Friday 2 October 2009

THE SECRET COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA AT TJILATJAP


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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.


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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

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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

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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~

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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.


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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

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Millitary Barrack: Looking outside




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Millitary Barrack: Looking Inside





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



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Inside the haxokazemat, outward looking to the coast.



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Medical Room




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




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Observing the Ammo and Gunpowder Storage




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Battlement of Rifle Infantry



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Artillery Storage: Bearing Masonry Wall




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Tunnel




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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.



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Inside Logistic Storage 1


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Inside Logistic Storage 2




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Inside Prison Chamber







THE HISTORY OF COASTAL BATTERY ON PENINSULA
AT TJILATJAP


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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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51 comments:

  1. tempatnya asyik juga buat motret nih, gak ajak2 euy.. btw masuk kesini mesti ijin khusus ya?

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  2. Memang tempatnya military banget, saya suka :)
    Sekarang sudah jadi museum youfy, tidak perlu izin...

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  3. Dalam tunnel ini ada beberapa ruangan yang terhubung oleh 4 pintu masuk. Sayangnya, tunnel tergenang air rembesan dari atap yang bisa bikin konstruksimemburuk...

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  4. Oh begitu.. thx infonya, sapa tau ntar bisa mampir kesini..

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  5. bukan soal gelapnya.. fotonya artistik sekali..

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  6. Tuh, yang "Inside Prison Chamber" juga... perempuan dalam kegelapan :)

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  7. Mikirin jalan keluarnya ke mana...petanya ruwet banget, pusing muter2 hehe...
    Bagaimana kabar pesanan "Kedoeng Kebo" saya, mbak? kapan diupload ya?

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  8. di antara foto2 lain yang bikin jiwa "tertekan", ini yang paling mencerahkan, lega, bisa napas.
    sekalian berenang ngga, yoan?

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  9. Haha..maap kalo bikin depresi :)
    Aku gak berenang krn harus balik lagi ke Jogja hari itu juga... in a rush deh. Kalo ada waktu lagi mau ke Kustbatterij Karang Bolong, lokasinya kalo di foto ini di ujung timur pulau Noesa Kembangan.

    Selamat bernapas kembali.

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  10. sampeyan iku hebat. tau-taunya lho, kalau di tjilatjap ada tempat bersejarah yang masih cukup bagus...... seperti biasa 'bagus-bagus'..........

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  11. apa gak ada niat 'pemda c/q dinas pariwisata' untuk perbaikan ya, biar gak bocor? lumayan kan buat obyek wisata, nambah pemasukan kas daerah .... (benergaksihakyungomongnya?)

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  12. mas mahandis ini benteng pendem yang di cilacap ato ..cilacap punya lebih dari satu benteng?

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  13. mas ini benteng pendem bukan ya?

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  14. Sekalian jalan2 liburan lebaran hehehe...
    Masih ada yang lebih bagus lagi di Noesa Kembangan, mam... Kustbatterij Karang Bolong.

    Thanks.

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  15. Harusnya memang demikian mam, tapi biasanya PemKot/PemDa gencar berpromo kesana kemari buat potensi wisata di daerahnya, tapi lupa menggarap dan melestarian "jualan"-nya itu...

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  16. Iya masyarakat menyebutnya "benteng pendem" karena lokasi waktu diketemukan masih tertimbun tanah. Menurut pengamatan saya, kemungkinan benteng ini pada awalnya tidak ditimbun/tertimbun tanah karena terdapat talang air di beberapa bangunannya. Tapi itu juga harus dibuktikan secara arkeologis.

    Desain banguannnya mengingatkan saya pada Battery Antjol, namun yang ini lebih massive...6 hektar!

    Di Tjilatjap sebenernya ada tiga kustbatterij: Karang Bollong, Banjoe Njappa, dan di Peninsula-nya. Namun yang masih terdata hanya Karang Bollong dan Peninsula (benteng pendem) saja.

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  17. aku blm sempet k kedung kebo , mas...ntar aja kita hunting bareng :)

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  18. Waduh Bung Yoanis... keren sekali postingnya!

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  19. waaa...ketinggalan...ternyata mas yoan sudah melancong kemana-mana. perasaan baru kemarin di benteng anu...sekarang benteng ini besok mungkin dibenteng itu :P, cuman benteng takeshi aja kayaknya yg gak bakalan didatengin hehe. postingannya top bgt!!!

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  20. Makasih mbak Upik :)
    Nambah jadual jalan2 waktu pulang kampung besok?
    hehehe...

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  21. Iya nih lagi seru2nya Fitri... Nantikan Fort Willem I di Ambarawa bakalan nongol di blog ini...

    Wah kalo benteng takeshi berat "cobaan" menuju kesananya tuh...

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  22. loh gak jadi explore yang di ambarawa mas ??

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  23. Sudah diexplore Nikki...tapi belum upload hehehe...
    Coming soon :)

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  24. Tralisnya rangkap dua mas Pri, yang di bagian luar memang sebagian sudah dicuri orang, sedangkan yang di dalam masih utuh... :)

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  25. Yoan,
    You managed to take beautiful photographs! When we were there in July we were a bit disappointed because the whole complex was turned into a sort of lunapark! Fortunately your photo's have avoided that atmosphere!
    Rick van den Dolder

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  26. Thanks Rick :)
    Ow, you have visited this battery also, Rick. You may right, that the owner/management has designed this battery to be "lunapark" rather than keep the military atmosphere :) Even we found some funny heron statues greet the visitors.

