Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
On our trip to France in November 2012 we crossed the Gironde river at Royan to Verdon and behind the ferry port is Gi300,301 & 302. Here we are interested in Gi301. The guns were covering the entrance into the Gironde River which leads to the U-Boat pens in Bordeaux.
Plan
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Plan of defences
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Plan of Gi300/301/336
Details
Gi 301 'Koblenz'
4./H.K.A.A. 1282.
4 x R607 Munitions bunker.
3 x R502 Twin group shelter.
1 x R621 Group shelter.
1 x R622 Twin group shelter.
1 x R636a Command post for Army coastal batteries.
2 x R669 Casemate for field guns with 60°.
4 x R671Casemate for medium pivoting guns 120°.
2 x Vf.
4 x 10.5cm K331(f).
2 x 7.65cm F.K.5/8(t).
2 x 2cm Flak 30.
R671Casemate for medium pivoting guns 120°.
R669 Casemate for field guns with 60°.
R622 Twin group shelter.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
From SHM
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Plan
Details
A battery of four R671 casemates, two with Flak emplacements on their roofs. Four R607 ammunition bunkers behind. In the middle is an H636a army fire control post and a very unusual R669 double casemate. Also an R621, 622 and R502 crew bunkers.
13 - Fire Control Post.
14 - 2 x R669 Casemate for field guns with 60°.
15 to 18 -
R671Casemate for medium pivoting guns 120°.
19 to 21 Flak.
22 to 26 - R607 munitions bunkers.
27 to 33 Personnel.
34 to 36 - Platform for a Canon.
37 to 44 - Tobruk's.
(22 to 26) R607 ammunition bunkers.
.jpg)
7.65cm F.K.5/8(t).
How the gun would have looked on its pivot mount in an R671.(Jim Swan).
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Doppel R669D
Details
A very unusual double bunker for 2 x 7.65cm F.K.5/8(t). The guns face south to fire over the port of Verdon.
Plan of the Doppel R669D.
Plan the yellow arrow.
Field Kannon in action.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Doppel R669D
Details
The double bunker plus a personnel bunker.
SHM plan of the double bunkers.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Doppel R669D
Details
Now made into holiday cottages.
Doppel R669D SHM 1945.
A Field Kannon inside a casemate.
From above.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
The Fire control post is has now had a modern Semaphore built on its roof to watch for shipping.
Plan.
The circle is the fire control post and the two squares are the four casemates R671.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
IGNF 1974
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
Batterie.
R671 plus Flak on its roof.
Rear of an R622 now covered in sand dunes.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 casemate +Tobruk
Details
The first R671 casemate with its Tobruk defence. Turm 4.
R671 casemate
Plan, one of these two. the circle with a cross in it is a Tobruk.
R671 Stella Plage, north France.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
MKB Bunkertour
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 casemate
Details
R671 casemate for a medium pivot gun.
7.5cm pivot gun.
Pivot gun in an emplacement.
Pivot gun in a casemate in Normandy.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 casemate
Details
The Tobruk defence for the casemate Turm 4.
Tobruk.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Bundesarchive
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 casemate
Details
This picture could have been taken here or at Gi302 M.K.B. La Verdon as they had the same casemates.
Gi301 & Gi302.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R636a Command post for Army coastal batteries.
Details
R636a although the more modern Semaphore has been added, the original bunker can be seen.
R636a Top to Bottom: -
Officers - Wireless - Store Room.
Observation - Computing room.
Crew - Ventilation - Gas Lock.
R636a elevation.
The upper room is for a rangefinder.
Rangefinder.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R636a Command post for Army coastal batteries.
Details
The large bulbous head on the observation room.
Plotting.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R636a Command post for Army coastal batteries.
Details
Looking back at the fire control post. The commander of the batterie would have commanded his guns from the first floor. Targets would be seen by observers and later radars were added and then a group of officers and senior ranks would work out the range and direction and via the commander. Orders out to each gun giving them their individual fire orders.
