THE SECRET COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA AT TJILATJAP

Welcome to Coastal Battery Entrance:
Moat, Rampart, and Embrasure
This coastal battery was established in 1861–79.
Coastal battery in the fortification term means stowed position near the coastline for a number of guns and sometimes performed as a separate small defense work
that merged into one organization.



Medical Room


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ON MISSION

Started from Djokjakarta, and then traveled about 180 km to Tjilatjap on 24th of September 2009. The objective of this tempting mission is for architectural documentation by photographs and surged the history of The Coastal Battery on Peninsula at Tjilatjap, adjoining my previous humble study about fortification.

Tjilatjap is located on the South-West of Central Java, it had a busy trading port since Governor General J.J. Rochussen established a port on 29th of November 1847. The port was formed by the coast and the island of Noesa Kembangan. However, today port of Tjilatjap is less attractive for trading and military defense anymore.

Coastal Battery on Peninsula at Tjilatjap has remains the chambers for prison, ammo storage, artillery storage, tunnels for connecting the rooms, logistic and kitchen, military barrack, surveillance; also ramparts with embrasures, and moat.

It built in the period of four Governor General of Netherlands East Indies, they were Lodolf A.J.W. Baron Sloet van de Beele (1861–66), Pieter Mijer (1866–72), James Loudon (1872–75), and Johan van Landsberge (1875–81).

Now, it stands on the land property of KODAM IV/Diponegoro [Regional Military Command] about 6 hectares, shrunk from 10 hectares in original plan of 1874 for the reason of Pertamina oil refinery development. However, based on the plan, about 40% of this battery is remaining unexplored yet, hidden beneath the coastland.

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THE NAVAL AND MILITARY EVENTS IN TJILATJAP

1739
The first expedition of VOC surrounding Noesa Kembangan.
Objective of this expedition was observing the Tjilatjap after
the British East India Company, “Royal George”, taking some activities in the harbor.

1812 – 1816
The British Royal Army built a small fortress to protect against the Tjilatjap Boeginese pirates in Karang Bollong (North-East top of Noesa Kembangan).

1816
Fort Karang Bollong fell into Dutch rule.

1830
[4th of December 1830]
The government of Dutch Indies had the statement that
Noesa Kembangan was included in the small garrison in Java.
In Noesa Kembangan, there were two batteries finished,
Banjoe Njappa and Karang Bollong,

1847
[29th of November 1847]
Governor General J.J. Rochussen stated that harbor of Tjilatjap was not only for
trading utility, but also on the context of military defense.

1854
Old Coast battery in the East was installed by a number of cannons.

1855
[15th of February 1855]
Establishment of military barrack for the 17th artillery in Tjilatjap city.
About 90 privates lived here.

1857
Lookout tower was established at Goenoeng Tjimering in Noesa Kembangan.

1846-60
Battery in the east of the city was established,
encountering the enemy’s hostile from the east.

1861 - 1879
The construction period of the Coastal Battery on Peninsula,
In reason of many flaws in Fort Karang Bollong, the Government makes decisions and work to build a new coastal battery in peninsula of Tjilatjap.
First construction opposite the coastal side, then continued to built in other side.

1887
[20th of January 1887]
Line of defense in Tjilatjap was proposed.
It strengthened the South Coast of Java, that remained unprotected at that time.


1888
The navy armada in Tjilatjap was established that financed by Department of Navy.
Malaria epidemic in coastline of Tjilatjap, the garrisons move out to the city.

1916
Government initiated to develop the military housing and genie office in Tjilatjap.

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GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF TJILATJAP – 1893


Source:
(Excerpt)
Kaart van Nederlandsch-Indie 1893 [naar oorspronkelijke teekening van H.Ph.Th.Witkamp]. Printed by JH de Bussy – Amsterdam.
Collection of Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen – Amsterdam
Courtesy of Hatmanto Sri Nugroho.
Red point is location of Tjilatjap.
Island of Noesa Kembangan is sited on the southward of Tjilatjap.




CITY MAP OF TJILATJAP – 1900


Source:
Tjilatjap, Java – Residentie Banjoemas, 1900 (excerpt)
Collection of Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen – Amsterdam
The red rectangular is location of Coastal Battery on Peninsula at Tjilatjap.






