Havre de Roubary, Gatteville,
Point de Barfleur.

Havre de Roubary

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Situated on Pointe de Barfleur is the very small fishing harbour of 'Havre de Roubary'. Used to this day by local fishermen of the village of Gatteville. In WW2 the area was emptied of civilians and the German army took over. First to defend and use the lighthouse as an observation and then after 1943 to build, first a batterie of six 15.5cm K.420(f) guns in open emplacements. Then when the order came down from Hitler to casemate all guns, four R679 casemates were constructed. Prior to D-Day the batterie was attacked by heavy and light bombers on many occasions, I have a picture here that shows a bombing raid in progress.
The Havre was defended not only with three Widerstandsnest but also by Wasserbomben, electrically fired sea mines from a small building quite a way back from the havre.

Havre de Roubary

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Havre de Roubary

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Kriegsmarine naval rating.

Royal Naval harbour defence mine cable. RN Adm Patt 660.

WW1 British harbour defence minefield.

Havre de Roubary

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Schutzsperre im Vorstrand - Protective barrier in the Foreshore.
Maßstad - Scale.

Erklärung - Explanation
Wasserbomben - Water mine.
Kabel - Electrical cable.
Zündtisch - Ignition table, switch table.
After this area was liberated by the American forces, British and American naval bomb/mine disposal teams came into Cherbourg harbour to clear all the unexploded ordnance. Certainly American engineers were in Barfleur, as their names are still in the concrete bollards that they placed on the quay side. Also German POW's (Prisoners of War) were used certainly to clear land mines after liberation and right up until the late 1940's.

This WW2-era spherical controlled mine, with its anchor, is on display at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. This may be like the ones that were laid here. I cannot find any details of the type of mine used.

Sea mine.

Switch table..

Exploding a sea mine.

Havre de Roubary

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Hangenetz - Hanging Nets.
A plan from a NARA document showing the anti submarine net that covered the entrance. It was 70m wide.
Thank you for this information SD.

These nets and the floating mines were there to stop Allied Motor Launches from entering on secret missions.

Also to stop a small scale landing, like Operation Biting "Bruneval Raid".

Havre de Roubary

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A British anti submarine net from Scapa Flow, Scotland.

Net hanging from boys.

A net being laid across a port in Scotland.

Havre de Roubary

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Havre de Roubary from the Barfleur lighthouse which my wife made me climb to the top. 300 or more steps. Views are excellent.

Havre de Roubary

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RAF bombing mission on StP152 the Heeres Kusten Artillerie Regiment 7./1261with:
4 x R679 Casemates.
2 x R502 twin group shelter.
1 x Leitstand/SK R502, Fire Control Post.
1 x R607 Ammunition
2 x R134 Ammunition
1 x Garage possibly for an anti-tank gun.
6 x Geschützstellung, ringstands for 15.5cm guns.
4 x Vf58c Tobruks.
6 x 15.5cm K.420(f) guns.
3 x 2cm Flak 30 AA guns.

Geschützstellung for 15.5cm K.420(f) guns.

R679 casemate.

R134 ammunition bunker.

Havre de Roubary

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Havre de Roubary in peaceful days.

Havre de Roubary

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Havre de Roubary with the Barfleur light behind it.

Havre de Roubary

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Havre de Roubary with the Barfleur light behind it.

Havre de Roubary

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Painted by Giséle Piron

© 2013 Richard Drew