Ra230 Fort De La Cité D'Aleth inner defence

STP · K.V.Gruppe Rance · AOK 7 Brittany · France

Detailed List of Inner Defences

This section provides a detailed inventory of the defensive structures within Fort de la Cité d'Aleth, referencing their specific designations and descriptions.

Z1: R112a (abri avec cloche blindée type 35P8).
Z2: R506 (casemate pour Festung-Pak 3.7 cm (t)).
Z3: R112a (abri avec cloche blindée type 35P8).
Z4: R625 (casemate pour 7.5 cm Pak 40).
Z5: R625 (idem).
Z6: R621/501 (blockhaus type 621 couplé à un blockhaus type 501, abri pour personnel).
Z7: R114a neu (abri avec cloche blindée type 20P7).
Z8: R504 (abri avec garage pour canon Pak).
Z9: R105d (casemate MG).
Z10: R114a neu (abri avec cloche blindée type 20P7).
Z11: R112a (abri avec cloche 20P7).
Z12: R112a (abri avec cloche blindée type 20P7).
Z13: R105b (casemate MG).
Z14: R105b (casemate MG).
Z15: ?
Z16: R105d/105b (2 casemates MG couplées entre elles).
Z17: R105d/105b (2 casemates MG couplées entre elles).
Z18: R105d/105c / MG stand SK (2 casemates MG + MG stand SK couplés avec cloche blindée type 486P2).
Z19: R105c (casemate MG + cloche blindée type 486P2).
Z20: R611 (casemate canon de campagne 10.5 cm le F.H. 16).
Z21: R611 (idem).
Z22: R636 (poste directeur de tir).
Z23: L410a / L410a: abri couplé doté de 2 cuves Flak (4 cm Flak 38 Bofors), une 3e cuve Flak est placée à proximité.
Z24: Abri pour mortier automatique M19.
Z25: R667 (casemate pour 5 cm KwK L60).

From Armuria : Le Passe en Miniature.

Ra230 Fort de la Cite d'Aleth. inside the wall.

Now that we've arrived at Ra230 Fort de la Cité d'Aleth, we'll venture inside to explore its inner defence system. The fort houses a complex array of fortifications, including numerous bunkers, casemates, and gun emplacements designed to protect its interior.

25 June 2002

Plan of the Fort's Interior

This plan provides an overview of the interior of Fort de la Cité d'Aleth, illustrating its comprehensive defensive layout. On the plan, white indicates the fort's various defences, which include structures such as R112a shelters with armoured cupolas, R506 casemates for Festung-Pak 3.7 cm guns, and R625 casemates for 7.5 cm Pak 40s. Yellow highlights the extensive underground tunnel system (souterrain) connecting various points, while red marks the positions of the guns, such as the 10.5 cm le F. H. 16 field guns in R611 casemates and various MG casemates like the R105d and R105b.

In the centre is an R633 emplacement for an M19 mortar.

Crew of an M19 5cm automatic mortar. It could fire single shots or barrages of many rounds and very fast showering the enemy.

Main Gate

The main gate has been rebuilt and now looks good. From here, views through the gate offer a glimpse into the fort's interior, and from the back, one can observe the flak bunker on the left with its Bofors gun still in place.

25 June 2002

The Main Gate View

The view through the main gate reveals the fort's interior. The main gate itself has been rebuilt and looks good. Historically, the railway lines set into the ground, visible from this perspective, served as an anti-glider defence to deter enemy landings inside the fort.

25 June 2002

Main Gate Flak Bunker

Looking back from the main gate, we can observe the flak bunker situated on the left. This bunker is notable for still housing its Bofors gun, a type identified elsewhere as the 4cm Flak 38 Bofors. The presence of such a gun highlights the fort's robust anti-aircraft defenses, which included multiple flak positions.

25 June 2002

Victory, when the fort was captures somebody had a camera and the scene was set.