~THE COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA AT TJILATJAP~


Source:
Google Earth, 2009
The 1874 original plan consists of 10 hectares, but present day it only remains 6 hectares
for the reason of Pertamina Oil Rifenery.



Source:
“Kustbatterij op de Landtong te Tjilatjap”
Algemen Plan Zooals het is vasteld bij Gouvernoor Besluit van 21 November 1864
No.8 met de derde detailprojecten,
22 Maart 1874.
Courtesy of Agency of Heritage Conservation
[Badan Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala – Jawa Tengah]







THE ARCHITECTURE


Millitary Barrack: Looking outside





Millitary Barrack: Looking Inside






Haxokazemat, established in 1873
It was gun casemate built on the ramparts, has rear open chamber for gunpowder.




Inside the haxokazemat, outward looking to the coast.




Medical Room





Talud (slope of a wall or glaze) of Ammo and Gunpowder Storage





Observing the Ammo and Gunpowder Storage





Battlement of Rifle Infantry




Artillery Storage: Bearing Masonry Wall





Tunnel





Door of Logistic Storage
See the “slope of agger” outside the storage room.
Agger is attack work in the form of a dam, built around a fortress wall,
which was gradually raised to an assault on the wall as possible.




Inside Logistic Storage 1



Inside Logistic Storage 2





Inside Prison Chamber







THE HISTORY OF COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA
AT TJILATJAP



The Extensive Tunnel
See the vault above, a compound vault having a central vault
intersected by vaults of lower pitch. Also called Welsh vault.

We can also see the soot (remains of carbon), which was left on the wall.
It could be the battery used torch for room lighting.




1861 - 1879
The construction period of the Coastal Battery on Peninsula.
Ammo storage established (1861), south tunnel established (1868), prison chamber established (1869), principal tunnel established (1873), military barrack established (1877).

1864
Governor decision on 21st of November refers to the third detail plan and changes.

1861 – 1942
Dutch military building

1942 – 45
Japanese military building,
some concrete military defenses and cannons added.

1945 – 49
Unknown

1950 – 52
Unoccupied

1952 – 62
Headquarter of Banteng Loreng Battalion of Indonesian Military Forces

1962 – 65
Indonesian Para Commando Regiment (RPKAD)

1965 – 86
The fort was simply neglected

1986 – 87
Conservation and preservation

1987 – Present day
Museum of “Benteng Pendem”, managed by private enterprises.



Today, about 60% of the battery has been explored and identified. The subsequently exploration for this coastal battery will surged the mystery of secret defense work in Tjilatjap. We are waiting ahead.

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REFERENCES

“Laporan Studi Kelayakan Benteng Pendem Cilacap”
Bagian Proyek Pembinaan Peninggalan Sejarah
dan Kepurbakalaan Jawa Tengah 1998/1999.

“A Visual Dictionary of Architecture”
by Francis D.K. Ching
Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold.

“Terminologie Verdedigingswerken”
Stichting Menno van Coehoorn – Januari 2004

”Het Indisch budget van oorlog”
digitale bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse letteren
Stichting dbnl Leiden
http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_gid001186801_01/_gid001186801_01_0061.htm

“Cilacap (1830-1942): Bangkit dan Runtuhnya Suatu Pelabuhan di Jawa”
By Susanto Zuhdi
Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia, 2002




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If you have a chance to access the Nationaal Archief – Den Haag,
may these references will guide you to found more information:

#1353
Kustbatterij op de landtong te Tjilatjap. Algemeen plan met de wijzigingen
van de detailprojecten . Uitgave Batavia.
1874 (1 blad)
Schaal 1:1.000.
Bij Gouv. Besluit van 21 november 1864 nr. 8 en brief 3 juni 1874 nr. 781/4.

#5059
Project van een defensiewerk, kustbatterij te Tjilatjap. Calque.
ca. 1874 (1 blad)
Schaal 1:1.000.

#5060
Gewijzigd project van een kustbatterij te Tjilatjap.
ca. 1874 (2 bladen)
Behoort bij missive der genie Directie van 20 april 1864 1e Bureau nr. 2120.

#1352
Project eener kustbatterij op de landtong te Tjilatjap. Met de stand der
werkzaamheden.
1869 (1 blad)
Schaal 1:1.000.
Zie Gouv. Besluit van 21 november 1864 nr. 8 en missive van 24 juli 1869 nr. 350.



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