Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details

This defence is just west of the N13 at Les Bertrands and one of the defences that surrounded Cherbourg.

image

R630 casemate.

image

R629 gun garage.

image

R622 twin group bunker.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
1940's Remonter le Temps

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details

Seeing the defence back in 2001 I could not understand where it fitted into the Cherbourg defence. As time has gone on more information has come about and now I can understand why a machine gun casemate was placed at a small cross roads in Les Bertrands. The absolute outer defence of Cherbourg was the anti-tank ditch. Not continuous but covering relevant points. Wn454 with 453 & 455 making StP La Vaquerie sitting behind the anti-tank ditch 453 & 455 only have R622 twin group bunkers for about 30 men. Wn454 also has an R622 for 15 men and an anti-tank gun and bunker R629. One Tobruk sitting out in front.

image

 

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
German Army plan

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
StP la Vaquerie

Details

Plan of the main defence. Three individual Wn's, two with only R622 twin group bunkers and the third Wn454 with the major defence..

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
SHM

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
Defence

Details

The size of the Cherbourg defence, there was also many anti-tank ditches built covering the eastern, southern & western approaches to the city.

image

Plan of how to build an anti-tank ditch.

image

Water filled ditch.

image

Road block.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

The rear of the R630.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

Entrances.

image

 

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

Front with the flanking wall.

image

Plan.

image

455P01 plate.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

The gun room would have had a thick steel armoured plate filling in the front, a 455P01 type. Inside a heavy machine gun would have its mounting screwed to threads set into the plate and bolted on. A crew of four. Gun commander, gunner, loader and ammunition hand to go between the ammunition magazine room and the gun crew delivering belts of machine gun bullets..

image

455P01 metal plate.

image

A type of observation slit on the outside.

image

Gun commanders observation slit.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

A very heavy steel plate would have been bolted onto the front by at least eight/ten bolts and then cemented in.

image

details

image

Bolts.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630

Details

The left side with entrance to the Tobruk defence and right entrance into the bunker.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Tobruk defence

Details

This is the entrance into the Tobruk. Several stairs up and twisting to the left.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Tobruk defence

Details

Looking out of the Tobruk and parts of the machine gun ring can still be seen.

image

Fittings in a Tobruk ring.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Tobruk defence

Details

Detail from underneath.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Tobruk defence

Details

The view towards the area they were defending. The Anti-tank ditch in the far distance, today there are at least two houses built in the field. Progress.

image

Observation.

image

Defence.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Tobruk defence

Details

The small niche above is for a speaking tube, connected to the crew/gun room below. If the machine gunner sees anything, he can shout down through the tube to the guns commander and tell him what he sees.
The second niche below is if fitted for a junction box for a field telephone.

image

Sprachrohr (Speaking) tube.

image

The route of the Sprachrohr pipes.

image

Relay box.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Tobruk defence

Details

Getting out, a tight fit.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 entrance

Details

Entrance passage down some stairs and on the right a close combat defence embrasure, where a machine gun could be mounted to defend the door.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 entrance

Details

Close combat defence embrasure still with the wood surround that was used in the making of the bunker, but left on as it helps to absorb bullets and shrapnel.
In the left another Sprachrohr mouthpiece so you can talk to anybody inside. The only way to get in when the bunker is locked down when fighting.

image

Sprachrohr mouthpiece.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 entrance

Details

The entrance steps with another close combat defence embrasure to shoot any enemy entering the bunker, who has passed the machine gun outside.

image

The close combat embrasure.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Close combat defence room

Details

Close combat defence room.

image

Plan.

image

How it may have looked.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Close combat defence room

Details

Close combat room covering the entrance with a 48P8 embrasure.

image

48P8 embrasure.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Crew room

Details

The entrance to the crew room was closed off by a 434P01 door.

image

434P01 door.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Crew room

Details

Escape there was a 410P9 door continues on into a passage with shutters holding back a sand ballast mix that fills the escape. All this has to be removed to get out.

image

410P9 door.

image

Escape shutters.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
14 December 2003

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Crew room

Details

The close combat defence that covers the entrance door, the pipes for the air filtration system.

image

Plan.

image

HES 2,4 gas filtration system

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Crew room

Details

More pipe work and the far door to the ammunition room.

