StP Waldam Fort Vert, M.K.B. MI, K.V.A. 'B'. Nord Pas de Calais.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

Batterie Waldam more an experimental defence with some interesting bunker designs. M.K.B. Marine Kusten Batterie a naval unit with orders to protect the north of the port of Calais.

One of the five M batteries, they were named "Coastal Batteries M" of the Marine Artillery Abtielung 244.
StP Waldam M.K.B. MI.
StP106 Dresden M.K.B. MII.
Wn164a Sickingen M.K.B. MIV.

StPWaldam M.K.B. MI.

StP106 Dresden M.K.B. MII.

Wn164a Sickingen M.K.B. MII.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Cupola

Details

Iconic view of M.K.B. Waldam.

15cm S.K.C./28 guns.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Plan

Details

Batterie M.A.A.244.
2 x M270 casemates.
1 x SK/Schartenstand turning concrete hood (M305 Emplacement for 15cm SKC/28 in Kst.MPLC/36).
1 x FCP (Leitstand/SK).
1 x R612 casemate.
1 x SK/Maschinenbunker.
5 x Munitionsbunker.
28 x Feldm bunkers.
2 x Wellblech.
3 x 15cm S.K.C./28 guns.
1 x 7.5cm F.K.
1 x 2.5cm Pak 112(f).
Flak
4 x 4cm Bofors guns.
1 x 3.7cm Flak.
2 x 2cm Flak.
1 x 150cm Searchlight.
10 x assorted machine gun defence.

M305/Sk casemate.

M270 casemate.

15cm S.K.C./28 guns.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Leitstand

Details

FCP from rear.

 

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Map

Details

The area of the batterie was a French coastal batterie, taken over by the German Army (Heers) and three 17cm SL L/40 guns were mounted in open emplacements. The guns were ex ships 17cm guns of the Schwere Artillerieabteilung 216. In 1942 the site was taken over by the Kriegsmarine and they then placed three 15cm C/28 guns in open emplacements by the Marineartillerieabteilung 244.
1942 and the Schartenbauprogramm (placing as many guns under the cover of casemates). Two large M270 casemates were built side by side in 1944.
In 1942 the rotating unique bunker was built by the Festungspionierkommandeur at Pionierpark in Gennevillers. Waldam was selected to have the first one of this style to be built in March 1944.
The turret/cupola weighing in at 750ton on rotated wheels from an old French battleships turret. The only problem was that sometimes when the gun fired the turret slipped off its runners and had to be put back on.

 

Gennevilliers SK Versuchsbunker (rotating casemate).

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Sentry box

Details

A lone sentry box where a soldier could cower out of the rain and wind, possibly sit on a wooden plank but always aware of who was entering or leaving.

 

Plan.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. FA Wache.

Details

Guard room building.

Check point.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. FA Wache.

Details

Guard room building. Everybody and everything arriving and leaving the batterie site would have had to check in here.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. FA Wache.

Details

FA ==== Feldmässig Ausbau.
Wache = Guard.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. FA Wache.

Details

We could not get inside.

 

 

Gun cleaning.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. FA Wache.

Details

This is as close as we could get.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B.

Details

Continuing on.

Details2

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. FA Lager.

Details

FA Lager = Feldmässig Ausbau. Camp (barracks).

 

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Garages

Details

Garage and Lager bunker on left

Blitz truck.

Blitz truck.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Garages

Details

Blitz bus.

Kubelwagen.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Garages & FA Lager.

Details

Plan.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

More Tetrahedral.

Details2

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 1, 1950m3 of concrete and steel reinforcement, 20m long, 8m high and 15m wide and built in the early part of 1944.

Plan.

Plan of an M270 casemate.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 1, 15m across with a 15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 1, gun room badly damaged for its 15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

15cm S.K.C./28 gun.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 1, gun hooks to lift in the gun..

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

The view towards the North Sea..

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Ammunition

Details

Light marine ammunition bunker.

Plan.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Ammunition

Details

Light ammunition bunker.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Ammunition

Details

Two roomed ammunition bunker.

 

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Ammunition

Details

Two roomed ammunition bunker.
I am not sure what the niche is between the doors.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

View across the back of the batterie position.
I believe the rounded roofed bunker maybe the machinery bunker with a garage in front.

Generator room.

Generator on a plinth.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

Garage type bunker.

Details2

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

Garage type bunker looking inside.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

Garage type bunker looking the roof has a square hole in the roof?

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Kitchen/Kanteen bunker

Details

I also believe this is the Kitchen/Kanteen bunker.

Horse drawn field cookers.