Post-Capture Scene and Anti-Glider Defence

Just after capture with the flag still fluttering in the breeze. The railway lines set into the ground were an anti-glider defence to stop a glider landing inside the fort.

us signals corps

The attack in 1940 of Fort Eben-Emael where German gliders landed on the top of the fort to captured it.

Z.14 & Z.13 R105b Bunkers and Grass Ramp

Z. 14 R105b & Z. 13 R105b. Two R105bs back to back. The main armament is facing outwards along the fort's walls; here they could use their close combat defence, converted with steel plates and machine guns, to cover the centre of the fort with crossfire. The grass ramp on the left of the picture was to allow cannons to be wheeled up on to the parapet, part of the original fort.

25 June 2002

R105b close combat removed and a steel plate put in its place. Possibly a 78P9 Pz Schartsnplatte MG.34.

R105b machine gun bunker in mirror form with the left hand bunker. Crew room, gun room, ammunition store, close combat converted to a defence steel plate..

Z. 19 R105c Machine Gun Casemate

Z. 19 R105c machine gun casemate. R105c machine gun casemate which had a 486P2 infantry observation cupola fitted to it with access in from the tunnel system.

25 June 2002

R105c machine gun casemate with a cupola.

Z.19 R105c Machine Gun Casemate

This is Z.19, an R105c machine gun casemate. It was fitted with a 486P2 infantry observation cupola, which had access from the tunnel system.

25 June 2002

View Across the Yard: M19 Mortar Emplacement

The view across the yard. In the middle is an R633 emplacement for an M19 mortar. It would have showered any American attack with a 360-degree arc of fire.

25 June 2002

R633 bunker with a crew room, ammunition, ventilation, close combat and the M19 mortar turret.

Type 633 dome underneath is the M19 automatic 5cm mortar.

In the middle is an R633 emplacement for an M19 mortar. It would of showered any American attack with a 360deg ark of fire.

R633 M19 Mortar Emplacement

The view across the yard. In the middle is an R633 emplacement for an M19 mortar. It would have showered any American attack with a 360-degree arc of fire.

The picture is not mine but was made by Andrew Mar----- June 2004

R633 M19 Mortar Emplacement

The view across the yard. In the middle is an R633 emplacement for an M19 mortar. It would have showered any American attack with a 360-degree arc of fire.

Z.16 40mm Bofors AA Position

Looking from the outside, this view captures the Z.16 position, which features a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun emplacement. This Bofors gun is part of the fort's dedicated flak quarter, contributing to its aerial defence, with at least one 4cm Bofors known to be present.

Us troops planting a flag on the Bofors.

The flak emplacement is an R105 machine gun emplacement.
BAU Report No.30 St Malo.

BAU Report No.30 St Malo

Z.16: 40mm Bofors AA Position with R105 Casemates

Z.16 is a 40mm Bofors AA position, observed here from the outside. This location incorporates the 7P7 metal plate, which originated from one of the R105 casemates. According to the original plans, Z.16 comprises two R105 casemates (R105d/105b) coupled together.

BAU Report No.30 St Malo

Defences Along the Wall

This view along the wall highlights positions Z.16, Z.17, and Z.23. Z.16 is notable for its 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun, which formed part of the fort's dedicated Flak quarter. This section of the wall also included the coupled R105d and R105b machine gun casemates of Z.17, which had an empty flak position on top. Furthermore, Z.23 comprised two L410A coupled shelters, equipped with 4 cm Flak 38 Bofors tubs, demonstrating the concentrated anti-aircraft defences in this area.

18 March 2006

Multi-Level Bunker Defenses

The fort contains numerous bunkers, strategically placed on different levels to create a comprehensive defense. These include a mix of French original structures and later German fortifications, some even stacked to accommodate various weapon positions.

