missing L14

[Luchtkastelen 40-45]

In the L1-L16 series of Luftwaffe Geschütz- and Schartenstände there's one lesser known brother: the L14 Schartenstand für 2,0 cm Flak. In Rolf's "big blue book" there's no drawing of it and I have never found any mention of this type.
Yet I think this maybe the solution for a number of identical gun bunkers, for which no type number is known yet.
So I call upon all to help me with leads on the missing L14: reports, Baufortschrittkarten or -meldungen, etc. concerning Luftwaffe airfields that mention the L14.
In my hypothesis, many airfields would usually have 1 or 2 bunkers of the L14-type.
All info, however small it may seem, might be just the missing piece to solve this puzzle.

rgd, RD

[jopaerya]

Hello R.D.

I aslo never found German information about the L/14 , only the mention in Rolf's book .
Also strange is the mention of the 2 cm 30 on the drawing of the L/15 , the 2 cm could
also placed in the L/15 with adjustment of the Lafettenkreuz , sorry only more quistions
and no awnsers .

Regards Jos
.

[Luchtkastelen 40-45]

The only example of the L15 I know is at Vlissingen-Souburg. The other unknown type is much more common in Holland, Belgium and France.

There's a logical order in the Luftwaffe Flakstände:
Geschützstände:
L1 for 2,0 cm - L2 for 2,0/3,7 cm - L3a/b unknown - L4 for 8,8 cm - L5 for 8,8/10,5 cm
Schartenstände:
L13 for 2,0 cm in Panzerkuppel - L14 for 2,0 cm - L15 for (2,0/)3,7 cm - L16 for 8,8 cm
Schartenstände:
L414A for 2,0 cm - L415A for 2,0/3,7 cm - L416A for 8,8 cm
etc. etc.

Since all are accounted for with drawings except the L14 and there is an unknown bunkertype that does fit the profile, I guess this could be the missing link.

But to proof my wrong or right needs evidence and not just guessing. Any mention of the L14 in German documents or drawings might shed some light on this.

rgd, RD

[Luchtkastelen 40-45]

Apparently the 2,0 cm and 3,7 cm Flak were both compact and mobile enough to be exchanged in certain Stände. Putting them away fixed in a closed Scharte seems a waste of it's mobility. The unknown type Schartenstand has at least an entrance on the back to keep the weapon it contained mobile. For some time I thought of a small field gun like the petite Belgian infantry gun SES found out about on Karup/Grove. But it is rather suspicious that many of the unknown type Schartenstände are in or very close to a light Flak battery....

rgd, RD

[Luchtkastelen 40-45]

Did a detailed calculation on concrete cubics for the unknown Schartenstand in the picture above. The total amount is 36,4 m3, precisely the volume for the L14.
But then again, this is no proof....

[jopaerya]

Hello Rene

I think you are right , but as so may times there is a lack of German prove .

Regards Jos

[jopaerya]

Hi All

Found this , for me a few new places were this bunker was build .

Drawing = SHAT

Regards Jos

[Luchtkastelen 40-45]

Think it was Moonraker who used this name "abri pour projecteur" some time ago for this Schartenstand. This drawing must have been his source too(?)
Indeed some new locations: Abbeville, Ligescourt-Berck (Berck aerodrome is some 30 km apart from Ligescourt; could they mean Berck and also Crécy aerodrome just south of Ligescourt?), St.Omer-Longuenesse (only one known until now), St.Omer-Fort Rouge = Arques (one known); Marck (2 known).
Guess my next destination will be region Berck....

rgds, RD

[Lars Bertelsen]

Hello

Nice drawing. But since it is a French post-war one, the designation of the bunker may be wrong.
What was the purpose of a casemate-mounted 60cm (?) searchlight at an airfield ??

A 2 cm Flak in this bunker seems more reasonable. I think that René is right - this bunker is the missing L14 !?
(And a the recesses in the walls match perfectly with a 20-round Flak 30 or 38 magazine...)

greetings
Lars

[Luchtkastelen 40-45]

To put a searchlight in a bunker like this seems pretty useless; unless to illuminate the runway? That was common practice at postwar Sovjet airfields in the DDR, so not so odd after all. But the position of our bunkers is not always lined up with a practical landing direction and I wonder if the dimensions would fit a searchlight.
In my opinion, it's indeed just another erroneous despcription form a postwar survey.

The "L14 Schartenstand for 2,0 cm Flak" is still an assumption, but circumstantial evidence is getting stronger all the time.
The three ammo-niches have dimensions 0,5 x 0,75 x 0,5 m (h x w x d). How precisely would ammo-boxes for 2,0 cm Flak-shells fit? I am not familiar with that subject. What other kind of ammo-boxes could fit?
In a few of these bunkers that were not filled with sand or rubbish, I noticed that the floor was totally flat with no bolts, holes, grooves, etc. in it. This could indicate that it was not intended for a small howitzer-like gun or PAK; I think those needed something to support the recoil-ploughs or whatever they are called. A flat floor would be ideally suited for the mobile pedestal of a light Flak.

Anyone who can support or decline this hypothesis (preferrably with facts or foto's).

Rgds, René

[moonraker]

hi renè,
yes, you have to be reason little, but to explain why A fluplazt arcque and has marck dimensioned of L15 there is a machinstand to stick.I think that some one received the gun and the others a projecteur.s' are my .
etienne

[Lars Bertelsen]

Hello René,

I have made a quick sketch of the cross section of a recess with a (real scale) 2 cm magazine in it. Of course it does not prove anything, but the possibility is still there.

greetings
Lars

[moonraker]

hi lars,
is a good sugestion.

[der bunkermann]

hi guys, i found this drawing about the concrete doors of the (L14?) bunker......
could it be of any use?
i wonder what sch flak 2007 means?
gr. tim

[jopaerya]

Hi Tim

Great find , I think the Sch Flak 2007 is the number of the bunkertype .
It's looks there is also a cross section of this bunker . C-D

Regards Jos