StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongubaud

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

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

6., Grenadier-Regiment 919.

1 x R634 bunker.

1 x R668 six man bunker.

1 x R621 group shelter.

1 x R612 casemate.

1 x R667 casemate.

1 x Bf58c Tobruk.

1 x Wellblech.

1 x Doppel M.G. Stand.

4 x Pz.Drehturm Tobruks.

3 x APX R R35 3.7cm KwK144 (f) m M.G.311(f).

1 x APX 1 CE S35 4.7cm KwK(f) m M.G.311(f).

1 x 7.5cm F.K. LAG.

1 x 5cm KwK L/60.

1 x 150cm Searchlight.

4.Kp./Bau.Pi.Bt1.59. constructors.

4.Kp./Bau.Pi.Bt1.59 Pioneer constructors Kompany.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

This is where I think StP16 starts, its very hard interpreting old photos, road layouts/houses re built and then & now photos. A lot has changed in the intervening years. Where the red car is, is possibly the spot where the Bf.67 neu Tobruk with an APX R R35/H35 3.7cm KwK 144(f) with a coaxial M.G.311(f) tank turret may have stood. Behind it an R667 casemate for a 5cm KwK L/60 Pak.

Google

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

L´Abbè Elie LEROY bullet ridden statue.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

This is a plan of the StP showing where the defences are & were. There are still quite a lot to fine and I feel that´s the fun of searching here, several of the Tobruks, the old French fort, the R634 & R621 plus other smaller items.

1947 Geo

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

An air photo of the coast taken in 30 October 1943 but re issued in April 1944. ´c´ is where the R621 group shelter and the R612 casemate for an assault gun look as though they are under construction. ´d´ is the northern edge of Wn14. You can also see the R634 at the fort is being built.

ADM 199/1609 Tactical Targets Cherbourg 30 October 1943

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

The details gleaned from the Allied Intelligence air photos and spies. 1 x Casemate. 4 x Pillboxes. 3 x Shelters. Positions on the north side of Fort St. Marcouf (Fort Pongibaud).

ADM 199/1609 Tactical Targets Cherbourg 30 October 1943

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

APX R35/H35 turret on a Tobruk with beach obstacles, an anti-tank wall, the R667 casemate and behind a searchlight emplacement.

WO file

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

First there was the Bf.67 neu Tobruk with a 3.7cm and M.G.311 and behind an R667 casemate for a 5cm KwK L/60 gun.

1947 Geo

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

APX R R35 37mm KwK 144 (f) coaxial M.G.311 (f).

WO file

Bf.67neu Tobruk with an R35 tank turret.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Czech Steel Hedge Hog beach defence.

WO 205/5194 file

Possibly the 4.Kp./Bau.Pi.Bt1.59. putting in beach defences along this coast.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Details of this R35 tank turret.

R-9751-2 Report on German Concrete Fortifications Sept/Oct 1944 Page35

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Details of an R35 tank turret set into an anti-tank wall..

R-9751-2 Report on German Concrete Fortifications Sept/Oct 1944 Page96

Shape and design of an anti-tank wall here.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Casemate R667 with flanking wall for a 5cm KwK L/60 gun.

1944

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

The above picture was taken at StP12 and shows how the casemate here may have looked after the fighting. Report on German Concrete Fortifications was a coming together of all forms of intelligence about the beaches and their defence.

R-9751-2 Report on German Concrete Fortifications Sept/Oct 1944 Page189

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

150cm Searchlight with a camouflage roof. Search lights were being introduced into all the defences and it was not uncommon for two to be be at some Wn defences. These would be used to search out night time targets for the guns in the Wn or for artillery inland, they were not really used as anti-aircraft roll as most had roofs on as camouflage.

08/07/45

The searchlight roof in an earlier photo.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R668 small six man bunker. This bunker would have been for the crew of the tank turret, R667 casemate and the searchlight, probably where they could go for meals and as a small command post for the southern flank of the defence.

