Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
There were six emplacements here: -
Batterie 9./A.R.344.
6 x Offen Bettung.
8 x double roomed Wellblech.
10 x Wellblech Unterstand.
4 x 1 x 10.5cm le.F.H324(f).
4 x 12.2cm s.F.H.396.
This is what a 10.5cm leF.H.324(f) gun.
le - Leichte - Light.
F.H. - Field Howitzer.
(f) - French.
12.2cm s.F.H.396.
The sort of emplacement that may have been here.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est.
Rue du Jardin.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
The battery covered the full length of the new road.
Rue du Jardin-------- N to S.
Rue Marcel Royer - E to W.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
The batteries six positions
A fantastic air photo from 1946 showing the six OB's and the 18 Wellblech shelters. OB = Offen Bettung or open emplacement.
Field position plan.
Plan of how it have looked. A half round steel corrugated sheets and cemented over. This is a cutaway drawing. Usually they had a door at one or both ends.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 6 & 5
All the OB's are slightly different layouts.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 3
This is OB 3 with its double Wellblech at the top and four other Wellblech bunkers behind.
An Allied plan of an wheeled artillery turntable.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Wellblech bunkers
Starting in the north end of the batterie.
Under all the mounds of earth are Wellblech bunkers..
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Rommel’s Asparagus
Rommel had millions of wooden, concrete & steel posts. Tetrahedral, mine posts, mine nut crackers and it goes on. To defend the beaches against attack by the Allies. These few remain in the area of Fort Mahon Plage.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Nut cracker
A mine is set into the T section and a steel bar pivoted on a joint. As a ship hits the bar the steel iron forces the Fuze on the mine to explode. Sinking the ship..
A shell nut cracker.
Mine nut cracker.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Beach defence
Piles of concrete and steel beach defences and there was also many wooden poles stacked up.
Beach defences.
Rommel’s Asparagus from the air.
Beach defences.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Double Wellblech
Possibly OB 6's double Wellblech bunker at the far top.
Wellblech elevation.
Plan.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Double Wellblech OB 2
OB 2's double Wellblech bunker.
Wellblech elevation.
Wellblech steel sheeting.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 2 Double Wellblech
This is a Wellblech type bunker that would have been attached to the ringstand of a gun emplacement..
Plan.
This is some steel sheet that was used in the makeup of a Wellblech.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 2 Double Wellblech
In this picture from SHM the shows a the above Wellblech with two doors overlooking the guns position. Note sand bags cover the left entrance as a sort of blast wall.
Position of the Wellblech.
12.2cm s.F.H.396.
This is what a 10.5cm leF.H.324(f) gun.
le - Leichte - Light.
F.H. - Field Howitzer.
(f) - French.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 2 Double Wellblech
The two bricked up doors that would have overlooked the Offen Bettung or open emplacement.
Plan of how it have looked. A half round steel corrugated sheets and cemented over. This is a cutaway drawing. Usually they had a door at one or both ends.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 2 Double Wellblech
The heavy steel sheeting can be seen inside and a tick layer of concrete added for protection. These shelters were used for many different uses. Command, observation, living, storage, storage of ammunition, etc..
Plan of how it have looked. A half round steel corrugated sheets and cemented over. This is a cutaway drawing. Usually they had a door at one or both ends.
An empty Wellblech.
Used here as a crew quarters.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Wellblech plan
Wellblech plan of one of eight double-ammunition bunkers that were there.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Wellblech.
All these bunkers were built above ground. I could see no sign of the Geschützstellung.
Field Kannon ammunition.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
A standard Wellblech.
These could have been a crew bunkers.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
These could have been a crew bunkers.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Camouflaged Wellblech of OB 1
This one has some creeper growing over it.
OB 1.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
OB 1
OB1 showing its Offen Bettung and four Wellblech's. Three remain.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Double type OB 1
Still Camouflaged Wellblech showing the two doors..
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Double type
OB 1
Air vent in the end wall.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Standard type
OB 1
Wellblech.
Batterie Fort Mahon Plage nord est
Wellblech plan.
StP Fort Mah-on Plage nord est
The end of the road.
Rue du Jardin ------- N to S.
Rue Marcel Royer - E to W.
Plan.
StP Fort Mah-on Plage nord est