image

details

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
14 December 2003

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 ammunition room

Details

Ammunition space. This would possibly have wooden shelving made by the crew and stacked with machine gun ammunition.

image

details

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Gun room

Details

From the ammunition room into the gun room. The back wall has pipes and vents to extract the foul gases from the machine gun and sends it through the pipe work to vents outside. They can be electrically operated, if there are electrics or hand operated via a large handle.

image

HES handle, Heers-Einheits-Schutslüfter. MKB Bunkertour.

image

Filters.

image

Gas filter.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Gun room

Details

Door to the left to the ammunition room, the pipes behind. Plenty of room for at least three men and a machine gun.

image

details

image

 

image

Schartenlafetten MG.34.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Gun room

Details

Looking out of the gun room.

image

A 7P7 early plate this is how it would have looked with the gun removed.

image

Gunner and heavy machine gun.

image

Gun commander and viewing slot.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R630 Gun room

Details

Looking back at the ammunition room where a 434P01 door closed off the gun room.

image

434P01 door.

image

Top of a 434P01 door.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
Anti-Tank ditch

Details

The direction of fire of the gun towards the Anti-Tank ditch.

image

Plan of an anti-tank ditch.

image

Anti-Tank ditch on Omaha Beach.

image

Road block.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
Geoportail

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details

R629 on the plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

 

image

How the gun may have looked in action.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

The Tobruk defence for the bunker.

image

Plan.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

The entrance to the garage side of the bunker.

image

Plan.

image

The one main door and the second a double stable type door a 484P2. You can see the hinges on the door frame on the main picture.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Inside the garage where the gun would be stored, I am not sure which type of gun was here maybe an 8.8cm Pak. The recess in the far end is to take the muzzle of the gun. Underneath this is where the ammunition was stored. These bunkers were for gun and gun crew to live and garage the gun. Any fighting was done outside in a pre prepared position, a field type position. There was no room for a vehicle, so the gun had to be man handled by the crew into position. A large 8.8cm Pak would be very heavy..

image

Plan.

image

8.8cm Pak 43.

image

8.8cm ammunition.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Lobby.

image

Plan.

image

434P9 door.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Gas lock. To the right into the crew room, to the far left the Mens entrance from the bunker.

image

details

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

On the left the niche is the radio aerial socket.

image

Plan.

image

Bunker aerial slot and fittings.

image

Bunker aerial.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Another aerial slot and behind it the close combat defence embrasure.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
00-00-00

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Close combat embrasure covering the entrance,.

image

Plan.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

4ML01 equalising air valve.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Crew room would have had a 19P7 door.

image

19P7 door.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

imageimage
Plan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

1 - Escape.
2 - Escape tunnel.
3 - Storage.
4 - Crew room.
5 - Bunker heater.
6 - HES air ventilation filter pump.
7 - Close combat defence embrasure.
8 - Crew entrance.
9 - Lobby.
10 - Gun room.
12 - Tobruk defence.

image

 

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Periscope tube. A periscope would be passed into the tube and a lookout on the outside world could be kept.

image

 

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
00-00-00

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Crew room.

image

Heers-Einheits-Schutzlüfter HES 1.2 MKB Bunkertour.

image

Heers-Einheits-Schutzlüfter HES 1.2.

image

483P2 Close combat embrasure.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Equalizing valve and the remains of some sort of fitting on the wall. Through the door you cans see the paint marks of where a bunker phone was hung on the wall.

image

Festungsfernsprecher.

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
21 March 2006

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R629 Garage

Details

Door out to the garage and a 434P1 type.

image

434P1 type door.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
1940's Remonter le Temps

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details

The sites of the R622 and the Tobruk.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
MKB Bunkertour plan

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)
R622 not visited.

Details

There was also an R622SK which included a water tank. The MKB plan is just a standard R622.

image

Wasser.

image

Inside a bunker. MKB Bunkertour.

image

The view from the air today.

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
Allied Intelligence report

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details

Vf58c Tobruk. Again I have not seen it, but its still there.

image

The Tobruk from the air.

image

 

image

 

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

image
14 December 2003

Information

Wn454 Les Bertrands est (StP La Vaquerie)

Details