Wn10 Riva-Bella (Sword Beach)
K.V.Gruppe River-Bella (Sword & Juno Beaches) · AOK 7 Normandy · France
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Kieffer reaches the Casino strongpoint, supported by armored vehicles.
2./Grenadier Regiment 736.
1 x R644 6 embrasure turret bunker.
3 x Vf58c Tobruks.
1 x R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
1 x 5cm KwK Ringstand.
1 x Vf bunker.
1 x 7.5cm Pak 40.
1 5cm KwK L/60 Pak.
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Poste De Secours - Monument Français Libres.
Google Maps
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Just of the ferry with the sun rising.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
The western flank of Wn10.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Two air photo of the beach showing the second a bit later building work has been started and the regeneration of the area building up.
NA
Wn10 Riva-Bella
1 x R644 6 embrasure turret bunker.
3 x Vf58c Tobruks.
1 x R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
Plan
Wn10 Riva-Bella
The site of the R626, observation post and anti-tank wall.
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
The casemate just showing up behind the beach huts. This is the angle the gun would have fired away to the west and when the landings started it must have been very busy firing at British landing craft and tanks coming ashore.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
The Tobruk defence of the R626.
25 October 2014
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
The Tobruk defence of the R626.
Allied Bigot plan
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
Steel studs on the roof.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
The steel studs showing up well on this original picture.
NA
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
Plan showing the steel canopy and where an anti/tank gun would have fitted.
Allied Bigot plan.
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
Note the flanking wall covers the embrasure.
NA
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
This is the flanking wall that covered the embrasure from direct fire from the sea.
25 October 2014
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
Side view.
25 October 2014
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R626 casemate for a 7.5cm Pak 40 with roof canopy.
Looking towards the rear.
25 October 2014
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Observation post. Not a very pretty one.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Observation Tobruk.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Observation post - anti-tank wall - 5cm KwK Pak.
How it looked just after the war when a team of army intelligence officers toured the coast taking pictures of the battlefields. 30 ASU (Commando) was one of these units.
NA
Wn10 Riva-Bella
5cm KwK Pak L/60.
This is a post capture photo showing the camouflage netting still draped around it. Also a slit trench leads up to the position and the small anti-tank wall on the left side..
DEFE 2/487
Wn10 Riva-Bella
5cm KwK Pak L/60.
This is another interesting point, the slit on the side of casemates were used to store the barrel when under heavy attack to protect it. Also see the camouflage on the barrel and shield. the cracks in the concrete are due to the emplacement being hit by artillery in the landings.
DEFE 2/487
Wn10 Riva-Bella
5cm KwK Pak L/60 .Some moths after its capture.
NA
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Allied plan for the the Ringstand.
DEFE 2/487
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Observation and anti-tank wall.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Google Maps
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R644 with a 40P8 turret.
Now dedicated memorial to the French Commando and its leader Lieutenant Commander Philippe Kieffer.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R644 with a 40P8 turret.
A six embrasured steel turret where a gunner could sit inside and could fire a fortress mounted Mg34 to any of the embrasures.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
R644 with a 40P8 turret.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
Lieutenant Commander Philippe Kieffer.
21 March 2015
Wn10 Riva-Bella
21 March 2015