Wn248 Château de Tourlaville, K.V.U.Gruppe Cherbourg See, Normandy

Page updated: December 24, 2023

Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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When the Germans came to Cherbourg in 1940, they had a stiff battle for the town. Then they had to subdue the naval port.
Onece in full control, Cherbourg was a great prize. A naval port able to build and repair a wide range of shipping. A full naval HQ. A civilian harbour with more ship building and ship repair facilities. Also within easy reach of Southern England.
Then there was the defence, a full 360° defence, built in the 1890's and being up gunned to Maginot standards with 163mm and 250mm batteries. Then there was the Grande Rade covering the seaward side of the port, with a sea wall and forts of Querqueville, L'Ouest, Central, L'est, Pelée and Flamands.
As the Navy (Kriegsmarine) were to run and defend the newly captured ports, (because the Army (Heer) were to busy fighting their own wars).
M.A.A.260 (Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260) was ordered to take over the artillery defence in June 1940.
The unit came under the "Commander of the Normandy naval defence".
In 1941 it changed to "Artillery Commander Cherbourg".
The Head Quarters M.A.A.260 took over a large Château in the town of Tourlaville, Château des Ravalat to manage and run the defence. The Château had been privately owned but in the 1930's it had been sold to the City of Cherbourg.

2 x Vf58 Tobruks.

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Naval artillery commanders.

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Just a few of the ring of forts around the port.

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164.7mm Model 1893(f) guns.

Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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1941 - Unteroffizier Hinz

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

Details

These two photos of the Château were given to me by Thomas Hinz. His father was Unteroffizier Hinz a gun commander on one of the 8/M.A.A 260 at StP277 Batterie York, Amfreville. With 17cm SKL/40 guns, on the western side of Cherbourg.

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Castel Vendon M.K.B. Landemer, K.V.U.Gruppe Cherbourg See.

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Unteroffizier Hinz relaxing at StP277.

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(M.K.B.) Hamburg : 4 x 24cm SKL/40 - Fermanville StP234.

Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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AIR 40-1667 Rhubarb - Appendix XII Coastal Radar Stations

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

Details

It looks as though there was a bunker being built in the graounds and may have been an R608 Battalion or Regimental HQ.

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R608.

Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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1941 - Unteroffizier Hinz

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

Details

Artilleriekommandeur Cherbourg (provided by M.A.A 260) 1941.
   Batterie Hamburg (West) in Fermanville (4 x 24-cm) StP234.
   Batterie Brommy (West) in Maupertus (4 x 15-cm) StP245.
   Molenbatterie Cherbourg (4 x 9,5-cm).
   Batterie York (West) in Querqueville (4 x 17-cm) StP277.

1943 the department was structured as follows:
   Stab in Cherbourg.
   Batterie Cherbourg-Mole (4 x 9,4-cm).
   Batterie Brommy (West) (4 x 15-cm) StP245.
   Batterie Hamburg (West) (4 x 24-cm) StP234.
   Batterie York (West) (4 x 17-cm) StP277.
   Batterie Blankenese (3 x 9,4cm) Wn126.

1944 The department as follows:
   The department command post:
   Cherbourg Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Longues : 4 x 15cm SKL/C36 Wn48. Oberleutnant Kurt Weil.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Marcouf : 4 x 21cm K39/41, 1x 15cm SKL/45 Wn126.Oberleutnant Walter Ohmsen.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Blankenese : 4 x 9,4cm Vickers M39 (e) Néville Wn126.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Hamburg : 4 x 24cm SKL/40 - Fermanville StP234. Oberleutnant Rudi Gelbhaar.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Brommy : 4 x 15cm SKC/28 - Les Caplains StP245.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Fort du Roule : 4 x 10,5cm SKC/32 StP255.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Bastion Cherbourg : 4x 10,5cm SKC/32. L'Arsenal.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) York : 4 x 17cm SKL/40 - Amfreville StP277. Oberleutnant Hans Brenzel.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Landemer : 4 x 15cm SKC/28 - Castel-Vendon, Oberleutnant Gerhard Kubis.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Greville : 2 x 38cm SKC/34 - StP356.
  
In June 1944 the department was disbanded following the invasion.

All batteries are on the website except the ones not in bold.
Taken from Lexikon Der Wehrmacht

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Brommy : 4 x 15cm SKC/28 - Les Caplains StP245.

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StP277 Amfreville Est Battery York.

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StP356 Auderville Laye H.K.B. (E. Batt 685).

Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

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Today

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Wn248 Château de Tourlaville
Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

Details