Bunker 101 : Building Your Bunker, Forget the Bug Out Bag, Make A Fortress

reply to post by infolurker


Like this one?

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Awesome post, infolurker, keep bringing that to the thread.

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Originally posted by LadySkadi
I don't have much to add... just that I think it would be very cool to live in a castle or a settlement like the Maya built at Tulum! Great thread, inspiring alternatives.

Still nice to see you here on my thread.

I loved the Mayan and Aztec cultures.

Thanks.

Originally posted by Hastobemoretolife
reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas

 

The problem with pykrete though is that you have to keep it frozen. I think the paperkrete method is more feasible.

Yeah, what I was thinking was if you are somewhere with freezing temperatures year round - why exactly do you need a bunker? Food would be your biggest problem, unless you are an avid seal hunter or buddies with an Eskimo tribe. Well, maybe it would be necessary if you weren't buddies with the Eskimo tribe, but they could start a moss fire to burn you out.


[edit on 12-12-2009 by wanderingwaldo]

Originally posted by PSUSA
All someone has to do is plug up your vents, or dump some nasty things inside, and you're screwed. I know that's what I'd do. I would outlast you, just like how they took the castles in the old days...

Sorry, but I think the idea is not feasible for that very reason.

The idea is to not let anyone know you are there. Conceal those vents in rubble, camouflage the vents just in case someone comes near. Have more then one entrance / exit as well. If someone finds you by chance and tries to harm you... pop out and POP them.

I too have long had an interest with fortifications and have flirted with the idea of building a house-fortress. Unfortunately, it would have to be above ground due to water level issues here on Long Island.

I suggest checking out some of the Osprey Publishing fortress series books. They are only 64 pages each but contain lots of pictures and at least 5 or so pieces of color artwork with cutaway diagrams, battle scenes, etc per book. They also discuss the construction methods, how well they fared in the ultimate test of combat and so forth. You can find their books on Amazon or in any bookstore, or you can order direct from their website.

Originally posted by wanderingwaldo

Originally posted by Hastobemoretolife
reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas

 

The problem with pykrete though is that you have to keep it frozen. I think the paperkrete method is more feasible.

Yeah, what I was thinking was if you are somewhere with freezing temperatures year round - why exactly do you need a bunker? Food would be your biggest problem, unless you are an avid seal hunter or buddies with an Eskimo tribe. Well, maybe it would be necessary if you weren't buddies with the Eskimo tribe, but they could start a moss fire to burn you out.


[edit on 12-12-2009 by wanderingwaldo]

Of course, wanderingwaldo, food is a necessity.

Getting the bunker built though is a priority over food.

You can always stockpile food while the bunker is being built, making sure you dig deep for extra cool areas in a colder climate to keep the food cold so as to keep spoilage to a minimum.

If you want to add to this thread about food storage, foraging, and keeping from being burned out, feel free to do so.

Originally posted by PSUSA
All someone has to do is plug up your vents, or dump some nasty things inside, and you're screwed. I know that's what I'd do. I would outlast you, just like how they took the castles in the old days...

Sorry, but I think the idea is not feasible for that very reason.

Okay, so please outline keeping that from happening, so others might learn.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I left this open, for other people to comment.

Feel free to add to the thread, helping build a better bunker, instead of tearing it down.

Or, show how, specifically that you would tear one down when someone posts blueprints.

Originally posted by Hastobemoretolife
reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas

 

That is probably what I would do, is go up towards Canada, or somewhere although the environment is very very unforgiving, but if you can make it nobody is going to come looking for you.

I think grouping up with no more than 10 people would be the best especially if they are all trained. A 10 person squad with the proper tools could take out quite a few people if necessary.

I believe I would have to limit it to no more than six people, myself included.

Three men (counting me) and three women.

Have to have married couples that way less stupid stuff is going on.

Originally posted by PSUSA
All someone has to do is plug up your vents, or dump some nasty things inside, and you're screwed. I know that's what I'd do. I would outlast you, just like how they took the castles in the old days...

Sorry, but I think the idea is not feasible for that very reason.

Concealment is a key element.
I've built 2. One for a friend, and one for myself.
These work great. Depending on your terrain either expose an end on a hillside and rework your entry, or bury it straight down get creative with a top hatch.
Some one would have to look long and hard for my intake and exhaust. Run your pipe far and away from your unit. It lets the exhaust cool for those searching for heat sources, and you'll want to filter your intake as much as possible. Look into charcoal. Water seepage and waste will be a problem. Use good plastic sheeting and stone for fill.
Use one 6" drain with a P trap. Do Not excrete into your drain unless absolutely necessary, use a drywall bucket with a lid, (youre surviving ladies this isnt the ritz)
Build a sleeping room or rooms. You'll be surprised at the heat a candle puts out. Finally....keep it a secret, youre going to have to keep it a secret from everyone. People talk, too freaking much, to too many people.
Fine tune your bunker by "staying in it" before you need it. You'll see.
Great Thread Flag and Star.
www.citycentrestorage.co.uk...

Originally posted by infolurker

Originally posted by PSUSA
All someone has to do is plug up your vents, or dump some nasty things inside, and you're screwed. I know that's what I'd do. I would outlast you, just like how they took the castles in the old days...

Sorry, but I think the idea is not feasible for that very reason.

The idea is to not let anyone know you are there. Conceal those vents in rubble, camouflage the vents just in case someone comes near. Have more then one entrance / exit as well. If someone finds you by chance and tries to harm you... pop out and POP them.

