StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
As far as I can see, this site was a Flak site covering a band of the countryside from just behind the sand dunes and some inland batteries. The guns 2cm and 3.7cm Flak could also be used as ground defence and for AA cover over a vast area with railway guns and heavy gun batteries under their protection.
Railway gun.
2cm Flak 30.
3.7cm Flak 38.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
La Digue Royale is a bit rough, but drivable
5 x Wellblech bunkers.
2 x R600b open emplacements.
2 x Vf Unterstand plus Flak.
2 x 5cm KwK L/42.
2 x 2cm Flak 30.
1 x 3.7cm Flak 36.
5cm KwK L/42.
3.7cm ammunition handler.
3.7cm flak ammunition.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Mülheim sitting between the beach and the next level of defences behind. This was one of the strongest defence of the Atlantikwall.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Allied plan of the area used by Allied forces attacking Calais in “Operation Undergo”.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
I believe its a one room bunker with a door the other side.
Flak crew.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
The steps up or down and remember you will have to carry 3.7cm Flak 36 cannon shells up there.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
WO 33/1831
A 1945 photo of the steps up the flak tower. I see there were hand rails running up each side and what look like railway lines running up the steps to draw a gun/searchlight up the emplacement.
820773 The exact purpose of the railway lines embedded in the steps leading to the parapetted roofs of the blockhouses cannot be ascertained (? for mounting small radar in connection with rly battery) from the reference on WO 33/1831.
One of the officers filling in his report of German Coastal Defences, October 1945
WO 33/1831.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
It could be a double entry like a Vf2a type bunker.
Possible plan of the bunker.
Vf2a type bunker.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
This looks like an air strike from above and to the right, cannon shell maybe. The bunker looks as though it was here and somebody decided to add a flak position on its roof and as you see. The flak wall is made of different materials and at a different time.
Typhoon.
Attacking in Normandy.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
More cannon strikes.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
Railway lines being used to strengthen the roof of the bunker.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
Up on the roof where a gun would have sat. I would say 3.7cm.
how it may have looked.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
I hope the water does not drain into the bunker. You can also see where the cannon shell went through the outer wall.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
This maybe an armoured piercing shot from a Canadian Sherman.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
The view to several more Vf (Vf2a's) type bunkers. And beyond all sorts up on that hill.
2cm Flak 30.
3.7cm ammunition.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf Unterstand plus Flak
The steps down.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
The positions of the two R600a's
There was one on each flank.
5cm KwK L/40.
Wellblech bunker.
2cm Flak 30 position.
3.7cm Flak position.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest
Vf600a from another site
A Vf600a exactly like the two here would have looked.
Vf600a plan..
Vf600a western one.
Vf600a eastern one.
StP123 Mülheim Calais Digue Royale ouest