Working out ranges.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R636a Command post for Army coastal batteries.
Details
Interesting rear defence position, this is the first I have ever seen on an R636a.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012 SHM
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R636a Command post for Army coastal batteries.
Details
How it would have looked.
This is the FCP at Gi302 'Kreuzburg' a Marine batterie and its FCP is am M162a but actually looks very similar to an R636a except for the round nose. But it does give an idea of how the FCP would have looked in 1945.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 + Flak
Details
Hard to understand where we are here, John in the red coat is about to walk past the front of the bunker, the embrasure which is now burred in the sand. Above it is a flak position for a 2cm or 3.7cm Flak gun.
Gun cleaning tools.
10.5cm K331(f). Ex French captured guns.
R671 casemate elevation..
R671 casemate plan showing a 120° angle.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 + Flak
Details
4 x 10.5cm K331(f). Ex French captured guns were removed off their gun chassis and set up on pivot mounts using a ring of hold fast bolts set into the concrete. The guns were vintage WW1 field guns, but for that they could put up a good rate of fire and as seen on Omaha Beach in 1944, it was guns of this sort of calibre that did a lot of damage to life, landing barges and vehicles. They could fire a mix of high explosive and armoured piercing.
A 10.5cm K331(f) pivot mount outside a casemate.
A 10.5cm K331(f) pivot mount inside a casemate.
A box of high explosive rounds.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 + Flak
Details
There were at least 2 x 2cm Flak 30's here. In two emplacements sat above Turm2 here and Turm1 that is now covered in sand. These guns were lethal against low flying aircraft and many an Allied planes came home with large and small holes from a 2cm Flak round.
Thunderbolt after a heavy landing.
2cm Flak 30.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 + Flak
Details
Looking down on the embrasure.
R671 plan with Flak position on the roof.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 + Flak
Details
The door is the crew entrance, the brickwork is the gap left when making the open emplacement so the gun can be hauled up into position. Either a sand ramp, metal or wood would be used to pull and push the gun into position, then remove it from its trailer and set it down on three padded legs. Adjusted level and its ready to go.
The gun on its trailer.
The gun sat on its three feet.
Range finder.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
R671 + Flak
Details
This is the crew entrance and also you can see the bricked up gun entrance.
How the gun was hauled into the emplacement. I have actually seen an emplacement that this was done.
2cm Flak magazines.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Tobruk
Details
As far as I can see there was at least two independent Tobruk defences not attached to any bunkers. One was right out the front and probably washed away by the sea and there is this one on the left flank.
Tobruk.
Bf67 Tobruk.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
AIR Files
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
The bombing
Details
This is a Liberator of the USAAF starting its bomb run and also using a smoke marker for other planes following. The bombs look like Napalm. Its actually bombing Royan or the bunkers on the north side of the Gironde, but the south side shows up very well in this picture. The Liberator also has GHz H2X type radar where a ball turret may have been. The radar was a British design (H2S) that was sent to America for developing and came back to Europe as a very good radar in deed.
H2S picture of Cologne being bombed.
H2S scanner on an RAF Halifax bomber.
H2X set inside a US bomber.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
AIR Files
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
Now here is a bombing mission that was aimed at Gi301. You can see the smoke markers have gone down and sea is getting one hell of a bashing.
Liberator.
B17.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
SHM
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
Gi302 'Kreuzburg' and you can see the bomb craters showing up.
Gi302 'Kreuzburg' in red.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
SHM 1945
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
This is the wooden fire control post for Gi331e Batt 'Lauben' the two railway guns just inland and I expect there were plans to build a concrete tower to replace this at some time.
Gi331 E, Batt. 'Lauben', Gironde Sud, KVA E1, Charente-Maritime
MP1 on Alderney, one like this may have been planned.
The E batterie.
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
08 November 2012
Information
Gi301 Pointe de Grave 'Koblenz' H.K.B.
Details
France
Great Britain
