Wn37 Asnelles.
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Wn37 Asnelles
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A lovely little seaside village, strong point 'Dart' the British code name for the area of Wn37 for D-day.
Préventorium.
R667 under construction.
The 5cm KwK L.60 gun in an open emplacement (ringstand).
Wn37 Asnelles.
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Wn37 Asnelles
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1 x R677 casemate.
1 x R667 casemate (under construction).
4 x Vf58c Tobruk's.
2 x Feldm.
1 x Nr.1694 ringstand.
2 x Mortar pits?
1 x U Tobruk with an Pz.T FT MG.311(f).
1 x 8.8cm Pak 43/41.
1 x 5cm KwK L/42 or L/60.
2 x French Abri (air-raid shelters).
Wn37 Asnelles.
1944
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Wn37 Asnelles
Air photo
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Wn37 also had an anti-tank ditch running around the back of the defence.
Many anti-tank ditches were dug here but the British had the answer in bridge laying tanks.
Anti-tank ditch.
Churchill bridge layer.
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R677 casemate.
8.8cm A/T gun inside a casemate..
Wn37 Asnelles.
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Wn37 Asnelles
Plan
Details
Abri are French air raid shelters (more later).
The R677 covering the beach to the east up the beach.
The R667 casemate under construction and it was to replace the ringstand.
Two mortar Tobruk's would cover the whole area with a heavy barrage of bombs.
The U Tobruk with a French tank turret with a French machine-gun 311(f).
An R667 was under construction.
The first of the two French abri air-raid shelter.
5cm ringstand Nr.1694.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Bigot map 1944
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Wn37 Asnelles
Bigot plan
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This is an Allied Bigot map of Asnelles.
The line of anti landing craft defences, upside down U's are minefields.
RAF photo processing of reconnaissance pictures.
Wn37 Asnelles.
22 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
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This is a view from Wn39 to Wn 37 and right down Gold Beach.
Wn37 Asnelles.
19 May 1944 An American PRU photograph from AH.
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Wn37 Asnelles
Low level air-photo
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The western end of Wn37 showing some of the old houses that were there. The picture taken by a Lightening of the USAAF PRU flight, flying very low along the beach in May 1944 before all the beach obstacles had been planted. You can see the horse and cart and several groups of men assembling more obstacles.
USAF Lightening PRU the type that took the low level photos.
Beach defences being constructed.
Beach defences being constructed.
Wn37 Asnelles.
1944/5
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Wn37 Asnelles
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The start of Wn37 on the western flank.
The sea wall has been battered by the sea and the war but you can see the Préventorium large buildings in the distance.
Plan.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Bigot map 1944
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Wn37 Asnelles
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Les Tourelles - ''Village Vacances du réseau Cap France à Asnelles sur Mer en Normandie''. One of the original prominent buildings.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Bigot map 1944
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Wn37 Asnelles
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Information board with details of the buildings. very normative boards are along the sea front explaining the houses and their history.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
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Along here was a Préventorium.
Built to aid children who succumbed to TB and were brought to the coast for fresh air and sun. There were several here.
Plan.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Information Board 19 May 1944 An American PRU photograph from AH.
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Wn37 Asnelles
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A very low level photo of the beach front.
19th May 1944, I expect there were some very startled looks from the bunkers and Tobruk's in Asnelles.
USAF Lightening PRU the type that took the low level photos.
RAF checking film.
Beach defences.
Wn37 Asnelles.
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Wn37 Asnelles
Plan
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This is a German map of the area showing Wn's 36 to 39 and MF mine fields 1, 88 & 75.
Laying mines.
Teller anti-tank mine.
Wn37 Asnelles.
220 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
Tobruk
Details
Vf58c Tobruk's. The anchor I believe was where part of the Mulberry Harbour was anchored.
Plan.
Vf58c Tobruk. .
Tobruk defence with an MG.34.
Wn37 Asnelles.
22 March 2015
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Wn37 Asnelles
Tobruk
Details
Vf58c Tobruk.
Plan of a Vf58c Tobruk.