Flak Quarter and Anti-Aircraft Positions

This area, referred to as the Flak quarter, comprises three flak positions, each sitting on approximately two bunkers. While a full list of all the flak guns is not available, we know there was at least one 4cm Bofors, which is still present. For example, Z23 features coupled L410a shelters equipped with two mounts for 4 cm Flak 38 Bofors guns, with a third Flak mount situated nearby. Other flak positions are also seen at Z16 and Z17.

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Z.16 — R105 Casemates and AA Position

Z.16 features two R105 machine gun casemates (R105d/105b) coupled together, along with a 40mm Bofors AA position. An extra metal plate was located to the left, and a 7P7 metal plate was associated with one of the R105 casemates.

18 March 2006

Z.23 L410a Flak Position

Z.23 consists of two L410a coupled bunkers, forming a significant anti-aircraft position within the fort. These bunkers were equipped with two 4 cm Flak 38 Bofors guns, with an additional third Flak gun located nearby. This installation was a key part of the fort's 'Flak quarter', visible along the wall and noted for its 40mm Bofors weaponry.

18 March 2006

Two L410's used as defence bunkers with one flak on the top.

It could also have been a 3.7cm Flak? They used the larger round bases.

BAU Report No.30 St Malo 23 January 1945

Z.17 R105d/105b Casemates and Flak Position

Z.17 features a stacked arrangement of R105d and R105b machine gun casemates, which are coupled together. These casemates formed a crucial part of the fort's close combat defence, capable of covering the fort's centre with crossfire. An empty flak position sits on top of this structure, which would have housed an anti-aircraft gun, likely a 40mm Bofors, as observed at other points along the wall.

18 March 2006

Highly adapted to fit into the defence here.

BAU Report No.30 St Malo 23 January 1945.

Ra230 Fort de la Cite d'Aleth. inside the wall.

BAU Report No.30 St Malo 23 January 1945

Z.17 Defenses

At position Z.17, two coupled R105d and R105b machine gun casemates are stacked, topped with an empty flak position. This area is part of the extensive wall defenses visible along the perimeter of the fort.

18 March 2006

Z.17 Defensive Position

Z.17 marks a significant defensive position within the Fort de la Cité d'Aleth, specifically featuring two coupled R105d and R105b machine gun casemates. These casemates are notably stacked with an empty flak position on top, contributing to the layered defenses visible along the fort's walls, often associated with the presence of a 40mm Bofors gun.

18 March 2006

The 434P01 Door and Moat Access

The 434P01 door provided crucial access from the main fort to the moat, forming an integral part of the fort's inner defenses.

18 March 2006

Z.18 Bunker Complex

Zone 18 (Z.18) features a complete and interesting mix of bunkers, including R105d and R105c machine gun casemates, coupled with a Machine gun Stand S.K. and an armored bell type 486P2. This section showcases a blend of French original and German bunker designs. The R105c machine gun casemate, for example, was fitted with a 486P2 infantry observation cupola, accessible directly from the fort's extensive tunnel system.

18 March 2006

Z.18: A Mix of French and German Bunkers

Z.18 features a complete mix of structures, including R105d and R105c casemates designed for machine guns, an MG Stand SK, and a type 486P2 armoured cupola. This area showcases a fascinating blend of original French fortifications with later German bunkers.

18 March 2006

Fort Entrance

This entrance clearly shows the impact of a lot of bombing, with plenty of shrapnel still visible.

18 March 2006

The lovely Lee Millers photo of the bombing

Another Lee Miller photo of the capitulation.

An American officer talking to captured German nurses. Lee Miller.

Main Keep

The main keep forms a central part of Ra230 Fort de la Cité d'Aleth's inner defences, combining original French structures with later German bunkers built across various levels within the fort.

18 March 2006

Lee Miller must have been in the right place at the right time.

A Lee miller photo again after the liberation of St-Malo.

David E. Sherman after the German surrender at St Malo. Lee Miller.

Ra230 Fort de la Cite d'Aleth. inside the wall.

25 June 200225 June 2002

Ra230 Fort de la Cite d'Aleth. inside the wall.

25 June 2002