Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Wn77 east of Grandcamp Maisy.
Some of these still exist in Wn78.
Beach defences.
Barbed wire.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
The area of Wn77 Le Point du Hable.
After D-Day the Americans moved along the road between the cliff top the road. Wn77 troops probably did not fight from their original defences, but moved up the slope and towards the road to try and block an American advance. Rangers with tank support gradually worked there way from Pointe du Hoc to take the twin batteries of Maisy and then move south to Isigny-sur-Mer and a link up with the Utah landing.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Back in 2008 we found this old WW2 Allied tank bridge. Possibly the type used here a Churchill tank, bridge layer.
Bridge erected by Churchill across the river at Mergestel, October 26, 1944.
Churchill tank bridge layers.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
1 x Ic116 Tobruk.
1 x Vf8 Tobruk.
1 x unknown type Tobruk.
1 x Vf MG.
Pos. 5cm mortars?
2 - Vf8 Tobruk.
5 cm Granatwerfer 36.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
This is the 1944 map of the area showing up to date information. Maps were constantly changing and being up dated as new positions and bunkers added to the wall. Each unit had to end in accurate returns of what weapons, ammunition, men and bunkers hat they had in their designated areas, on a monthly basses.
77 is the Wn number.
Mf is the minefield number. Also a very accurate plan of the minefield would also be returned to HQ so that any replacement troops would know where they are.
Laying mines.
Cleared mines.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Vf8 Tobruk.
Unsure if this had a 5cm mortar or not, I do not know.
Vf8 Tobruk.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Ic116 Tobruk.
This may have had a 5cm mortar as it has a centre post that either a machine gun or a mortar could be mounted.
Ic116 Tobruk.
Mortar bombs.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Ic116 Tobruk.
You can see the centre concrete pivot.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Vf bunker.
A Vf bunker entrance.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
The three Tobruk positions from the Vf bunker.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
A second Vf bunker.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Like a Tobruk, a circular hole and a large sort of cap stone over the rear of the position.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
I think it may have been a light machine gun position.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Z trenches running off along the cliff top.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Heavy machine gun position with two ammunition niches either side.
How it may have looked.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Heavy machine gun mounting.
MG 42
Maschinengewehr 42. Heavy/Medium machine gun on a tripod and a light machine gun on a bi pod.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Niche for ammunition.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Trench system running off along the cliff top.
How the trench may have been used here and showing a wooden niche filled with ammunition.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
Looking back over Wn77.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
The wet view towards Maisy.
Wn77 Le Point du Hable
© 2013 Richard Drew