Oscarborg Fortress

Work on the original Oscarborg Fortress began in the 1840s. The fortress was designed to defend the Drøbak Narrows in Olsofijord. The fortress was named by royal resolution on August 23, 1855 in honour of the Swedish-Norwegian King Oscar I after he had visited it. By the end of the nineteenth century tension between Norway and Sweden had grown to such an extent that the Norwegians modernized the fort. In 1890 three new Krupp 280mm guns were added to the fort's armament, as were numerous smaller calibre guns - mainly 150mm and 57mm - and by 1901 a torpedo battery had also been added. Unlike most coastal defence forts, Oscarborg did fire its guns and torpedoes in anger, sinking the German heavy cruiser Blücher during the 1940 invasion.

For larger images, click on the appropriate thumbnail.

Oscarborg Fort - the main 280mm gun battery is to the left of the picture.

Close-up of two of the 280mm guns.

An overhead view of Oscarborg Fort.

One of Oscaborg Fort's 280mm Krupp guns.

For larger images, click on the appropriate thumbnail.

© Robert George Cordery (2008)