StP152 Batterie Gatteville

BATTERIE · K.V.Gruppe Cotentin Ost · AOK 7 Normandy · France

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Heeres Kusten Artillerie Regiment 7./1261.

4 x R679 Casemates.

2 x R502 twin group shelter.

1 x Leitstand/SK R502, Fire Control Post.

1 x R607 Ammunition.

2 x R134 Ammunition

1 x Garage possibly for an anti-tank gun.

6 x Geschützstellung, ringstands for 15.5cm guns.

4 x Vf58c Tobruks.

6 x 15.5cm K.420(f) guns.

3 x 2cm Flak 30 AA guns.

Geschützstellung for 15.5cm K.420(f) guns.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

StP152 is surrounded by four Wn defences. The batterie started out as a six Geschützstellung (Open ringstands) for 15.5cm K.420 (f) (captured French) guns and were gradually being replaced by four casemates, to house the K.420's with pedestal mounts.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This is the German plan of the area. MF. - Mine Fields. Mines covered areas between the fixed defences.

29 May 1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

An Allied plan of the batterie. Constantly photo'd by PRU aircraft from the RAF and USAAF.

Air 37/864

USAAF Lightening PR of the Normandy coast.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Gatteville - Medium Coast Battery - Interservice Target No. 9/J/258 Ref Map: GSGS 4250/6E1/391275. Chart Map F.1014.

Air 37/864

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

29 May 1944 just before D-Day this photo was taken of the batterie, showing all the defences and the straight lines were buried telephone cables. They lead out to the lighthouse and to all the defence positions in the area. One would have also gone to the batteries HQ. The battery was placed here to cover on one side Cherbourg Harbour and on the other Barfleur and down to about Quineville. A range of 25000yards, about 22000meters..

29 May 1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

from: - ADM 199-1609 Tactical Targets Cherbourg (a) Stp152 & Wn125. (b) Possibly a dummy Flak site. Actually the batterie decoy site. (d) Unsure. (e) Wn123. (o) Wn125a.

ADM 199/1609

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

My wife insisted that I climb the 300 odd steps to the top of the lighthouse and this is one of the pictures I took from the top.

14 April 2003

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

How it looked with six of these open emplacements. Originally four guns were placed here, around 1943 in filed positions and two went to Batterie 'Brommy', Couplets StP272. When all the ringstands (Geschützstellung) were finished the guns from Couplets came down to complete the batterie. By early 1944 four Casemates were constructed and finished by May 1944. I think only three of the guns were removed from their open emplacements and then fitted into the casemates.

30 June 2007john

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Starting with Casemate No. 1 the left hand casemate as seen from behind. Now its been made into a holiday home. This was probably the first casemate to to be built here in February 1944.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Now made into a holiday home.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The back/side of the casemate.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The rear of the casemate.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This casemate shows its large frontal platform.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Photos taken after capture showing a lot of bomb damage around the casemate but very little on the casemates. The bombing must have taken its toll on the occupiers. To be heavily bombed and although you maybe in a concrete emplacement and relatively safe. It still plays heavily on your mind.

Air 37/864

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Looking at the battered rear of the casemate R679. Maybe a bomb skidded off the roof or a glancing heavy calibre shell?

30 June 2007

Bombed by Boston´s & Mitchell´s around D-Day.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This is how it looked just after capture, Allied teams went in very early and looked for any intelligence they could find and also bomb damage reports were made out for future use in the air/ground war..

Air 37/864

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

A glancing blow from either a bomb or a heavy shell.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Attached to the photo: - In the period just prior to 'D' day in Normandy, Mitchell´s and Boston´’s of 2 Group attacked many coastal batteries. Reconnaissance photographs showed over 30 craters within a hundred yards of the gun emplacements.

28 May 1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The reconnaissance photograph showing over 30 craters within a hundred yards of the gun emplacements. BUT did any hit??

29 May 1944

Open emplacement R679 Casemate No. 4showing the gun still in place.

Bomb craters around R679 Casemate No. 2.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The reconnaissance photograph showing over 30 craters within a hundred yards of the gun emplacements.

Air 37/864

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Camouflage net still in place and the battle damage showing up. It looks as though there was no door fitted to the bunkers rear entrance.

1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Rear door.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Gun room and ready ammunition room.

2002 John Flaherty

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Gun room. John looking into the ammunition space..

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

A quite small ammunition room for ready ammunition, more would be kept in three large ammunition bunkers.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Gun room.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Me inside the gun room.

30 June 2007 John

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Allied plans of the bunkers.

Air 37/864

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Allied plans of the bunkers.

Air 37/864

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Gun room.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The second picture is Casemate No.4. In the second picture showing the metal plate had arrived but had not been fitted. The yellow arrows are the plate and the red arrows the holes it fitted too.

Jim Swan

Bolt set into the concrete to hold the plate in place.

Metal plates awaiting distribution to bunkers.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Inside with the gun in position on its mounting.