    I just try to recall the fortification atmosphere within this fort. I think it is good idea to make a real feel about what when before.

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  27. Wah kok dah sampai ke CIlacap, ada saudara saya yang punya pabrik kecap disana. Mas kenapa kok judulnya pakai kata "rahasia", apakah dulu lokasi ini disembunyikan dari umum ?

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  28. Kalo gitu kapan2 kita bisa mampir lagi ke Cilacap pak dipo, melnjutkan ke battery Karang Bolong di Noesakembangan.

    Coastbattery ini merupakan peninggalan instalasi militer akhir abad ke-19. Keberadaannya memang tidak sepopuler bangunan militer sezamannya, misal Fort Cochius atau Fort Willem I. Bahkan di peta-peta akhir abad ke-19 juga tidak dicantumkan karena sebagai instalasi militer itu adalah suatu rahasia.

    Dalam peta di atas (1900), pemukiman sisi utara semenanjung Tjilatjap terdapat tulisan "Afgebraken Kampement", kemungkinan bekas military camp, artinya akses ke semenanjung Tjilatjap hanya dikuasai militer. Mungkin karena kerahasiaannya, coasbattery ini baru ditemukan kembali tahun 1986.

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  29. Kalau patung dinosaurus sama teletubies yg di depan ditemukan kembali kapan ya ?

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  30. Haha itu termasuk yang dimaksud teman saya Dolder dengan"lunapark". Memang pengelola sepertinya kehabisan akal untuk bikin konsep yang berbeda buat mengemas tempat wisata ini :)
    Kasusnya mirip dengan Fort Cochius di Gombong.

    Dah pernah ke sono juga Mat?

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  31. kok ga nyebrang ke Nusa kambangan? ada bangunan yg sudah tua, almost ga berbentuk, batu batanya dah menyatu dengan pohon....
    kaya sebuah benteng juga...memang agak ngeri jalan kesananya tp kalo pas hari rame banyak yg jalan2 ke situ mas

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  32. Iya memang ada, namanya Battery Karangbolong. Kondisinya memprihatinkan. Saya gak sempat nyeberang karena sudah kesorean mas...Next time hehe...

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  33. Dear Yoan,
    In my opinion more likely to be a connection for the electricity supply!
    Rick van den Dolder

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  34. I think so, but the guide told me that was the telephone supply. You may be right, it could be electricity supply. This kind of tools was also used in house electricity panel in early 20th century.
    Thanks for your remark, Rick.

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  35. tak jemu melihat update.an hasil perjalanan bangunan bersejarah kakak...

    menunggu kabar terbaru yg lain^^

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  36. Hi Yoan,
    Just received an email via multiply about your last years photos of the fortress in Cilacap. Any news? Sent you a couple of emails the last months, but they probably did not reach you, We will probably be in Jakarta the middle/end of May and will contact you. Let us know if you need anything from the negri Belanda!
    best regards, Rick

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  37. Hi Rick,
    I'm so sorry probably I missed your e-mails.
    If you want to travel to Medan, I have reported in my previous journey about two old office buildings in Kesawan (AVROS and LONSUM), it may help you to found these buildings.

    I have good news for you, the cultural community in Ungaran [Lembaga Pelestarian Cagar Budaya Nusantara Ratu Shima] will present "Festival Benteng Ungaran". It is an event of art, culture, and heritage in the Fort Ontmoeting regarding the issue of people awareness about the heritage building and a path to revitalization. This event is also supported by the local government and public.

    I Look forward to meet you in Jakarta, Rick. About "oleh-oleh dari negri belanda"...I'm happy to hear that ;-)

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  38. Hi Yoan,
    Bought at the second hand market the whole series of Asia Maior on the major cities, including Medan (but excluding Semarang which I have not found for a reasonable price). Also an atlas with maps nearly every city in the Colonial times. I will therefor arrive much more prepared! Will see AVROS for sure and will look up LONSUM!
    Good news about Ontmoeting! Maybe we should go and visit!
    Your sentence about the "oleh-oleh" did not finish. PLease mail or sms me what you had in mind!
    Keep in touch!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Yoan,
    Bought at the second hand market the whole series of Asia Maior on the major cities, including Medan (but excluding Semarang which I have not found for a reasonable price). Also an atlas with maps nearly every city in the Colonial times. I will therefor arrive much more prepared! Will see AVROS for sure and will look up LONSUM!
    Good news about Ontmoeting! Maybe we should go and visit!
    Your sentence about the "oleh-oleh" did not finish. PLease mail or sms me what you had in mind!
    Keep in touch!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Ini artikelny ga ada versi bahasanya indonesianya pak?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Benteng pendem ditemukan kembali th.1986 ?saya sudah kesana periode th.enam puluhan rombongan sekolah sd (sr pada waktu itu )mungkin maksudnya dibuka /digali untuk wisata

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