Mirus

The island was ringed with heavy batteries, three Naval (Abteilung 604) & eight Army (9 Heeres Kusten Artillerie). This one is battery Mirus.

4 x 30.5cm SKK/14 (r) gun.
3 x S448a ammunition depots.
1 x M120 fire control post.

We visited in October 2000 and my camera was an early digital, very bad quality and low battery life. Things have moved on since then.

Due to the Channel Island being British, Hitler presumed that Winston Churchill would insist that the British re taking the islands back as quickly as possible. Churchill’s thoughts on that idea, were that if Britain sent a task force:

1. Would it be able to achieve its task.

2. How many British (Islanders) would needlessly loose their lives in an all out battle.

So the Islands were left in the hands of Hitler and the people struggled through as best they could. Please read books about the Islands in occupation, as its a very good story. The Germans on the other hand decided to make the Islands a fortress, ploughing in millions of Deutsch marks, tons of concrete & steel and also thousands of men that could have been used in many other battle fronts. been used in many other battle fronts.

Built by the Organization Todt at St. Saviour. The battery was called Battery Mirus, named after a German Naval Commander, Kaptain Mirus, who was killed when the RAF attacked his boat whilst returning from Alderney.

A plan of 1943 of all the major defences. Showing the position of the batterie on the island, the guns were in open emplacements and could turn 360° and engage targets up to 51km (31.5 miles).

A plan of 1943 the defences.

4 x 30.5cm k14 (r) guns. The red square is the one we entered, green is the range finder bunker.

History of the 30.5cm guns at the Mirus Battery

The battleship "Imperator Alexandr Trety" was launched at Nicolaieff on 15th April I914 and commissioned in the spring of 1917. The vessel was part of the Black Sea Fleet and displaced 27,300 tons. After the Russian Revolution the battleship was renamed "Volya".

Early in 1918, after the German Crimean campaign and in accordance with the terms of a German-Russian treaty, thy "Volya" was placed at the disposal of the German Navy for police duties in the Black Sea. The Russians, however, retained ultimate ownership of the vessel.

In 1918 the "Volya" made test voyages in the Black Sea under German command, but she was not officially commissioned again.

Following the collapse of Bulgaria and Turkey, British, French and Italian units entered the Black Sea. Germany duly handed the "Volya" back to the Russians.

When Wrangel formed his White Army, all Russian warships of the Black Sea Fleet were incorporated into the White Navy, The "Volya" became its flagship and was given the name "General Alekseyev".

When the Whites had to evacuate the Crimea in November 1920, they took every ship that could be manned with them, including tie "General Alekseyev", which was then transferred to Bizerta.

She remained there until 1935, when she was broken up. As her guns were still usable, they were stored at the local arsenal (Bizerta Naval Dockyard),

In the winter of '39-'40, the Allies pledged material assistance to the Finns in combating the Soviets, so 4 of the 12 guns were loaded on board the steamer "Nina" for shipment to north Finland via Norway. En route, the vessel was intercepted by the German Navy and impounded in a Norwegian harbour. The guns were subsequently reconditioned by Krupp and installed on the island of Guernsey.

Taken from the book 'Festung Guernsey' and the official history.

Shell store in the ammunition depot.
Yellow square, I noticed there was a Tilly lamp paraffin fuelled.II

The entrances would have steel doors and above the door a steel shutter where the overhead rail went.

1 - Gas lock.
3 - Crew rooms.
10 - Gun emplacement.
11 - Shell rooms.
12 - Cartridge rooms.
21 - Computing room.
22 - Ventilation.
24 - Water tanks.
29 - Store room.
39 - Officers.
43 - Engine room.
50 - Fuel.
58 - Latrines and wash rooms.
63 - Command room.
70 - Gear & Fuel.
102 - Sinks.

Batterie Vara, Norway.

Powder bags, made usually of cotton or even silk and hold Cordite charge. To increase the range of a gun, more bags can be added t the charge to push the shell further.