1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Now a holiday home.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The second bunker turned into a holiday cottage.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The rear.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Captured by the Americans around the 26th/27th June. The Germans when they left just before the Americans came in. Sabotaged all the guns, as they could not be removed. All the ammunition was left and was not removed until 1947. Although the guns were fitted into the casemates, their gun chassis were left in case they were needed again. I expect that there was not enough time to dismantle the guns and also no prime mover lorries to tow them away.

1944 Jim Swan

This gun looks as though it was sabotaged. The recuperating oil may have been drained out so the gun would not work.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

US air photos, showing the eastern side with many bomb craters.

1944 Possibly taken by a US Army L4 Grasshopper aircraft

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The view looking west.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

2003 & 1944. The original picture shows the gun position looks damaged and the steel sheet around the gun has been blown off and no gun can be seen.

21 April 2003

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

A closer look at Turm 4, shows that the blown out gun shield and the embrasure has been covered with wood piled up. Possibly hiding the fact the gun was damaged. The water reservoir was built to store water in the construction of of the casemates to mix with cement and gravel.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This a much better picture showing the damage around the embrasure. Behind the open ringstand and its gun still in place.

21 April 2003

L4 Grasshopper artillery observation aircraft for the US artillery units.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The damage seen in 2003.

21 April 2003

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Gun room looking towards the rear door.

21 April 2003

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R502 (Leitstand)

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Leitstand. The viewing slit where a rangefinder would have been placed in the centre of the room, underneath another room where all the workings out would be done. The computing room. A target is usually one item, but with four guns in spread out positions. Number 1 gun would be calculated (Usually the far left Turm 1).Then the calculations for the other guns. Computers were used for these calculations, not nice electronic ones but very mechanical, clockwork types. The distance from FCP to target would be worked out, then the distance calculated from each gun and the angles needed to be fired at.

13 April 2003

Calculations: -
FCP to Target - distance.
T1 to Target - distance.
T2 to Target - distance.
Etc. — Calculations: - FCP to Target - distance. T1 to Target - distance. T2 to Target - distance. Etc.

This is a very long winded explanation but it does explain how a mechanical computer works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwf5mAlI7Ug.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R502 (Leitstand) observation slit.

30 June 2007

Transmission from observation room to computing room.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R502 (Leitstand) observation slit. Below via a steel ladder is the computing room.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Attached to the FCP is an R502 twin group shelter. This is where the batterie staff (Stab) would have worked in reasonable safety.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R502 (Leitstand). Post action photos of the FCP.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This is the first ringstand with two casemates in front of it.

30 June 2007john

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The entrance into the ringstand. The guns may not have fitted through the entrance, so they may have had to be craned in and then set up on the centre bolt turntable. This is why the Germans when they retreated from the batterie, they had to leave the guns in place.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The nut to hold the gun in position is still on its thread.

30 June 2007

The guns wheels fitted into the turntable.

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The centre bolt and nut fitting.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The second ringstand the metal work has been removed. The ready ammunition lockers and crew stations are fitted into the wall both sides of the entrance.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Ringstand - Geschützstellung.

30 June 2007John

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

These are the steel parts that would have held the gun down.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R 3 just after capture, the gun has been removed and probably placed into one of the casemates.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The entrance into Ringstand 3.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Several parts are still in place.

30 June 2007 John Flaherty

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

30 June 2007John Flaherty

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This is how the 15.5cm K.420(f) gun. You can see its sat in its centre mounting and the wooden planks for the gunners to stand on. Right behind is the FCP slit very visible.

Jim Swan 1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

5 is covered in grass.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The entrance into the ringstand.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Ammunition could be stacked here in the recess.

30 June 2007 John

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

I think this is one of the spaces for crew and ready ammunition set into the walls of the ringstand.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

A bit of battle damage on the far wall.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This one the gun had been removed.

13 April 2003

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Camouflaged badly to make it look as though the gun was in place.

Jim Swan 1944

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R134 ammunition storage bunker. There were two entrance, one each side where a full load of ammunition could be stored for two guns.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The way down one side.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Inside there were two rooms, one for shells and the other for powder.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

With me stood on the top it shows how large the mounds have to be. The bunker was built in this one, above ground and then covered in earth and grassed over.

30 June 2007 John

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Now its its full of water.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

The hight of the mound shows up well and the entrance into it.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

Ammunition bunker.

30 June 2007

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This is how it would look inside. The entrance steps down into the bunker and a corridor with two rooms leading to another corridor that would lead out

20 March 2006

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

This is how it would look inside. One of the two ammunition rooms.

20 March 2006

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

R502 crew quarters where the men lived in reasonably safe conditions. They had a store room with a periscope (that may not have been fitted).

John F

StP152 Gatteville H.K.B.

There were three layers of bunks that could fold down. Up to 24 men and maybe an officer in his own room or if not used as a store room, with if needed a periscope. A heater in each of the main rooms, cupboards for each soldier and a table and folding chair.

MKB Bunkertour