Vf58c Elevation.
Tobruk M.G.34.
Wn37 Asnelles.
220 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
Tobruk
Details
I believe that this was used to anchor part of the Mulberry Harbour.
The ambulance dock landed near Asnelles where hospital ships are moored and it was dedicated for taking off the wounded.
Hospital ship docked at the ''Spud'' pier.
British army ambulance.
Wn37 Asnelles.
220 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
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This was one of the ramps made by British engineers to allow access to the beach/land onto the floating roadways..
A floating roadway.
A painting of how it may have looked.
British tanks landing. These would have been the tanks of later armoured divisions or replacements for the ones lost.
Wn37 Asnelles.
WO 252/149
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Wn37 Asnelles
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A photo from 30 June 1945 looking at the western Préventorium and the sea defences.
Rommel sitting on his Asparagus..
Wn37 Asnelles.
WO 252/149
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Wn37 Asnelles
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A photo from 30 June 1945 looking very much like the one above but at high tide.
This FT turret was a Maisy but there was one very like it here.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Kew archive 1946
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Wn37 Asnelles
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The main defence in the centre.
A - Vf58c Tobruk.
B - U Tobruk with an FT MG.311(f).
C - It looks like a machine gun bunker/observation.
D - The R677 casemate.
"A" Vf58c turret.
How "B"' may have looked.
"C" - could be something like this machine gun defence?
Wn37 Asnelles.
19 May 1944 An American PRU photograph from AH.
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Wn37 Asnelles
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Two of the large beach front Préventorium. Also the sea defences are a bit slim on the ground. This picture taken at low tide 19 May 1944 and by D-Day a lot more obstacles had been added.
Another view.
How 'B' may have looked.
Note the horse and cart on the beach adding more defences.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Combined Ops Bulletin Mulberry Harbour
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Wn37 Asnelles
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A post D-Day photo of part of the Mulberry harbour showing the Préventorium.
.
Wn37 Asnelles.
1940's
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 casemate.
Details
A post war photo.
Inside the R677 was an 8.8cm Pak 43/41 that did a lot of damage on D-Day.
8.8cm Pak 43/41.
8.8cm Pak 43/41 inside a casemate.
Damaged landing craft.
Wn37 Asnelles.
16 August 2007 From JF http://www.atlantikwall.org.uk
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Wn37 Asnelles
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My good friend John a tour guide had to take several Americans down the coast in two helicopters. His good fortune are a set of photos from the Seine to Omaha Beach.
One of the two helicopters.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
R669 with attached flanking wall and had an 8.8cm anti-tank gun installed.
Inside an R669 casemate..
A 200mm exhaust vent on an R677.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
Memorial on the casemate. The casemate was doing a lot of damage along the British landings.
147th Essex Yeomanry Field Regiment RA, RHQ landed at 09.30 two hours after H-Hour. Sextant's of 511 Battery knocked out this casemate and another (possibly the 5cm KwK) at Le Hamel over open sights.
Sexton in waiting.
Sextan in action, I believe with Polish forces.
Sextan crew.
Wn37 Asnelles.
220 March 2013
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.Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
R677 casemate from the sea side. You can see the damage (not a lot) on the side wall and see the flanking wall covering the guns embrasure.
Plan of the R669 casemate with the attached flanking wall and the internal foul air extraction, very like an R677.
Cruiser firing on D-Day.
Landing Craft Rocket. .
Wn37 Asnelles.
220 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
Another picture of the little damage.
This casemate was tucked away behind some walls know wonder it was not damaged by gunfire from the sea.
Gunners inside a casemate.
Beach defender.
Wn37 Asnelles.
22 March 2015
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
The landward side and some more damage, it just shows how very well protected these bunkers were.
8.8cm A/T gun.
8.8cm A/T gun crew..
8.8cm A/T gun at Omaha beach.
Wn37 Asnelles.
22 March 2015
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
The rear view.
Fire plan.
How it may have looked inside.
Wn37 Asnelles.
220 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
R677 Casemate
Details
Rear door and vent.
R669 casemate rear door.
