Hello
Very bizarre discovery just now... while studying some aerial shots I found this - what seems to be a Drehbettung - in the neighboring town of my hometown Adinkerke (Belgium)!!
I never heard or read something about the presence of a Drehbettung in Adinkerke... although I heard some stories about railwaygun-activity in the region of Adinkerke (have to dig into that).
Off course it could be a civil railroadturntable (= Drehbettung in German), but again: never heard about the prescence of such a structure in Adinkerke...
But due to it's positioning I have reasons to believe it is of German origin;
>>> it's distance to the sea and positioning inland (about 3 to 4 km inland) is the same as for the most known railroadbatteries allong the English Channel.
>>> although very few civilians live here the Germans built a Luftschütz here (which is still present); so it could only been intended for the protection of military personel serving in the immediat surroundings... personel for what?? perhaps for the railwaygun?
(on the otherhand; just across the LS - not on aerial - there is standing a single building (holiday pension) known to be used by the Germans to station soldiers, by means of a German built road is was connected to the seaside strongholds of the town De Panne).
>>> there is quit a gap inbetween the last railraodbattery in Northern France (inside Dunkirk Harbour) and the known ones in Belgium... if this turntable in Adinkerke is indeed a German built Drehbettung for a railraodbattery it would nicely fill the blank spot in the German railroadgun-defenceline along the English Channel.
Who can provide more information on the origins of this structure??
Thanks ahead!
Jean
Drehbettung in Adinkerke (BE) ??
Re: Drehbettung in Adinkerke (BE) ??
Hello Jean,
I don't know this area but it can be for civil use. As the steam engies had only one pilot cabin they had to be turned in the right direction.
Regards
I don't know this area but it can be for civil use. As the steam engies had only one pilot cabin they had to be turned in the right direction.
Regards
Re: Drehbettung in Adinkerke (BE) ??
thanks for your answer
Hopefully someone can provide a conclusive answer on the origins of this railraodturntable.
Hopefully someone can provide a conclusive answer on the origins of this railraodturntable.