That's it exactly, infolurker, concealment is the key for these bunkers.

There are many finite details I left out of the original few posts to allow for discussion.

Feel free to add more to it.

Originally posted by ChrisF231
I too have long had an interest with fortifications and have flirted with the idea of building a house-fortress. Unfortunately, it would have to be above ground due to water level issues here on Long Island.

I suggest checking out some of the Osprey Publishing fortress series books. They are only 64 pages each but contain lots of pictures and at least 5 or so pieces of color artwork with cutaway diagrams, battle scenes, etc per book. They also discuss the construction methods, how well they fared in the ultimate test of combat and so forth. You can find their books on Amazon or in any bookstore, or you can order direct from their website.

Sounds interesting, ChrisF231.

Right now a lack of funds is keeping me from buying much.

I know I could build one of these bunkers on the cheap though.

Shovel, butter bowls, water, sawdust, and a few other key elements.

reply to post by HappilyEverAfter


Have you got any pictures you care to share?

Keeping in mind of course we do not know where you are.

I'd be interested to see them, if possible, if not that's okay too.

Originally posted by SpartanKingLeonidas
reply to post by HappilyEverAfter

 

Have you got any pictures you care to share?

Keeping in mind of course we do not know where you are.

I'd be interested to see them, if possible, if not that's okay too.

With all due respect sir, I'd rather u2u you the Lat/Long if youre needing entry than post here or pic here. Just remember, you bring a body means you bring a contribution. I can hold 4 full squads, sustain only 2, prefer only 1. I'd rather keep my little world little sir.

Originally posted by HappilyEverAfter

Originally posted by SpartanKingLeonidas
reply to post by HappilyEverAfter

 

Have you got any pictures you care to share?

Keeping in mind of course we do not know where you are.

I'd be interested to see them, if possible, if not that's okay too.

With all due respect sir, I'd rather u2u you the Lat/Long if youre needing entry than post here or pic here. Just remember, you bring a body means you bring a contribution. I can hold 4 full squads, sustain only 2, prefer only 1. I'd rather keep my little world little sir.

Of course, no offense meant, only curiosity and a desire to learn.

No need to U2U coordinates, yet, but I'll keep it in mind.

I've got hoards of ideas, ways to get things done, before I go underground into a bunker.

I prefer small unit's, period.

While I know how to lead armies, literally, small unit's can go faster, into more dangerous territory, and do more damage, if that's something being considered.

reply to post by HappilyEverAfter

Finally....keep it a secret, youre going to have to keep it a secret from everyone. People talk, too freaking much, to too many people.

I sure hope your friend is trustworthy,

I'm surprised no one mentioned cargo containers ... Maybe someone did. I put a lot of this threads contributors on ignore.

Oh dear, alright now for a slight interjection of realism while you guys are building your backyard forts:

There is no such thing as an "impenetrable fortress" not Troy, not The Great Wall Of China, not The Atlantic Wall or Vladivostok. A lot of the technologies you are looking at, the earthen bunkers with great concealment and ventilation are World War 2 technologies at best, trust me we've thought long and hard since then about how to defeat such things. The novel approaches you are looking at are also easily defeated. Against thermal weapons ice is water, and any concrete can still just be blown up with heavy weapons or shaped charges.

In today's wars however there is still great use for hardened positions and we've largely gone back to the oldest defensive position of all: caves. I just do not think you should assume that you, or anyone else for that matter, can stay holed up in some backyard bunker in America for long, especially if someone is looking for you. I think honestly all the talk of fortifications is just inviting another Waco-type event.

There is no such thing as an "impenetrable fortress" not Troy, not The Great Wall Of China, not The Atlantic Wall or Vladivostok.

I think the men of the 116th RCT would beg to differ, virtually every single man on the roster of A/1/116 was killed or wounded on Omaha Beach on 6/6/1944.

Look up the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest in 1944. Two entire US Army infantry divisions were rendered combat ineffective for the rest of the war due to casaulties sustained in the fighting along the Siegfried Line ... which was considered outdated before it was even completed. In fact, the Germans built it (finishing in 1940) and then realized it was a total waste and deactivated the positions until the fall of 1944.

Besides, the purpose of fortifications is NOT to permanently stop an enemy, it's to delay them and/or to incur significant losses to cause them to withdraw.



[edit on 12-12-2009 by ChrisF231]

reply to post by ProjectJimmy


If you can live another day, week, month. Why not do it. The idea is to survive not die. And if you run, you only die tired.

The only problem with a "Bunker" is it's static nature.

No getting around that.

Every great castle has eventually fallen and whatever we may build personally, is very subject to attack and being overwhelmed by marauders or just hungry people. Heck, they would do it now, think what would happen in the event of no society and no police.

While I have some property in West Virginia that I would migrate to in the event of some societal collapse, very remote and isolated, I place my faith on myself and what I can carry.

Good thread though

Semper

Nice subject but a bunker is not all it's cracked up to be. If you are looking to survive some sort of massive attack or natural disaster, they are great... and may I suggest a root celler. Multifunctional, already stocked with foods and tools and supplies, and generally easily accessible from the house.
However, if you're looking for a place to hold hole up against some sort of tactical action from police, military, or rabble, they quickly become a tomb... ie Waco, Ruby Ridge, Seigfreid Line, Maginot Line, etc...look at the history. Mobility is key to survival... hit'em hard and run away, live to fight another day.