Extractor fan that sucked out the foul gases when the gun fires and pushes it out of the vent in the rear.
R677 casemate ventilation plan.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
Tobruk
Details
Towards the eastern end first a Vf58c Tobruk.
Between here and the sand dunes was a 5cm KwK gun in an open ringstand, and a casemate under construction an R667 again for a 5cm KwK gun. There may have been two mortar pits somewhere within the defence.
Plan.
Tobruk.
Vf58c Tobruk plan.
Mortar pit.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Internet
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Wn37 Asnelles
Nr.1694 ringstand for 5cm KwK L/42
Details
The Hampshires after landing turned towards Wn37 but were not strong enough to take the W,n also the tanks they expected to help them were either knocked out or too busy. The artillery forward observation officer had been lost. So they stopped attacking Wn37 and continued to help other units with taking Wn36 Roseau Plage. No.47 Royal Marine Commando landed after the Hants and were very badly shot up by Wn37. Their job was to move inland as fast as possible, turn right and head for Port en Bessin and link up with the Americans from Omaha. They landed, turned right and then had to take Wn37 & Wn38 before they could continue on with their D-Day mission.
Nr.1694 ringstand.
Moving of the beach.
Taking the villages.
Wn37 Asnelles.
1944/5
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Wn37 Asnelles
R667 casemate for a 5cm KwK
Details
R667 under construction a casemate for a 5cm KwK 39 L/60 gun.
Plan.
R667 on Omaha beach.
5cm KwK 39 L/60 gun.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
air-raid shelter
Details
The first French air-raid shelter.
One of two shelters built here, a political incentive to protect its children in schools or hospitals by the per-war French government.
Wn37 Asnelles.
22 March 2015
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Wn37 Asnelles
air-raid shelter
Details
The second French air-raid shelter.
This was I believe:
''The resort is served from 1899 to 1932 by the Calvados Railways. The construction of a sanatorium (Préventorium) for children whose one parent works at the National Society of French Railways, is imposed on the commune 1926 until the eve of World War II, it will accommodate more than 1,500 boys and girls''.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
air-raid shelter
Details
SNCF Railways.
Air-raid shelter sign.
Défense Passive.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
air-raid shelter
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Side view of the shelter.
Air-raid arm brazards.
Wn37 Asnelles.
Gaby postcard
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Wn37 Asnelles
air-raid shelter.
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This is a picture of the rear of the house possibly pre war??.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
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This is behind the house and huts show up on the air photos where these huts and other hut bases are, these may have been huts for the soldiers.
Huts used to billet soldiers.
Field kitchen.
Wn37 Asnelles.
1944
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Wn37 Asnelles
The
assault
Details
Jig Beach Green east.
1st Bat. Hampshire Reg. landed at Jig Beach Green East.
07.40 AVRE's start to land.
07.45 1st Hants start to land.
AVRE Churchill Petard.
Jig Green being attacked by the Hampshires.
Gold beach.
Wn37 Asnelles.
1944
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Wn37 Asnelles
Details
The 1st Bat. Hampshire Reg. of the 50th Infantry Division assaulted Gold-Jig-Red-West Beach at 7:30 AM D-day at the sandy beach top left. Beach obstacles, minefields and enemy resistance took 200 casualties in the first hours. Only five of their sixteen tanks made it beyond the minefields. Moving west accompanied by one tank the Hampshires attacked a 8.8cm strong point codenamed “Dart”. C Company bypassed Dart to attack a 5cm strong point on the town’s west side. German resistance was completely overcome by 4:30 that afternoon. The battalion continued on to Arromanches.
With the enemy gun position at Cabane (Wn38) out of action, the next objective was a Radar Station (Wn42) along the coast which was quickly captured with 40 prisoners. The greater part of the day’s objectives completed; there still remained the task of clearing Arromanches itself. This was achieved with no casualties and resistance was slight. The town (Wn43/Wn44) was clear of the enemy by 9pm that evening.
Wn37 Asnelles.
09 March 2013
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Wn37 Asnelles
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France
Great Britain
