StP272 Les Couplets

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

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Building started in the summer of 1942, for what looks like two batteries of open Ringstands or Geschützstellung, with 6 x 15.5cm K.420(f) guns, with a range of 21 kilometers. Autumn of 1943 building began for four R679 casemates. These casemates were built for four of the guns, and were ready in April 1944. Many other bunkers were added, a fire control post and several tunnels. When Cherbourg was attacked by the Americans, this battery came under attack from artillery and fighter-bombers. Only two of the guns were able to return fire. After further advances brought the Americans into better firing positions, the batterie surrendered on 25 June.

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

SHM.

1, 24 - Searchlight.

2,4,9,16,19, 20, 21, 22 - Open emplacements for 15.5cm guns.

3, 7, 15, 18 - R679 Casemates.

5, 8, 14 - Bunkers (Ammunition -Troop accommodation).

6 - Bunker for Flak.

10 - Fire control post.

11, 12 - Look out posts.

13 - Emergency water supply.

17 - Tobruk's.

23 - French (Fort) fire control post.

25 - Barracks.

SHM

Canon de 145 L modèle 1916 Saint-Chamond or 145 L 16 was a French heavy artillery piece designed and produced during the First World War. From 1918, many were re-bored to use 155 mm shells and renamed Canon de 155 L modèle 1916 Saint-Chamond (155 L 16). A number of 145 and 155 guns were still on hand during the Second World War and served as coastal artillery in the French, Italian and German services. (Wiki)

15.5cm K.420(f) guns, Canon de 145 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond.

Plan of an open emplacement at Batterie Gatteville.

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Heeres Kusten Artillerie Regiment 8./1261. 4 x R679 casemates. 8 x Geschützstellung. Open emplacements for artillery. 2 x SK/Fire control post/Leitstand. 1 - for the batterie SK type and one French type inside the fort. 1 x Vf51a. 2 x 5cm KwK gun Ringstands. 1 x R646 1 x Vf58c Tobruk. 7 x Wellblech shelters. 1 x emergency water supply (Zisterne). 2 x 5cm KwK. 6 x 15.5cm K.420(f) guns. G - Geschützstellung. Open emplacements for artillery. T - Turm casemates. EWS - Emergency Water Supply.

IGNF 1947

R636 FCP. The one here would have been very alike.

R646 Wasser bunkers, there were two types 7m3 or 14m3.(MKB Bunkertour).

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

The two early batteries of four Geschützstellung each and a fire control post each (C & C1). On the right they used the old French forts post, on the left they may have used an open emplacement of wood and sand bags.

Allied reconnaissance photo 1942

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

This is the French fort of 1894/5. Built to keep out the English with many other positions all around Cherbourg.

Allied reconnaissance photo

Sandbagged Fire control post at StP277 M.K.B. York.

Re305, Les Respects Fire Control Post(f).

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

G - Geschützstellung. Open emplacements for artillery. T - Turm casemates. EWS - Emergency Water Supply.

Bundesarchiv

If the Geschützstellung looks like this, the gun was still in place in 1947.

Something else I saw, a cable connection. There should be a box set into the grounds.

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. The French fort, you can see top right, the French fire control post.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

And today, somebodies lovely new house and grounds.

Google

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. FCP.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. FCP.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. FCP.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

French fuel depot, underground. Somewhere here there should be an open Ringstand for a 5cm KwK Pak.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

French fuel depot, underground.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. FCP.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. In this corner is an exit from the fort, I found the door, but never went in.

14 December 2003

Alan Taylor
Lettering/markings on the entrance? — Alan Taylor Lettering/markings on the entrance?

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Fort les Couplets annexe. Now Alan Taylor sent me these photos. The passageway in and you can see the camouflage on the walls. Thank you Alan.

05 ‎September ‎2009 Alan Taylor

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Geschützstellung 3.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Geschützstellung 4.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Geschützstellung 4.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Geschützstellung 4. The way into the ready ammunition store.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Wellblech bunker. Early type of German shelter.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Wellblech bunker. Early type of German shelter.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Wellblech bunker. Early type of German shelter.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Wellblech bunker. These bunkers made of steel half round sheets corrugated and very strong were covered in concrete. Used as barracks, ammunition storage, in fact anything that need to be kept safe.

14 December 2003

With the door closed, you can see the light through the small window.

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

There was a tunnel linking some bunkers to G5. This looks like it.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Casemate Turm 1. Now surrounded by housing.

Google

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Geschützstellung 5 & Turm 2 behind.

Many Americans went around photographing the batterie sites after the battles, some officially like the US Army Signals Corps. Some for Military intelligence and some British of 30 Assault Unit.

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

The gun was still there in a 1947 picture,

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

15.5cm K.420(f) guns, Canon de 145 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond captured by the German advance into France in 1940 and used to bolster the artillery defence of Normandy. Ammunition was plentiful as I believe these guns were to be used to cover parts of the Maginot Line in the east of France.

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

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Turm 2. Note the holes in the concrete, this was achieved by rolling up a cement bag and inserting it in the face of the wet concrete. It acted as a camouflage to break up the solid concrete face of the casemate.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Turm 2. The four threads sticking out of the bunker on each side, was to attach a rectangular steel armoured plate.

14 December 2003 -- 1944 US Army Signals Corps 1944 US Army Signals Corps

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

Metal plates awaiting distribution to bunkers.

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

This is StP152 Gatteville H.K.B showing how the metal plates would have fitted. Red arrows the treads and yellow arrows the metal plate ready to be used.

1944 US Army Signals Corps

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Allied plans of the bunkers. R679 Casemate Plan.

Air 37/864 -- Air 37/864

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

Geschützstellung 6. I think I have these two pictures correct.

1944 US Army Signals Corps - 1944 US Army Signals Corps

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

SK/Fire control post, Leitstand, Peilstand. The view across Cherbourg's harbour. SK - Sonderkonstruktionen - special construction in other words not a standard design. There was a book full of design plans made by the Fortress construction Organisation and for some reason they decided to build their own?

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

SK/Fire control post, Leitstand, Peilstand. Looking into the front.

14 December 2003

StP272 les Couplets H.K.B.

SK/Fire control post, Leitstand, Peilstand. Strengthened roof. Normally there would have been an open, but due to the very heavy bombing of Cherbourg. A strong roof may have been installed to protect the crew.

14 December 2003