Normandy Report Part 1: Longues-sur-Mer Battery

[Philipp Gross]

As promised, here's a first report of probably quite a few more to come. Of all the derelict German emplacements among the invasion beaches, the Longues-sur-Mer Battery is the only one still equipped with its original guns, four ex Kriegsmarine 15cm Torpedobootskanone C/36 in their original turrets. Situated between Omaha and Gold beach, it fired on the invasion fleet, forcing several Allied vessels to retreat to a safer distance from shore. However, three of four guns were disabled by naval bombardment during the invasion. It was captured by British forces on June 7th.

When approaching the battery from the parking lot, you are greeted by this veteran of the previous war:







This 7,62 cm M1917 Putilov field gun, captured from the Soviets in the east, was part of the perimeter defense. Apparently it was actually used.

Continuing onwards, we reach what is left of gun D. Supposedly it was destroyed when the ammunition of a British AA gun exploded, I'd guess some German leftovers were involved too. Various bits and pieces still stick out of the ground, in the same state as they were in 1944.



(Irish Setter for scale )






Gun C is slightly better off. To my amazement there's still hydraulic oil seeping out of the recoil cylinder... Damage from the shelling is evident, the turret armour plates are probably the same thickness as on the original ship-mounted guns.










Gun B:








Gun A is the best preseved of the four, but of course the salty air has taken its toll over the years. I hope it will be properly restored some day.











View from the guns to the sea:


The command bunker is somewhere back there. I forgot about it and didn't go there to take photos......

All four bunkers:


Arromanches is close by:


That's all for today. Thanks for looking

Philipp

[Vincent Power]

What a fantastic glimpse of history Philipp Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed it.

Vincent

[Raoul Kunz]

Really nice, thank you!
And Cora for scale is useful to have, now I can always relate how big something would be compared to an Irish Setter !


Best regards

Raoul G. Kunz

[Philipp Gross]

Thanks everyone

Vincent, I'm sure you appreciate the various rust references

Raoul, I have no idea how large a standard issue Irish Setter is but I can try to take some measurements

Philipp

[Steve Hutchinson]

Thanks Philipp

I am surprised the scrap metal left lying around hasn't been rounded up and sold on yet?

Great views for a bunker scenario

More to come?

Regards

Steve H

[Philipp Gross]

I don't know the details, but it seems that smaller parts that can be carried by a single person have disappeared over the years. Whoever decided to preserve the site for future visitors was either afraid of another invasion or foresaw the millions of tourists that now haunt the countryside

Definitely more to come, at least the Bayeux museum and Pegasus Bridge.

Philipp

[Justin Wooding]

Hi Philipp,

Those bunkers were sure built to last!!

Really nice mate, great photos. Thanks sharing these, it's really appreciated

[Philipp Gross]

Thanks Woody, glad you like it

More shall follow soon!

Philipp

[Shawn Ramsey]

It just amazing me so much is still intact there. Thanks for sharing.

I really need to get a bucket list together and this needs to be at the top.

Shawn

[Philipp Gross]

If you go there, you should plan with at least two weeks, if you're going to visit museums/memorials/battlefields every day. If you plan to see anything else as well, add another two weeks... It's hard to imagine a country with more history, be it 1066 or 1944. With both trips combined I've spent four weeks there and it still feels like I've only scratched the surface.

Philipp