StP Ste-Cecile H.K.B.

STP · Hardelot - Merlimont K.V.A. D1. · AOK 15 Nord Pas de Calais · France

StP Ste-Cécile

StP Ste-Cécile was a very large Army (Heeres) batterie of six 15.5cm K418(f) guns with a full defence of many types of bunkers, plus an even bigger amount of Vf and Feldmässig field type arrangement. For all the crews and defence troops to live in. Some of the named casemates and bunkers that were here I cannot find. They may or may not have been built?? A batterie of six 15.5cm artillery, unusually set on the beach front, as most army (Heeres) batteries were placed inland. These guns would have covered a very large area with a 360° field of fire.

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

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StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Batterie 1./H.K.A.R1245 Heeresküsten-Artillerieregiment 1 x R119 Batterie commander's bunker. 4 x R612 R612 casemate. 1 x R667 casemate for a 5cm KwK. 1 x R640 casemate for a 3.7/4.2cm Pak with front plate. 1 x R631 casemate for a machine gun with steel plate. 3 x R515 R515 casemate for a Machine gun, steel plate. 8 x Vf2a group shelter. 1 x R502 twin group shelter. 1 x Vf59a shelter with attached guard position. 6 x Geschützstellung (Ringstands) 2 x Geschützstellung + 2 Wellblech (Ringstands +2 ammunition). 6 x Vf7a ammunition bunker. 4 x Vf7b ammunition bunker bomb proof. 1 x Vf3 MG/Obs. 1 x Vf3 + Vf2a MG/Obs + group shelter. 1 x Feldmässig/B.Stellen. 26 x Feldmässig. 1 x Latrinebunker. 2 x Vf/MG 3 x R600b ringstand for a 5cm KwK. 4 x Vf58c Tobruk's. 3 x Pz.T. FT17 3.7cm KwK144 (f). 3 x 7.5cm F.K.38 1 x 7.5cm F.K.16 n.Art. 3 x 5cm KwK 38. 6 x 15.5cm K.418(f).

24 October 2014

R640 casemate for a 3.7/4.2cm Pak with front plate.

R631 casemate for a machine gun with steel plate.

R515 casemate for a Machine gun, steel plate.

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

This is the German plan of the area showing all the defences around St.Cécile..

Reconnaissance photo 1948

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Reconnaissance photo dated around 1946 shows the six Geschützstellung (Ringstands) and shelters & bunkers, also a lot of bombing on the 4th June 1944.

Reconnaissance photo 1946

I think this is one of the R502 twin group shelters now under a house.

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Vf2a one of about eight that were here. This one now resides in a garden but was originally set in sad dunes. Capable of holding 15 men in triple bunks hung on the wall, with maybe a coal/wood burning heater. Some folding furniture and the odd cupboard. An escape out the side and then up steel steps to the side. Not exactly the nicest place to live but safe from light bombing of light artillery.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Another view from the side.

26 January 2020

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Chipped, either builders or a bomb splinter.

24 October 2014

Just before D-Day landings and after, the area was carpet bombed quite regularly. First, for every bomb dropped in Normandy, two were dropped in other areas. Giving the impression the landings would be somewhere else.

Daylight bombing started once air superiority had been gained and RAF and USAAF bombers came over here to bomb he radar and the batteries and places like StP Hasso, the underground storage areas.

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

The pipe fittings on the side could be where the chimney came out. In the distance a WC bunker. A long walk on a cold night with no lights.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Just what is needed in a war, a concrete toilet block.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

2020 and we managed to get a look at it..

26 January 2020

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Note the camouflaged forward observer, creating a path inside. It is so overgrown.

26 January 2020

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Looking inside.

26 January 2020

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Where to sit in a bombing raid.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Almost camouflaged.

26 January 2020

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Kurt's plan of the bunker, well armoured toilet.

MKB Bunkertour

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Another Vf2a but this one must have held somebody who was very important.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

As you can see a good meter of concrete has been laid on its roof. The bombing was very heavy here so that maybe the reason.

24 October 2014

One of the open ringstands and two very large bomb craters just to the front of this Vf2a shelter.

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Under this house, in fact about the same dimensions as this house it is built over is an R502 twin group shelter. Two large rooms, a store room with a periscope and two close combat embrasures.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Under this house, you can see the way the house sits on the bunker.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Under this house, steps down the rear to the bunker.

24 October 2014

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

6 x Geschützstellung (Ringstand) 15.5cm K.418(f).Turm 3. This one looks as though it was hit by a bomb and has been blown out.

24 October 2014

This is Turm 3 in 1946 and it does look as though the side has been blown out for some reason. Also it still looks like a gun is in position.

StP Ste-Cécile H.K.B.

Heeresküsten-Artillerieregiment 1245 was responsible for artillery cover of the coastline between Hardelot and the Somme estuary. HQ Heeresküsten-Artillerieregiment 1245, Oberstleutnant Denecke,Château Bonnance, Le Crotoy. HQ 1. Abteilung, Major Ney, StP MontSaint-Frieux, Neufchâtel-Hardelot. 1st Batterie Heeresküsten-Artillerieregiment 1245.

Geoportail 1946