Mobile steel pilbox

[herring]

Hello Jos,

Both structure bodies seem to be the same, only wheels and hooking part are modified.

[jopaerya]

Yes Herring

You are right , the shape is the same

Regards Jos

[Graham Clayton]

For how long were a pair of soldiers able to stay in one of the pillboxes? They look pretty claustrophobic, plus the need to constantly keep the fumes away must have added to the fatigue of the soldiers. How often were they relieved? I presume that the changeover occurred in the night, so that the pillbox location was not given away during the day. Also did the relieving crew bring their own ammunition, or was a sizeable amount already stored in the pillbox when it was lowered into the ground?

[YC Chen]

Strange thing is that similar mobile stell pilboxes were also used in China 1945-49, especially in Manchuria. See the photo below of some surviving examples. Although these have lost their wheels, accroding to comtemprary accounts 4 small wheels can be attahced to the base so that it can be easily moved around.

I always wonder whether these things were influensed by foreign designs like the Panzernest.

[myt1prod]

Ahum...

This afternoon I found this trailer in the dunes, what seems to be a mobile steel pillbox... would you agree??
No datemarks to be found (this far)... but the frontplate has 2 observation slits (perhaps you could fit the nozzle of a gun in them?)

I wonder is this an original WW2 mobile steelbox? Has it been altered post-war (there is one bolt out of 'Inox'/A2 clearly recently placed)? Or is this a post-war training device?

mobile steel pillbox.jpg (426.66 KiB) Viewed 1035 times

Greetz
Jean

[myt1prod]

not much reaction??
Perhaps this photo is more convincing and shows more clearly it's function and the way it could be towed.

mobile steel pillbox1.jpg (320.72 KiB) Viewed 997 times

mobile steel pillbox2.jpg (383.81 KiB) Viewed 997 times

[AvB]

Isn't it just something for hunters? Doesn't look really ww2 to me. If it was a pillbox, it was a lousy light version.

[Bart]

I had the same idea...

[myt1prod]

I haven't seen many bunnies returning fire??...
In my opinion there are more indications that this in fact of military origin rather then some huntingshelter;

- at first it's location; how would a hunter be able to tow this trailer this far in the dunes, also knowing this terrain has been off-limit for many many years
- why are the wheels protected if it is standing in upright position?
- why can the observation/shootingholes be closed of with a sliding mechanism
- for a rabbit (I guess) this would stand out as a carrot amongst a field of onions
- why such a heavy and expensive trailer just for hunting rabits
- ...

Perhaps the markings on the wheel could help to identify this trailer
The brand seems to be "GUSTRO", which doesn't seem to exist anymore... also I couldn't find anything relating to tires of this brand on the net. Underneath it is written "runderneuert", this seems to be a German term for tires which have been fitted with a new profile/grooves (in other words; old tires which are made re-useable by providing them of new grooves)

Again; i'm not stating this is WW2, but it does have a military look if you ask me; perhaps for training purpose??

Jean

[Bart]

Hoi Jean,

Where did you find this "pillbox"?
If it's just across the French border it might have been left there by the French army for training purposes?

Bart

[JTG]

This rings a very vague bell - I think it is for a forward observer to call shots on a training range - mortars? or something not too deadly!

HTH

John

[myt1prod]

Hoi Jean,

Where did you find this "pillbox"?
If it's just across the French border it might have been left there by the French army for training purposes?

Bart

Hi Bart,
I found it near the military domain at Lombardsijde/Westende

[myt1prod]

some more photo's

detailed view of wheel and tire with it's brandname

mobile steel pillbox3.jpg (409.77 KiB) Viewed 881 times

inside view of the two observation/shootingslits which could be closed off by means of a slidingmechanism

mobile steel pillbox4.jpg (445.73 KiB) Viewed 881 times

Jean

[kstdk]

Hello

What might the original color be??

Also here another Picture of someting like it.

Regards
Kurt
kstdk

[myt1prod]

[quote="kstdk"]Hello

What might the original color be??

... hard to figure out... in my opinion the remains of the grey/green paint as seen on my photos is not original... but who will tell.

Also note the model (if it is in fact some sort of mobile pillbox/forward observation) shown in my photos could only be towed in the same position is was set up; upright that is... The metal shields protecting the wheels only allow one way of transportation, so it seems there was no or lesser double use of this model; in other words: it doesn't seem to be intended to be used in two ways, being (1) transportation and (2) observation/defence

Jean