10 May 2008

I am not sure but I think these are aerial protective mountings and the third may be a chimney for the fire.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R668 small six man bunker. Not a very big bunker for all the men around here but there was a Wellblech shelter around here and that may have been used. Men were also billeted in houses fronting the beach and farms. They may have had cellars that could be made bomb proof..

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Bullet scar marks on the north side.

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R668 small six man bunker. Note a concrete anti tank wall added on this side for extra protection.

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R668 small six man bunkers escape. Most crew/living bunkers had an escape of a small tunnel through the wall and then a set of steps up and out.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

APX R R35 3.7cm KwK144 (f) co-axle m M.G.311(f).

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Looking north Another 3.7cm French turret as the same as the last one may be a cut down Bf.67 neu Tobruk.

10 May 2008

The turret ring would have been bolted on to the bunker.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Picture taken shortly after capture shows the rear door open and behind a row of Belgian Gates. To the right is the remains of barbed wire that ran all along the wall..

US Army Signals Corps

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Looking south

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Plan of the bunker and dimensions. The emplacements are stated as Bf.67 neu Tobruk but I feel that they were a local design built here. They seem smaller than a Bf.67 neu Tobruk and do not have the ammunition space and storage at the rear that a Bf.67 neu Tobruk would have had??

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Fort Pongibaud and the R634 bunker inside the red square. Fort Pongibaud is a French fort built to keep the English out. There are many old forts all along this coast.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R635 six embrasure d turret bunker. The dome had two machine guns able to be then cover 360°. Two fortress mounted M.G.34 would have been used.

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

20P7 steel dome set into the concrete allows 360° machine gun cover by moving the gun into one of the six embrasures.

Film

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

This picture shows a 20P7 dome after the battle hit many times by 3” shells. A 3” shell is a 75mm Sherman's main gun.

R-9751-2 Report on German Concrete Fortifications Sept/Oct 1944 Page190

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

20P7 dome six embrasure. On three levels, a periscope where the guns commander could spot for the machine gunner, other crew members would carry forward boxed ammunition and brush away spent cartridges or empty a spent cartridge bag. Another crew member would turn the handle on a fan to remove the foul gasses made by the machine gun. So in the heat of battle a lot would be going on.

Plan

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

The dome fitted into the large circle on the roof, now removed for scrap.

10 May 2008

20P7 dome would have fitted down into the bunker and just the embrasures showing..

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Close combat and entrance.

10 May 2008

Yellow - Close combat embrasure.
Red ----- rear entrance. — Yellow - Close combat embrasure. Red ----- rear entrance.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Around the back of the bunker along the fence line are many Eisenpfahel [iron stake]. Barbed wire would be attached along here to cover the rear flank of the StP.

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Barbed wire still in place.

10 May 2008

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

APX 1 CE S35 4.7cm KwK(f) m M.G.311(f). This was a slightly larger calibre gun and would have given the defence a bit more fire power.

12 June 2017

I think this is an S35 4.7cm R35/H35 turret.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

This is a 4.7cm model APX R R35/H35 tank turret.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

The lumps on the wall were concrete to hold Eisenpfahel [iron stake] into the wall and then thread barbed wire around them.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Machine gun stand.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Machine gun stand, they would have had access via a tunnel or trench from behind..

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R621 group shelter.

12 June 2017

R621 with two extra walls flanking walls.

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R621 group shelter.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

R621 group shelter rear with the entrance into the observation post, then the two entrances into the bunker and a small niche on the far side..

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Steel steps leading up into the observation post..

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

The left hand entrance showing the close combat defence and a niche for either a light switch or a speaking tube..

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Two of the four aerial fittings still with their steel screwed on protective troops. As this bunker has its steal tops on, aerials may not have been fitted. The way to check if aerials have been fitted is to look inside the bunker at the aerial fittings and look for an earth strap. If the strap is in place then usually the aerial would have been fitted.

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

This is where the R612 would have sat and have been aimed to fire up the beach. A 7.5cm LAG inside (Landungs Abwehr Geschuetz [Landing Defence gun]).

12 June 2017

StP16 Hameau du Nord - Fort Pongibaud

Anti-tank wall.

12 June 2017