StP391 Biville le Petit Thot, H.K.B., K.V.U.Gruppe Joburg, K.V.Gruppe Periers. K.V.A. J2, Normandy.
K.V.U.Gruppe Joburg · AOK 7 Normandy · France
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Heeres Küsten Batterie - Army Coastal Batterie comprising of four casemates with 10.5cm K.331(f) guns. These were captured French(f) field guns.
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
This shows the original open emplacements for horse artillery guns. It shows up a least three of them and the four casemates are under construction. Behind are huts for accommodation and a kitchen.
2./H.K.A.R.1262. (Heeres Küsten Artillery Regiment)
4 x R671 casemates.
1 x Leitstand/SK.
6 x SK/Vf ammunition stores.
4 x 10.5cm K.331(f) guns.
Huts for accommodation and kitchens.
Date 1943
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Plan today with the four casemates, ammunition stores, fire control post, accommodation and a half circle of defensive machine guns. Most can be found today, IF there are no horses in the field.
Date Google
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Plan of the German positions around Vauville.
Date K.V.U.-Gr.Joburg
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Camp Maneyrol the link will take you to the history of the aerodrome.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The batterie covered the beach Wn's of Wn315 & Wn317. The guns had an effective range of 12km/7.45miles.
Date Google
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The entrance to the Batterie position. 1940 the German army arrived in Cherbourg and start gradually looking at defending the beaches. First infantry would started to dig the odd trench and lay a few mines. By 1942/43 things had become more serious, artillery had been brought in and set in field positions. Casemates started to appear on the beaches and many more mines and barbed wire was laid. Allied aerial bombing started to damage open gun emplacements so Hitler decided to have all artillery placed under concrete. 1943 was a year of bunker construction and here four R671 casemates were constructed. The old fire control post was still being used as were the ammunition niches that had served the open emplacements.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Set in several of the hedges are ammunition niches, small concrete spaces to hold dispersed ammunition.
Date
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Leitstand (Fire control post) SK Sonder Konstruction (special construction). The Leitstand was originally built for the guns that were in open emplacements. Its an open viewing platform with a room underneath.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
A 1945 photo taken for the French military and held at SHM.
Date SHM
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
A simple concrete structure made probably by the artillery men stationed here. Crude wood shuttering, a steel ladder to the observation room. The two front windows could be used as machine gun embrasures.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The original galvanise iron ladder handles still in place. A shelf for working on and a niche/cupboard for keeping plotting instruments.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The small integral shelf.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The view of the batterie.
Date 21 February 2009
SHM plan of the batterie.
shm
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
This picture in 2009 shows the two window/embrasures that could double as defence with a machine gun or rifle.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Looking inside.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Turm 4
15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Turm 4 rear entrance door.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The door frame and heavy hinges of the 434P01 type door.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Looking from above, the shapes of the roof are to support earth and grass to help with camouflage. The two wings, earth can be heaped up and make a continuous mound over the bunker.
Date Google
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Turm 4
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Turm 4
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
An Allied plan of the batterie.
Green - open emplacements.
Red - casemates.
The Allies thought the batterie would be 15.5cm when they were actually only 10.5cm.
Date Air Doc
Air Doc
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Turms 3, 2 & 1.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
1945 pictures.
Date SHM
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
In this casemate it looks as though the gun mounting is still in place but the barrel removed.
Date SHM
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
John wondering around one of the open emplacement ammunition niches.
Date 21 June 2002
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
The two open emplacements and the ammunition niches in the field.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Ammunition niche.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Another niche with an interesting cover.
Date26 June 2002
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
An interesting cover.
Date 26 June 2002
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
An interesting cover.
Date
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Ammunition room.
Date21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Ammunition room.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Ammunition room.
Date 21 February 2009
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Ammunition niche with the door missing.
Date 26 June 2002
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Barracks at the bottom of the field.
Date barrack
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Barracks at the bottom of the field.
Date 15 October 2017
StP391 Biville le Petit Thot H.K.B.
Date 15 October 2017