This cache will take you to a spot in Amsterdam Hoek where you will see one of the three Fortress Observation Posts (FOPs) that are placed in the Port Elizabeth area. These FOPs were built in 1940 at the beginning of the Second World War.
At the time of the construction of the buildings they were covered with the typical Eastern Cape coastal bush. As a result, it was decided to incorporate into the designs of the more prominent structures a curvy, free-form profile of parapets, angle buttresses and 'fins' to break up the square, box-like shape of these buildings when seen from the sea against the background of the bush. This curvy profile extended to the flat roofs, projecting floor slabs and even the concrete paths leading to the FOPs, so that the view of these structures from the air would be similarly disguised. In addition, the parapets around the flat roofs of the FOPs were loopholed for close defence by small arms.
Fortunately for Port Elizabeth, these defences were not put to the test as, apart from a couple of incidents during the Second World War, when it was found necessary to put a round from one of the guns across the bows of a suspicious ship, and the usual practice sessions, the battery did not fire a shot. However, the deterrent effect of the presence of the artillery defences should not be underestimated.
In May 1998, the Amsterdam Hoek FOP was declared a national monument.
Cache is a black 35mm film canister with clues written on the small pencil that is enlosed together with the log booklet. There is no space for anything else - not even a plastic bag. Please ensure that the cache lid is clean and properly closed because it is then fully waterproof.
Please note that this cache forms part of a set including:
GC2P4XY - Concrete Camouflage - Cape Recife
GC2P50W - Concrete Camouflage - Amsterdam Hoek
GC2P513 - Concrete Camouflage - Skoenmakerskop
and the mystery cache: GC2P371 - Concrete Camouflage
The information for this cache listing was obtained from research performed by Richard Tomlinson and published in an article titled: Artillery Buildings in Algoa Bay.
FTF honours go to: Wikkelgat
Haqre n fgbar ng gur onfr bs n fznyy gerr. Fcbvyre cvp cebivqrq.