Xiyu Ammunition Depot Introduction
The Western Islet Ammunition Depot is truly a solid structure, often described as "copper walls and iron walls" for its robustness. It features a rock-hewn cooling ammunition depot and the cave-type ammunition depot, commonly referred to as copper walls and iron walls. This rare military architecture from the early Japanese colonial period is one of the four major ammunition depots established by the Japanese military in the Penghu Islands. As the name suggests, the Western Islet Ammunition Depot is primarily used for storing artillery ammunition. The cave-type depot includes both single and double caves for dry ammunition storage, holding two different types of gunpowder: smokeless and non-smokeless. The cave depot is designed with a double-wall vaulted structure. A rounded cave is carved from the bedrock in the mountain, with external chambers constructed from stacked concrete blocks and internal spaces built with reinforced concrete. To store smokeless gunpowder, the environment is maintained at constant temperature and humidity, with copper sheets lining the walls to effectively isolate electromagnetic pulses and moisture. In contrast, the rock-hewn cooling ammunition depot is an above-ground construction with stone walls. Its inner walls are made of wooden panels and raised wooden flooring for moisture prevention. The roof frame consists of a steel truss, and the roof is built using cultural tiles, which are darkened tiles, with lightning rods installed to prevent lightning strikes. Both types of ammunition depots are rare military structures from the early Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, showcasing the unique construction techniques of that era, and have been designated as county historic sites for preservation and restoration.
