Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
WN · K.V.Gruppe Cotentin Ost · AOK 7 Normandy · France
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
The very pretty River Saire flows under an old stone bridge just before it reaches the sea. This bridge was a very important north south connection for the German army. To defend it there were two WN defences, one to the north Wn114 Rive gauche, of which there was one Tobruk, two Vf shelters for the men and a Vf/Pak. There is nothing that I know of left there now as most of the area has been built over.
Now Wn113 Rive droite has several defences left to find.
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
3 x Vf58c Tobruk.
1 x Vf2a shelter.
4 x Unterstands shelters.
1 x Vf69 81mm mortar.
1 x Mounting for a Pz.T. FT17.
1 x Pz.T. R35 tank turret 3.7cm KwK144(f).
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
The bridge over the River Saire.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
If you were Bigoted in the Allied forces, it meant that you were in on the secret of D-Day. This is a Bigot map showing the known defences as of 10 May 1944. And very accurate they are.
10 May 1944 Bigot
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
MF73 & MF58 are mine field numbers. e.
German defence map
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
Bunker is an observation bunker.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
1 Encuv; DCA. AA gun.
2 Piece de campagne (casemate). Observation.
3 Tobruk.
4 Abri lágers. Bunkers light.
5
Abri et toutes. Shelters.
6 Abris avec tourelle de char. Tank turret.
SHM Plan
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
A tiny slit set into the sea wall, it would have been almost imposable to see from the sea.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
Tobruk defence, would have allowed all around defence and being so low, a very hard target.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
Looking at it from the rear at the view the gun had. A 3.7cm KwK144(f) gun. Not exceptionally large but one that could if lucky take out a Sherman tank or certainly smaller soft skinned vehicles. And if a landing was to happen its Co-Axle machine gun would have been very useful.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
A very clever mounting for a Pz.T.
FT17. tank turret 3.7cm KwK144(f).
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
This looks like a Flak position added on and would also give ground defence if necessary. It had 360° view of the area and could take out tanks and vehicles passing along the road. It could also include sea targets and do it original job of anti-aircraft.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
Probably a gun became available from stores and was sent here to bolster up the defence. The men defending Wn113 may even have made their own emplacement for it, as it does look rather home made.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
The pieces jutting out are ammunition niches for the 2cm ammunition. The walls are just very thin concrete and maybe earth was heaped up around the walls to help a little. Otherwise a cannon shell from a Typhoon or Spitfire could go right through it.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
Vf2a nine man shelter.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
The last of the Tobruks found.
The Americans landed on Utah Beach to the south and advanced up to Quineville and then the main push on Cherbourg started. The attack went up the spine of the peninsular, but around here there were scant troops, just reconnaissance and a few infantry with some tank support. Their job was to gradually round up and defences along this coast. Most of the defences from here on I believe retreated back into Cherbourg, worried that they would be cut off. Some fighting did happen, but on a small scale.
25 September 2005
Wn113 Rive droite embouchure de la Saire
25 September 2005