Re305, Les Respects M.K.B., Batterie 'Von Holtzendorf', K.V.Gruppe Saint-Renan, Brittany

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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The large deep water port of Brest was able to receive battle ships like the Tirpitz. Also a U-boat pen was constructed inside the harbour. That meant that the whole area around the entrance to the Rade de Brest had to be defended. After the attack on the lock gate at St Nazaire the defence was again increased.

Brest U-boat pens.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Rade de Brest

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Plan of our walk around the site.

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Red - Searchlight.
Purple - Old Tower.
Blue - Flak site 'Arnika'.
Yellow - French Fire Control.
Green - Battery Position.

Admiral Henning von Holtzendorf (1853-1919). He served as commander of the High Seas Fleet from 1909 until 1913, retired. Recalled in September 1915, Holtzendorf was placed at the head of the naval General Staff. He was a great believer in U-boats.

A French Battery.

Navy Gunners.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
A plan of the battery site.

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M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf' Battery 1./M.A.A.262
1 x M182.
1 x V256.
1 x R682/SK.
1 x M151.
4 x R622.
1 x M145.
3 x Fl243b.
4 x SK/Schartenstand.
10 x Vf58c.
1 x Leitstand(f).
1 x Wellblech Machinen.
4 x 15cm S.K.C/28.

 

 

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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A sketch of one of the guns drawn for an Allied intelligence report on the batterie.

SK/Schartenstand plan. Large casemates built on the style of an M272 but with extra rooms at the rear.

15cm S.K. C/28's secondary ships armament

The Navy built their batteries either using standard type bunkers or making their own styles (SK [Sonder Konstruction] Special construction). The guns here were 15cm S.K. C/28's the sort of gun used as secondary armament on battle ships.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 1 SK/Schartenstand.

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The battery has four SK casemates (Sonderkonstruktion [none standard design]) set into a bank of earth (the original French battery position) for extra protection with an M150 fire control post in front (not built). Many Tobruk's circle the site giving machine gun protection. Four R622 twin group bunkers, M151 quarters bunker & an M145 ammunition bunker and about three search lights. There was also two batteries of AA guns, 3 at 'Arnika' in Fl243b emplacements & 'Erika' 5 guns in field positions all using ex French 7.5cm AA guns.

Plan of an M150 fire control post.

M150 fire control post elevation

R622 twin group bunker.

M151 quarters for 1Off. 3 NCO's and 24 men.

M145 ammunition bunker.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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SK casemate elevation showing a gun room (right), case room (middle) and crew room rear.
The Kriegsmarine tended to use their own designs for casemates earlier on in the war which was a very costly thing to do.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Gun line.

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Appearing last year are two naval guns for some reason just plonked onto two concrete foundations??

Gun in the casemate and gun mounting.

Gun in an open emplacement.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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The two ships guns.

The French fleet.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf' Gun line

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Up to 1942 a battery of artillery were in open emplacements with 164.7mm French guns but due to the allied heavy bombing Hitler ordered all artillery was to be places under concrete. So large casemates were constructed. The Navy, Marine Kusten Artillery batteries were to shoot on targets out to sea and were usually placed as close to the cliff's/beach as possible, whilst army (Heers) H.K.A. batteries were to fire on the beaches & surrounding country side and were located more inland.

164mm Model 1893.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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A post war photograph of the gun line showing some anti glider posts still erect..

Anti glider posts.

British Horsa gliders being prepared for D-Day.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 1

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This is the first casemate in the batterie..

Plan.

 

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 2

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The second has a ramp up to the front, this may have been built when the bunker was constructed or later when the French Navy owned the site.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 2.

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I spy a little hole.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 2.

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I managed to poke the camera through at this vast casement interior. A vast space for the 15cm S.K.C/28 gun. The entrance on the right is for the shells to enter from the shell store behind.

15cm S.K.C/28 gun with a shield.

15cm S.K.C/28 guns hold fast bolts.

15cm S.K.C/28 gun.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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To the rear a flight of stairs leading into a sort of crew area of the casemate and the a shell and a case stores either side, with the gun room at the front. A passage came in from the right.

Bunker construction.

Plan.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 2.

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Not sure of the reason for a ramp leading to the embrasure, it may have been a French construction post war.

Plan.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 2.

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Just after capture this picture shows the entrance tunnel to the right of the casemate..

Plan.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 3.

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German Picket Post 'Eisenpfahel'.

 

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 3.

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German Picket Post 'Eisenpfahel'.

 

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 3

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A close up of the design to deflect incoming shrapnel. The brackets could be to hold the camouflage nets or a French post war fittings??

Guns crew in action.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 3

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A close up of the design to deflect incoming shrapnel.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 3

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 4

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Very hard to get too.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 4

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Post capture showing the gun still in place.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Turm 4

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The view towards Brest east.

Brest U-Boat pens.

U-Boat sailing by.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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View to St Mathieu west.

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
R622.

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I believe this is an R622 twin group bunker set out in front of the gun line but behind the fire control bunker and may have held the crew of the FCB.

Plan of the area.

R622 twin group bunker.

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
R622.

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Tobruk local defence.

 

Machine gun scarf ring that fitted into the ring on the Tobruk..

Inside a Tobruk.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
R622

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Periscope fitting. Periscopes were not a standard fitting in an R622 but here we have the Kriegsmarine and they have very different rules.
I have not looked at where the forward fire control post was, thats for another trip. There was a plan to build an M150 but this had not been started.

Periscope.

Periscope Panzerteil.

Periscope.

M150 plan.

M150 elevation fire control post.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Now around the back of the gun line and Turm2.

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You can see how hard it is to get very close..

Image Caption

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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Behind the gun line at Turm 2 is a French post war building and toilet block, as you can see now falling down. In the undergrowth it looks as though there is a Tobruk which may be attached to an R622 twin group bunker. Between the Tobruk & the French building is a semi sunk German concrete barrack room.

R622 twin group bunker.

French soldiers.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Barrack room

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A small concrete barrack room.

French fire control.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Barrack room

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Stairs down .

 

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Barrack room

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Inside the room, these could be French rooms from the pre-war battery?

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'
Barrack room

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Poor old man gets tired.

Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf''

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Re305 M.K.B. 'Von Holtzendorf'

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© 2013 Richard Drew