Xiyu Ammunition Depot Introduction
We often use the phrase "copper wall and iron wall" to describe the solidity of a building, but the Xiyu Ammunition Storage is a genuine example of a "copper wall and iron wall"! The Xiyu Ammunition Storage includes a cool earth-type ammunition storage and the cave-type ammunition storage, commonly referred to as the "copper wall and iron wall." It is a rare military structure from the early Japanese occupation and is one of the four major ammunition storages built by the Japanese military on Penghu Island. As the name suggests, the Xiyu Ammunition Storage was primarily used for storing artillery ammunition. The cave-type ammunition storage comes in single and double cave variations for dry storage, specifically designed for storing two different types of gunpowder: smoky and smokeless. The cave ammunition storage features a double-walled dome structure, where a circular arch-shaped cave is excavated from the rock bed inside the mountain, stacked with concrete blocks to form the outer storage structure, and then the inner storage space is constructed with reinforced concrete. To store smokeless powder, it is essential to maintain constant temperature and humidity, and copper sheets are embedded in the adjacent walls to completely isolate electromagnetic pulses and moisture. The cool earth-type ammunition storage, on the other hand, is an above-ground structure, with external walls built from stone and internal walls made of wooden panels along with raised wooden flooring for moisture prevention. The roof structure uses steel trusses, and the roofing tiles are constructed from cultural tiles, also known as smoke-black tiles. Additionally, lightning rods are installed on the roof to prevent lightning strikes. These two types of ammunition storages are rare military constructions from the early Japanese occupation in Taiwan, showcasing the unique characteristics of construction technology during that period, and have been designated as county historic sites for restoration and preservation.
