Stp Blei - ammunition markings (Ghyvelde)

[myt1prod]

Hi Alex

handling two seperate Stp. in one topic must be getting complicated...
The red circles on the GE-aerial you're refering to are the open gunemplacements of the Stp. Blei intended for the four fieldhowitzers 15.5 cm s.F.H. 414 (f) standing here (or other guns during serveral occupations of the Stp.)

The FlaK-emplacements, mentioned in this topic, are to be found in the Stp. Arnika (Ghyvelde). Only 2 of these 'triangular' Flak- emplacements can be found here, one heavely overgrown and the one as shown in the picture and groundplan here above.
The 2 FlaK emplacements at Stp. Arnika are situated here:

Flak Arnika1.jpg

Grtz
jean

[AW]

... ah!
but I am still wounder about your gun positions.
only the OB at the 134 from your map I know... but In my opinion this the one furthest west.

greetz

Alex

[myt1prod]

I've found many versions on the possible locations of the former gunemplacements at the Stp. Blei, amongst which the one I think is correct when researching serveral historical aerialphoto's of the area. Although some questionmarks remain to me also... At the most western emplacement there was clearly standing a structure at the time which could match a R134, although no confirmation on that, but it could explain the rather strange positioning of the emplacements.

blei48.jpg

1. still present gun emplacement
2. not as visible on this aerial but more so on other historical aerials, although sometimes it seems to be positioned a bit slightly to the west (near the farm)
3. nowadays a drinkingpond for horses (still following part of the possible emplacement)
4. nowadays only cropmarks indicate it's possible position
5. a possible bunker (134??) standing here at the time

jan

[CNOCK]

Hallo,

the 'cross' prime covers were used for British 18 Pdrs, they had also loops for attaching webbing slings for carrying

Cnock

[myt1prod]

thanks Cnock,

schutzfeder1.jpg

schutzfeder2.gif

Possibly belonging to the BEF dating back to the retreat and evacuation on Dunkirk (operation Dynamo, mai 1940); according to wikipedia the 18pounders were used by the British Empire, Russian Empire, Ireland, Finland and Estonia between. The British, the BEF (British Expeditionary Force), lost about 216 pieces of them during 1940...
therefore also possible some were captured by the German and re-used at this location (Stp. Arnika)?? ...or perhaps, by the end of the war, the Czech and/or Canadian troops - which held positions at the Stp. Arnika - were using these guns??

sadly there are no markings to be found on the "primer-crosses", so their origin remains unsolved. Perhaps someone knows about the guns used by the several axis and allied troops which held this position...

jean