “room with the panels” we saw earlier. Within the fourth doorway you can also see another outside doorway.
View back towards the direction we just came from through the right-hand doorway. Note the portion of metal cable sticking out of the rectangular hole high up the right-side wall.
At the front of the room looking towards the rear wall.
This large hole has been cut into the floor which is 3 to 4 ft above the bottom floor.
Considering the thick blast wall and the steel reinforced concrete to build this structure, I am surprised at how thin and flimsy looking the doors are. Sections of the centre doors are remaining and you can still see mosquito screens.
The front centre doorway.
Mosquito screen in the corners.
Time to head back out via the corner doorway. The blast wall is just outside.
Looking back towards the doorway half filled with soil.
View along the front wall of the Casemate. You can see all the soil that is still there blocking most of the doorways.
View of out past the corner of the blast wall which is seen to the left. Even with the concrete retaining wall this place is well hidden from a distance.
Over the bridge again and back to the trail. Soon we come to the old road back up the ravine.
One final stop for a view of the coast at James Ravine. Rock Point is in the distance with La Monja Island past it. The edge of Bataan is just visible to the right.
Part #2, the Command Post, will be added here soon.
Part 1 of this Trip Report will show the Mine Casemate at the base of James Ravine’s western slope. There is no date on the building and it is not shown on the 1921 map. However, it is shown on the 1932 and later maps.
Layout of the Mine Casemate in James Ravine. You can use this as a reference when viewing the following photos.
Built into the hillside, the Casemate appears to be well protected. The additional protection of a 4ft thick blast wall in front of it makes it almost invisible today with all the vegetation in the area. Soldiers on both sides died at the nearby Bombproof Infantry Tunnel but this structure shows very little evidence of even small arms fire.
On the map you can see this small foot bridge across the stream leading to the Casemate. The blast wall straight ahead is nearly invisible and only part of the vertical right-hand side concrete wall can be seen. (Note that my hiking buddy Phantom had cleaned all the leaves and branches from the bridge by the time this photo was taken).
Looking back across the bridge, as with all things on Corregidor, you can see how solid this “foot bridge” was constructed. You could drive a car across it if need be.
Outer view of the rounded blast wall.
Inside view of the rounded blast wall.
Both ends of the wall are tapered.
Front centre of the blast wall is an open manhole with drainage pipes from the Casemate exiting into the nearby stream.
Approaching the left side entrance which is located behind the blast wall.
Part of the far left doorway can be seen under the tree past the blast wall.
Looking into the far left-side doorway which is half full of soil. Only the far left and far right ones are easily accessible.
Phantom and I theorize that all the soil between the blast wall and the Casemate’s front wall was pushed there by a bulldozer from above. This may have been an attempt to seal all seven entrances. The hillside is sloped but not excessive for that to be considered. Does anyone know for sure?
There is a tunnel into the hill just outside the far left-side entrance. It is quite low now due to all the soil but it can be entered by crawling on your stomach. It goes straight in a short ways then turns to the right. It appears to end after the turn but I did not go all the way in to verify that. It would be too difficult to get out of there quickly if it was “occupied”.
The tunnel entrance is below the tree roots.
After entering the far left-side entrance here is a view looking towards the back of the room. A side doorway at the right rear goes into the next room.
A view back towards the doorway in which we just entered. Outside you can see the start of the big pile of soil and the end of the blast wall past that.
The big hole at the rear may have been for ventilation. Others were also used as cable ducts because parts of cables still remain inside them.
View from the doorway into the second room.
Cable troughs and nut and bolt hangers still remain in the ceiling. The outside doorways are nearly sealed, one completely. The front half of this room is quite blackened perhaps from fires such as a flamethrower at work.
View from the opposite rear corner towards the front of the Casemate.
From the front looking towards the rear wall.
From left to right, you can see a large vent and a doorway into another section of the Casemate. The doorway towards the right goes into a small room which is the centre of the whole Casemate. I guess that this was an important room due to the wall paint suggesting many panels, switches or gauges etc of some sort were affixed here.
Interior view of the small room.
Outside the small room on the wall is a thick rectangular block of wood. Carved in it appears to be conduit paths towards the middle. Below it in faded red lettering is “+” and “-“. Someone wanted to be very sure everyone knew which polarity was which.
This photo shows some of the interior conduit holes in the walls. Cable hangers are still in place. The doorway to the right is at the front inside wall of the Casemate.
Looking inside one of the big rectangular holes in the rear walls you can see horizontal conduit pipes and what appears to be a vertical shaft at the rear.
After going through a very small room you enter into the largest room of the Casemate.
This room shows evidence of scrappers cutting rebar from the ceiling. The large hole in the floor may also be their work. The previous room still has metal hangers with nuts and bolts. I wonder why these easy targets were not touched.
View from the opposite rear corner looking towards the front.
You can see the last three outside doorways with soil and the blast wall outside. The fourth doorway goes to a small room in front of the “room with the panels” we saw earlier. Within the fourth doorway you can also see another outside doorway.
View back towards the direction we just came from through the right-hand doorway. Note the portion of metal cable sticking out of the rectangular hole high up the right-side wall.
At the front of the room looking towards the rear wall.
This large hole has been cut into the floor which is 3 to 4 ft above the bottom floor.
Considering the thick blast wall and the steel reinforced concrete to build this structure, I am surprised at how thin and flimsy looking the doors are. Sections of the centre doors are remaining and you can still see mosquito screens.
The front centre doorway.
Mosquito screen in the corners.
Time to head back out via the corner doorway. The blast wall is just outside.
Looking back towards the doorway half filled with soil.
View along the front wall of the Casemate. You can see all the soil that is still there blocking most of the doorways.
View of out past the corner of the blast wall which is seen to the left. Even with the concrete retaining wall this place is well hidden from a distance.
Over the bridge again and back to the trail. Soon we come to the old road back up the ravine.
One final stop for a view of the coast at James Ravine. Rock Point is in the distance with La Monja Island past it. The edge of Bataan is just visible to the right.
Part #2, the Command Post, will be added here soon.