F6KAT/P    

DFCF 57013 in JN39CA

After this wonderful beginning of the year, like F6REF fro the French contest CW and SSB, some members of the Radio CLub of the BA 128 in Metz Frescaty, under the leadership of Phil F8EFU, suggested to be active from a fortress of the region for the Award of the French Castle and Fortress.

After some e-mail, we have an appointment for a first visit on the 9th of April with the President of the Fortress of Verny (A.D.F.M.).

Map to reach the Fortress

Mr Raymond Decker (President of ADFM) showed us a part of the place which is dwell on about 19 acres.

This fortified group "Feste Wagner" was build between 1904 and 1910 as an element of the imperial fortress of Metz and is part of its outer circle. Being the most southern point of the fortress its mission was among others, to block with its guns the valley of the small river Seille. Like all other fortified groups the Feste Wagner consits of different sections suchs as :

     - 4 infantry works

     - an own power plant

     - 1 battery for two 15 cm long range guns under shield protection (Schrimlafettenkanonen)

     - 1 battery for four 15 cm howitzers installed in armoured turrets (Turmhaubitzenbatterie)

     - 1 battery for four 10 cm reinforced guns installed in armoured turrets (Panzerturmkanonenbatterie)

Fortification of Metz in 1916

Fortified Group of Aisne or Feste Wagner

Assembling and test under the rain, the wind (gust at 80km/h) and thunder

   Here above : F8EUK and FØESV, VHF is ready                                Here above : F8EFU and FØESV testing of the cluster

Here under : F8EFU and F8EUK looking for the dipole HI !!            Here under : the roof of the Fortress where the antennas are intalled

The D Day

The weather is not with us, so finally we decide to be active from our cars

 HF Station

- 80m CW :  Yaesu FT767GX + dipole 80 meters by Yves F5MSR

- 40m SSB : Kenwood TS 870 + dipole 40 meters by Phil F8EFU

- 20m CW :  Yaesu FT 857D + Vertical by Chris F8EUK

VHF Station

- Kenwood TM255E  and an antenna TONNA 9 elements by Willy FØESV

- Kenwood TMD 700E, a notebook PC and a vertical VHF DX50 for the cluster .

We were active during the morning, we shared, between two rain showers, a very warm and comforting BBQ with the members of ADFM.

After this bad day because of the bad weather and a propagation very capricious, the Fortress of Verny DFCF 57013 is finally valid on 40m SSB plus some CW contacts. Unfortunately, we need to come again to the Fortress to validate it on VHF. We hope to be on air very soon.

Here under : The special QSL card                                            Here under : our DFCF Manager, F8BNN Marc

Members of this activity :

FØESV - F5GLS - F5MSR - F8EFU - F8EUK -

QSL Info via F6KAT, all the QSO will be confirmed and SWL cards are welcomr

Members of the RAdio Club F6KAT want to thank for their help, to make easier the access to the site, and for the documentation all the members of l'Association pour la Découverte de la Fortification Messine.

Don't hesitate to discover the wonderful job made by all these voluntaries who preserve our historical heritage.

Photo and documentation : A.D.F.M., F5MSR, F8EFU, F8EUK, FØESV