Metal tower The metal tower for machine gun. On the right you see the current Moncenisio road at the far north of the Plateau delle Fontanette (24/06/1999).

The upper combat center is equipped with a Model 2 metal tower with 4 embrasures and capable of standing up to heavy caliber bullets. It functioned at the same time as an observation post.

The tower was equipped with four rotating metal shields (the two toward the road have been removed) which served to close the embrasures not in use or to receive the holder for the weapon which thus could cover a field of fire of around 100°.

The field of observation was 360°, and the size of the chamber allowed the simultaneous presence of two machine guns which could fire without the gunners interfering with each other.

The tower could be reached by means of a vertical shaft equipped with a metal ladder attached to the wall. The entrance to the combat station, located directly above the shaft, was closed off by a steel trapdoor.

It is recommended to not remain under the tower because of the strong possibility that one of the many visitors to the area might drop down stones through the embrasures above.

The shaft of the metal tower seen from the base.  The metal ladder which was located on the wall in front of the entrance (in the foreground of the photo) has been removed. The trapdoor covering the entrance to the combat station is still there (24/06/1999).

The stairs which climb from the water reservoir chamber at the base of the shaft have longer steps than normal. This gives them an inclination which is considerably less than that which one normally finds in works of this type.

The second door of the sealed compartment is another curiosity. It is located directly alongside the steps without a landing.

These features are repeated also in the stairs which descend from the entrance corridor to the living quarters.