Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications North Section

The northern half of the Lincuo Anti-Airborne Position (林厝反空降陣地) runs through farmland and a hillside cemetery in Daya, picking up where the cluster of forts around Taichung Metropolitan Park (台中都會公園) leaves off. These five emplacements were commissioned by the Ministry of National Defense in 1977 as part of a network of nine new machine gun bunkers along the central Dadu Plateau, all sited to suppress airborne landings on either side of the strategic ridge line running lengthwise between the coast and central Taichung.

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:30 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 9Shutter Speed 1/320 secFocal Length 22.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 14.7 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:31 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 9Shutter Speed 1/320 secFocal Length 20.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 14.7 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

The No. 7 Fort is by far the most approachable of the chain and the focus of this entry. Tucked into the laterite soils in the southwestern corner of Daya, it is readily accessible and fairly safe to explore, though a flashlight is essential and gloves are advisable for the rusty ladders inside. The structure is a cylindrical reinforced concrete blockhouse roughly ten metres across and six to nine metres tall, with three levels plus an open rooftop. Two camouflaged entrances provide access via underground tunnels, a precaution in the event of heavy bombardment. The bunker down below was dry and empty when I visited but some you encounter may be flooded or filled with noxious pests. Ravenous mosquitos are really what you have to worry about—the huntsman spiders typically found in these ruins aren’t nearly so interested in your blood.

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:31 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 9Shutter Speed 1/320 secFocal Length 26.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 14.7 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:33 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 10Shutter Speed 1/400 secFocal Length 18.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 15.3 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

The remaining four forts in this section are harder to reach or no longer standing. The No. 6 Fort sits inside an active military base, walled off and therefore unable to fulfill its original purpose. Forts No. 8 and No. 9, both placed in or near a hillside cemetery to cover approaches from the northeast, were demolished in the late 2000s. The No. 10 Fort stands on private land at the far northern end of the position and remains on my list for a future visit.

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:32 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 3.5Shutter Speed 1/30 secFocal Length 18.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 8.5 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 06:36 UTCCamera SM-G9208Lens Samsung Galaxy S6 Rear CameraAperture ƒ / 1.9Shutter Speed 1/8 secFocal Length 4.3 mmISO 1000Exposure Value 4.9 EVOriginal Size 2988 × 2988

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:40 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 4.5Shutter Speed 1/30 secFocal Length 32.0 mmISO 3200Exposure Value 9.2 EVOriginal Size 3029 × 3029

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 06:35 UTCCamera SM-G9208Lens Samsung Galaxy S6 Rear CameraAperture ƒ / 1.9Shutter Speed 1/17 secFocal Length 4.3 mmISO 200Exposure Value 5.9 EVOriginal Size 2988 × 2988

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 06:34 UTCCamera SM-G9208Lens Samsung Galaxy S6 Rear CameraAperture ƒ / 1.9Shutter Speed 1/10 secFocal Length 4.3 mmISO 250Exposure Value 5.2 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 06:32 UTCCamera SM-G9208Lens Samsung Galaxy S6 Rear CameraAperture ƒ / 1.9Shutter Speed 1/25 secFocal Length 4.3 mmISO 125Exposure Value 6.5 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 06:32 UTCCamera SM-G9208Lens Samsung Galaxy S6 Rear CameraAperture ƒ / 1.9Shutter Speed 1/750 secFocal Length 4.3 mmISO 40Exposure Value 11.4 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:46 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 9Shutter Speed 1/320 secFocal Length 18.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 14.7 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:34 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 10Shutter Speed 1/400 secFocal Length 40.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 15.3 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

The landscape surrounding the No. 7 Anti-Airborne Fort is absolutely surreal. Rusty red laterite soils rich in iron and aluminum cover the plateau, limiting agricultural productivity. This type of soil is not uncommon in Taiwan—you’ll also find it on the Linkou Plateau, for instance—and was traditionally used for manufacturing bricks¹.

Date Captured February 12th, 2016 at 07:34 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 10Shutter Speed 1/400 secFocal Length 18.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 15.3 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Date Captured July 23rd, 2016 at 08:39 UTCCamera NIKON D3100Lens AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIAperture ƒ / 8Shutter Speed 1/250 secFocal Length 24.0 mmISO 200Exposure Value 14.0 EVOriginal Size 3600 × 2400

Finally, I will note that only the No. 6 Anti-Airborne Fort has heritage status; the other two remaining forts at this end of the plateau may disappear at any time. Find the rest of the fortifications in this position documented in the next entry.