Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
2.Funkmess-Abteilung
Wn201a is part of the Cap Levi defence and code named Seeadler. Seeadler (Sea Eagle) was a radar and anti aircraft defence position. There was a Seetakt Fu.MO 2 radar & a Würzburg See Riese Fu.MO 214 of 2.Funkmess-Abteilung (Radio measurement department).
Seetakt Fu.MO 2 radar
Würzburg See Riese Fu.MO 214.
AA defence 2cm Flak 30.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
The port
Possibly a section of infantry.
1 x R502 crew bunker.
3 x M.G. Stands.
1 x SK
1 x Ringstand MG
1 x Wellblech
crew/ammunition shelter.
R502 crew bunker.
Wellblech shelter made of heavy corrugated iron roof and covered in concrete.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Plan
StP Cap Lévi Seeadler is split up between Wn201a, b, c & d. Here we are covering just Wn201a the old Port of Pignot.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Defences
Sections of Rommel´s Asparagus beach defences, now being used as fence posts.
Assembling Rommel Asparagus, the same as the ones in the main picture now used as fence posts.
Assembling Rommel's Asparagus.
Assembling Rommel's Asparagus.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Defences
Eisenpfahel part of the original barbed wire defence of the area.
Eisenpfahel barbed wire Iron pile (post).
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Defences
There are what look like three M.G. defences here. Position [MG round]
is the round type and Position MG 1 the rectangle
one and MG 2 inland. Late 1943 to June 1944 more defences were being added and it looks like a machine gun post further along the bay may have been upgraded to Wn400.
Set inland is an R502 twin group shelter, a two roomed bunker with a third small room either for an officer or NCO to use. If none then as extra storage and also this room may have a periscope to look out on the area around it.
There was also a Wellblech shelter, but that may have vanished in time. Also what looks like a water reservoir.
R502 twin group shelter.
Periscope.
Wellblech bunker.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Port
The little port of Port Pignot.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Port Pignot was named after the harbours owner Mr Pignot a contractor for the Navy, who ran it until the 1880's.
He extracted granite blocks from the quarry for the building of the Cherbourg harbours first jetty. Two operators succeeded Mr Pignot, one was at the city of Lille in 1942. From this date the big town in Northern France used Cotentin granite for its cobblestones until July 1943.
Cobblestones.
Quarrying.
Quarrying.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Defences
The two machine gun defences of Port Pignot.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Defences
The view of the defences in the rocks above the port.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Defences
These pictures were taken in 2007, I believe they have now been removed when quarrying ended and the area was given to the local council.
MG round.
MG 1.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG round
Made from a framework made up of corrugated iron and filled with concrete. It may have been a defence, it just may have been a water reservoir for use in the quarry.
MG round.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG round
Bullet marks in the far wall, probably fired by American troops that would have captured this area after Cherbourg capitulated.
US 4th Div. troops leaving Utah Beach.
US street fighting.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG round
Portrait in black & white, viewed in the winter sun.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG round
The view across to the second position.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG 1
This position really does look like it was made by the local defence troops.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG 1
Another view.
Building.
Cement mixer.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG 1
Not very well made.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
MG 2
Another MG post again not well made out of sheets of corrugated Iron shuttering and just filled with concrete with no reinforcement. Possibly for a heavy machine gun an 08 or Polish captured water cooled type.
Water cooled MG08.
Cloth belt fed MG.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
Here you can see the R502 covered in earth and the light grey part is the front edge of the bunker where the entrances are.
There seems also to be a water reservoir. This may have allowed the men to have fresh water as there may not have been any wells or running water here.
Plan.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler
R502
You can see in the first picture the entrance and roof area. The roof would be covered in earth and grassed over and the entrance way would have a camouflage net over the top to hide the shadow that would be seen easily (as it is in the 1958 air photo).
Inside the bunker the two entrances and two rooms for the crew. Cupboards for personnel storage and bunk beds on the walls. Heating and air ventilation systems can be see. And the small room with a periscope sticking out.
MKB Bunkertour.
You can see the edge of the bunkers roof.
Wn201a Port Pignot (StP Cap Lévi) Seeadler