StP234 Bat Hamburg T1

MKB · K.V.U.Gruppe Cherbourg See · AOK 7 Normandy · France

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Here we are covering Turm 1 of 4. This is the far right emplacement looking north.

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Plan of the batterie site of StP234 Batterie 'Hamburg' 3./M.A.A.260. Head Quarters were in the Château de Tourlaville.

From Frederic Clot

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Turm 1 with a Geschützstellung or open emplacement for a 24 cm/40 (9.4") SK L/40gun. Also a 7.5cm F.K.235(f) for firing star shells to illuminate the targets out at sea. Several Tobruk 58c type with machine guns. 2 x 2cm Flak 28/29 Oerlikon types. Two large ammunition stores and marked as a Bunker, this was another ammunition store that the design was used in several sites around Cherbourg.

From Frederic Clot

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

1947 the gun has been removed and scrapped.

ignf 1947

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

A photo of Hamburg construction site on the 24 July 1940 which was started very early after the capitulation of France in June 1944 The view is looking north/west.

nara

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

This looks to be an original picture of a Geschützstellung or open emplacement on the Island of Norderney, Ostfriesische Inseln, Germany. This would be around 1940. The guns were designed for the "First Rate Cruisers" of the 1890's. When these ships were decommission, the guns went into storage and four were transfered to the island of Norderney and formed the 'Batterie Hamburg'. When France capitulated and the German navy arrived in Cherbourg. Batteries of heavy guns were needed to defend the port and these guns were brought down and emplaced in Fermanville.

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

This is an after capture picture of Turm 1.

US Army Signals Corps

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Allied intelligence air photo of the batterie.
Fermanville Heavy Coastal Battery Inter service Target No:9/J/274. Re Mao: GSGS 4250/6E1/266268 Chart Map: F.1014 & so on. Four 280mm (11inch) guns. Range ?40,000 yards. Weight of shell 660lbs. Guns in armoured turrets.22 feet by 12 feet, in circular concrete platforms 43 feet in diameter, 160-203 yards apart. Large excavations for shelters are being built behind, and partly enclosing, three of the gun platforms. Area of fire of each gun is 180°, and if the new shelters are low enough, the guns may be capable of all round fire.
Accommodation: Numerous huts. Observation Post: At 26332764. Secondary Armament: Six light AA guns. Also a six-gun heavy AA battery recently installed within the western perimeter of battery: Six 88mm (3.46 in) guns, range 16,200 yards horizontal, 26,250 feet vertical Rate of fire 15-20 r.p.m. Weight of shell 20 lbs. Guns in circular earthen pits 25 feet in diameter, each with three ammunition bunkers.

Target No: 9/J/274

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The breach of the 24 cm/40 (9.4") SK L/40 gun.

1944 US Army Signals Corps, Nicholas Rudziak.(Thank you to Jim Swan)

24 cm Psgr. L/2.6 C/01. This projectile was used during World War I for both ships and coastal artillery and during World War II for coastal artillery. Note that it does not have a ballistic cap.

24 cm Psgr. L/2.6 C/01

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The coverings on the side of the gun, look as though they have been damaged in battle.

1944 US Army Signals Corps, Nicholas Rudziak.(Thank you to Jim Swan)

Fore Charge (cordite bag) (Vorkartusche) for 24 cm SK L/40 guns during World War II. Propellant weight for RPC/32. M.Dv. Nr. 190,4A6.

M.Dv. Nr. 190,4A6.

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Guard hut. I believe each gun had a guard hut.

24 May 2002

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

This would have been a massive building site up to its capture.

22 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

After D-day these guns were in a rather odd predicament. Due to Hitlers insistence that ALL guns must be casemated. A wall was built around the outside of the emplacement. A roof was to be placed on the top. The batterie commander Oberleutnant MA Rdi Ernst Max, ordered his engineers to blow the wall down low enough to allow the gun to swing around 180° and to fire south.

22 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Note the camouflage on the concrete.

22 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Note the corner of the wall.

22 October 2004

You can see it here with the gun in place.

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The wall on the left side had quite a lot removed, The gun after the walls were built could only fire through quite a small gap. Now with that far wall remove, it allowed at least one gun of the batterie to be used against the Americans in the south.

04 May 2001

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The Geschützstellung.

04 May 2001

Nicholas Rudziak standing showing us how large the brass case was.

1944 US Army Signals Corps, Nicholas Rudziak.(Thank you to Jim Swan)

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Vents to allow the blast from the gun evacuate the bunker, via large tubes and there were large slits in the concrete wall. Below a manhole. Shell cases were heavy and useless after being fired. So when they were removed from the breach, they were dropped down one of two round holes in the floor, to a chamber. This was storage, after the battle. The cases would be removed, sent back to a filling factory and made to be re used again.

22 October 200422 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Looking down the steps.

09 December 2010

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Inside and you can see a shape made into the far wall to accept cases.

09 December 2010

Nicholas Rudziak stood next to a shell brass case.

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

When the light was right.

09 December 2010

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The hole from below.

09 December 2010

Sketch from M.Dv. Nr. 190,4A1.

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Bolt ring of the guns hold fast.

22 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Shrapnel marks on the concrete from the ships and American artillery. I believe the Americans even use 155mm guns.

22 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The guns could only fire north. This was due to a Hitler order to casemate all artillery. Walls were increased in height and then a roof was to be placed over. The roof had not been started by D-Day. So when the Americans landed and started to work their way north. Batterie Hamburg, could not shoot at them. So Oberleutnant Gelbhaar who commanded the batterie had the top of the wall blown off with explosives. This allowed the gun to swivel anti clockwise and fire south The only one able to do this.

22 October 2004

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

You can see here how uneven the wall was after blowing the tops off.

22 October 2004

Ammunition was stored in two long concrete buildings.

US Army Signals Corps

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

The first ammunition store.

04 May 2001

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Ammunition 1inside.

04 May 2001

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Ammunition 2.

25 September 2005

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Ammunition 3 The stairs down one end.

25 September 2005

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Ammunition 3 The first ammunition room after coming in via some steps down and the to get to the next room, there is an escape to crawl through to the second room.

25 September 2005

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Ammunition 3 The second room and the exit out.

25 September 2005

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Ammunition 3 The stairway out.

25 September 2005

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Possibly the batterie offices. A semi sunk building with windows looking south.

24 May 2002

StP234 Batterie Hamburg Turm 1

Steps down, notice a step was not made, Our thoughts were that it was made like this and a wooden step made to fit in. In an emergency, the wooden step can be removed. An attacker running down the steps and not looking to closely, would trip on the missing step?? Well probably over thinking.

25 September 2005