Wn277 Ouest D'Amfreville (f)
BATTERIE · K.V.U.Gruppe Cherbourg See · AOK 7 Normandy · France
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Situated to the left of Cherbourg port to protect its flank. There are two French forts/batteries here and this is the westerly of the two. Batterie Ouest D'Amfreville. The battery had originally been a French artillery position dating from 1898 constructed to protect the port of Cherbourg. The French installed three canon de 164 mm Modèle 1893 artillery pieces in 1926. During the German advance into the Cotentin Peninsula on 18 June 1940 the French guns fired upon advancing German units in the Martinvast region. The guns were destroyed by the French before they could fall into German hands.
Calibre: 164 mm.
Type: Mle 1893-28 et Mle 23.
Maximum range: 19 000 m pour le Mle 93/28 et de 20 000 m pour le 93/23.
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
We arrived, the gate was open and why not. We only take pictures.
The forts around Cherbourg built in the 1880's were to protect the port of Cherbourg and the French navy that used it, against the English. Yes us again. At the same time the British (English) were defending their ports against the French?? with the port of Portland having a harbour wall built just like Cherbourg s.
29 January 2007 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Hinz Grandfather 1941
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The outer wall and gate. Also the dog kennel on the left.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Guard dogs kennel.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Guard room and Head Quarters.
The style of architecture can be seen all over Cherbourg, around the port area and out on the hills surrounding it, where many forts were built.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Unknown building.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Toilets and washing facilities.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Taken over in 1941 by the German Marine artillery.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
A boundary stone.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Looking at the back of the gun line with a battery of three breach loading guns.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
This is around the front of the battery looking at the large bank of earth covering the face or glacis plate.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The well.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Looking along the gun line at the individual stairs to each gun position.
29 January 2007 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IGNFR 1947
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The stair way to the guns.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The middle gun emplacement.
One of the gun positions showing the ready ammunition slots covered with hinged steel plates. Cut into this one is a passage to a more modern open emplacement.
Inset: Another gun emplacement showing where the metal half round chaser rail was set into the concrete so the gun could swivel around.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
Ready ammunition slots.
29 January 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Caix WWW! 164mm Railway Gun.
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The passage leading to a large open Ringstand.
29 January 2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geoportail
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The half round roofs are the tops of individual magazines sitting between the gun positions.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
The view from the top of the battery.
29 January 2007
(StP277) Batterie d'Amfreville Ouest (f)
29 January 2007