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Ammunition

Details

Two roomed ammunition bunker.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 entrance to the Tobruk defence. A nice set of steel ladders run up to it and even hand hold steels still in place.

Tobruk in air defence.

 

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 entrance into the casemate with a close combat defence. A machine gun in the close combat defence could cover the rear of the bunker and the steps up to the Tobruk defence.

Plan.

Close combat machine gun.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 entrance corridor showing the next close combat defence.

Plan.

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 the close combat embrasure covering the rear door from the passage and the other photo is the other side of the combat embrasure inside its own small room in the casemate.

Plan.

A 483P2 type close combat embrasure.

Close combat embrasure machine gun fitting.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 ammunition shell room. The slot in the far wall is where the shells would be passed through to the gun room.

Pile of shells.

Plan.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 Cartridge case room. The door to the close combat embrasure covering the outside rear entrance.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 close combat room.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270 close combat room. Note the what looks like heavy machine gun rounds ricochet off the wall.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 Close combat 483P2.

Plan.

A 483P2 type close combat embrasure.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 gun room. Looking down into the fired shell case room. When the gun is fired the case is removed from the breach and dropped down one of two holes in the floor and retrieved via square manhole cover.

Plan.

67P9 manhole cover.

Guns crew and cases.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 gun room.

Plan.

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 vary bad damage in the roof space.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 looking out of the gun room.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M270 casemate

Details

Turm 2 casemate M270.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 plus FCP.

Details

Turm 3 M305 plus FCP. There were also about three other open emplacements laid out between the casemates for three 17cm Heers guns (army guns).

Plan.

17 cm guns on Alderney.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate.

Details

M305 casemate has its own history.

Plan.

M305 Elevation.

M305 Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

M305 cupola showing a rather nasty hit by passably a 3" tank shell??

Possibly a Sherman.

75mm Sherman shell.

Or an M10 tank destroyer.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Hooks probably for camouflage attachments.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Looking down at the turret fitting. The cupola originally turned by man power via cranking handles, later I believe they fitted a small engine to help turn it. The cupola was independent of the gun and could either be turned when the gun turned or if it was only needed to turn the gun a few degrees the turret would be left in position.

Cupola.

Rollers for the turret to rotate on from a French Battleship.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

The embrasure was bricked up to make as little room as possible to stop Allied guns shooting in as the British and Canadians advanced north.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

This is the floor of the gun room, that stayed still, the gun and the turret could turn 360°.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Inside the gun room.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Ammunition supply would come up through this man hole in the floor.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Allied bombing of the French coast.

Ex French 7.5cm AA guns.

Bofors crew.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

M305 casemate.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Looking down into the casemates ammunition rooms cellar.

This is ta converted M270/272 type casemate with a cupola fitted on the top. The ammunition rooms and one rear entrance.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

The view at the rear of the casemate with the double rear entrance in the basement and the cupola on the top.

M305.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Entrance into the basement.

Plan.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

Rear steps down into the central corridor.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. M305 casemate

Details

The central corridor to the centre of the casemate.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post

Details

Leitstand on three layers.

Plan.

 

Plotting room.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post - Leitstand

Details

Looking up to the second and third layer.

 

Loading equipment into a FCP.

Cutaway of an M262 FCP.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post - Leitstand

Details

Rear entrance. The door and windows had steel door and shutters.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

Fire Control Post - Leitstand. The rear room.

 

 

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post - Leitstand.

Details

The lowest observation room.

Observation.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post - Leitstand.

Details

Where some form of machinery was hung??

 

 

2

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post - Leitstand.

Details

The way out and the remains of some poor immigrant left here.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Fire Control Post - Leitstand.

Details

The way up to the next floor. Too old and decrepit to climb the concrete.

Halifax bombers crossing the coast.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Garage.

Details

Another small garage.

Plan.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Garage.

Details

Garage inside.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. Garage.

Details

Garage the roof. Two of these bunkers have a square hole in the roof??

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. “Roßemarie” bunker.

Details

One of the Naval crew bunkers.

 

Marine Flak.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. “Roßemarie” bunker.

Details

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. “Roßemarie” bunker.

Details

Not a lot of room inside.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. “Roßemarie” bunker.

Details

Light recess and that is about all we could find inside this bunker.

Bunker light.

Lamp Wehrmacht Eisemann.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B. “Roßemarie” bunker.

Details

Way out.

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

Base for a small crane to load and unload ammunition.

Plan.

German Blitz Wagon crane maybe like the one that was here.

 

StP Waldam M.K.B

Information

StP Waldam M.K.B

Details

© 2013 Richard Drew