Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
A Wn defended by an SK/Doppelschartenstand 5cm KwK L/60 and a few Tobruks.
SK/Doppelschartenstand.
Ringstand Nr1694.
Vf8 Tobruk.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
1 x SK/Doppelschartenstand.
1 x Ic116 Tobruk's.
2 x
Vf8 Tobruk.
1 x Vf15 Tobruk
1 x Ringstand Nr1694.
1 x 5cm KwK L/60.
1 x Pz.T.FT17 MG.311(f)
SK/Doppelschartenstand.
Ringstand 1694.
8cm KwK L/60.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
A 1944 air photo from an L4 observation plane. I was not sure about this photo, but going through it carefully the road behind does follow the same bends as today´s road. Behind the casemate by the road are several bunkers of some form (ammunition and quarters) there are small bungalows built on that position today.
Plan the area in the picture.
L4 observation plane.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
I have noticed this open ringstand which does not show up in any books on the subject and is forward of the SK/Doppelschartenstand. Its been built into the sea wall.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
German map
This is the German defence map of the area with Wn90 on the coast and Mine fields (Mf32/31/14) all along the coast and around behind Wn90. The mines could be even English mines laid in 1940 (or captured stocks) and re used to bolster the millions of mines Rommel insisted on.
Mine laying..
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Garage
The first thing you see is a small garage for an anti-tank gun. Possibly a 2cm Pak.
Plan.
2cm Pak and garage.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Garage
It could only hold a small a/t gun.
Vf5a garage.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Garage
I did try to look in. If its not a garage for an anti-tank gun then it could have been an ammunition bunker as there were around three here.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Tobruk
In the field is an Ic116 Tobruk for a defence machine gun. I am not too sure its a 116 type?
Ic116 Tobruk
I think it looks more like a Vf8.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Nr1694 ringstand
Nr1694 ringstand and the SK/Doppelschartenstand.
Plan.
details
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Nr1694 ringstand
This ringstand was designed to take a 5cm KwK Pak guns 39,42 & 60 types. By adding a muzzle break to the barrel (L/60) made it a very good gun.
5cm KwK L/60.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Nr1694 ringstand
Ammunition niches went all around the ringstand.
Ammunition.
Ammunition.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Nr1694 ringstand
A 360° clear view, this emplacement gave very little cover for the crews. So a new type of ringstand was needed.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
So this quite large bunker was designed. This bunker was able to fire about 60° field of fire north & south. A very strong flanking wall covered the embrasures from direct fire. To the right side is an Ic116 Tobruk defending the inland flank and anti-aircraft role.
Ic116 Tobruk.
Anti-aircraft role.
Plan.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Ic116 Tobruk
The entrance is low down on this side.
Ic116 Tobruk.
Side view of the Tobruk.
Plan.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
The flanking wall covering the two embrasures.
Plan.
Plan.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
Flanking wall.
Plan.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
Entrance this side.
Plan.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
The internal passage running from front to rear and a door into the casemate. I do not think there were any doors. So the Tobruk machine gun would have been very important to keep attackers getting too close.
Plan.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
The gun would have sat bolted to the floor and could swivel around about 180°. The cut out in the far wall was to allow the end of the barrel to pass around.
Plan.
Red arrows -- the field of fire.
Yellow -- the rotation.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
How it may have looked.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
The slot to allow the barrel to rotate and also bullet ricochet on the wall. Shows there may have been a small battle here for the bunker and Wn.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
The northern embrasure.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
The southern embrasure.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
This is showing the roof with steel reinforcement and wooden shuttering left in after the concrete was poured.
Construction with large cement mixers.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
The northern embrasure.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
SK/Doppelschartenstand
A picture taken by US Army photographers. Note the screw pickets on the bunker roof holding barbed wire to keep an enemy off the roof.
details
s
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Vf8 Tobruk.
A forward Tobruk covering the northern flank.
Plan.
Vf8 Tobruk..
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune
Vf8 Tobruk.
The open ringstand.
Tobruk.
Plans.
Wn90 Géfosse-Fontenay la Dune