Wn248 Château de Tourlaville, Stab Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260

When the Germans came to Cherbourg in 1940, they had a stiff battle for the town. Then they had to subdue the naval port. Onece in full control, Cherbourg was a great prize. A naval port able to build and repair a wide range of shipping. A full naval HQ. A civilian harbour with more ship building and ship repair facilities. Also within easy reach of Southern England. Then there was the defence, a full 360° defence, built in the 1890's and being up gunned to Maginot standards with 163mm and 250mm batteries. Then there was the Grande Rade covering the seaward side of the port, with a sea wall and forts of Querqueville, L'Ouest, Central, L'est, Pelée and Flamands. As the Navy (Kriegsmarine) were to run and defend the newly captured ports, (because the Army (Heer) were to busy fighting their own wars). M.A.A.260 (Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260) was ordered to take over the artillery defence in June 1940. The unit came under the "Commander of the Normandy naval defence". In 1941 it changed to "Artillery Commander Cherbourg". The Head Quarters M.A.A.260 took over a large Château in the town of Tourlaville, Château des Ravalat to manage and run the defence. The Château had been privately owned but in the 1930's it had been sold to the City of Cherbourg.

2 x Vf58 Tobruks.

Artilleriekommandeur Cherbourg (provided by M.A.A 260) 1941.
   Batterie Hamburg (West) in Fermanville (4 x 24-cm) StP234.
   Batterie Brommy (West) in Maupertus (4 x 15-cm) StP245.
   Molenbatterie Cherbourg (4 x 9,5-cm).
   Batterie York (West) in Querqueville (4 x 17-cm) StP277.

1943 the department was structured as follows:
   Stab in Cherbourg.
   Batterie Cherbourg-Mole (4 x 9,4-cm).
   Batterie Brommy (West) (4 x 15-cm) StP245.
   Batterie Hamburg (West) (4 x 24-cm) StP234.
   Batterie York (West) (4 x 17-cm) StP277.
   Batterie Blankenese (3 x 9,4cm) Wn126.

1944 The department as follows:
   The department command post:
   Cherbourg Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Longues : 4 x 15cm SKL/C36 Wn48. Oberleutnant Kurt Weil.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Marcouf : 4 x 21cm K39/41, 1x 15cm SKL/45 Wn126.Oberleutnant Walter Ohmsen.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Blankenese : 4 x 9,4cm Vickers M39 (e) Néville Wn126.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Hamburg : 4 x 24cm SKL/40 - Fermanville StP234. Oberleutnant Rudi Gelbhaar.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Brommy : 4 x 15cm SKC/28 - Les Caplains StP245.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Fort du Roule : 4 x 10,5cm SKC/32 StP255.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Bastion Cherbourg : 4x 10,5cm SKC/32. L'Arsenal.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) York : 4 x 17cm SKL/40 - Amfreville StP277. Oberleutnant Hans Brenzel.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Landemer : 4 x 15cm SKC/28 - Castel-Vendon, Oberleutnant Gerhard Kubis.
   Marine-Küsten-Batterie (M.K.B.) Greville : 2 x 38cm SKC/34 - StP356.
  
In June 1944 the department was disbanded following the invasion.

All batteries are on the website except the ones not in bold.
Taken from Lexikon Der Wehrmacht