Regelbau 663a and 663b

[Eax-E]

Hello,

I'm happy to share that a poor tube left for decades in the Saint-Marcel museum landyard is now identified. It's a 10,cm K.K. and the possible unique survivor of this (very bad) weapon. Investigations are on going to know more about its origine, probably Le Pointeau or Fest.Pi. Park.

Kind regards

[AvB]

Fantastic find!

[jopaerya]

What a great find Arthur

I hope this very special gun recieves a better location were it could be restored .

[JKernwerk]

Wauw! That is awsome!
That is a "pretty special" gun.

[Eax-E]

Hello
Thanks friends.
This weapon was a very bad design. Its low length related to the caliber provided a low velocity, ended up with bad ballistic caracteristics. The flight time was too high and the course was too curvy to follow, aim and hit a mooving target. The shell arrival angle was also on the problem list.
One of the biggest problem was the smoke after the shooting. It was too thick and the dispersion was too slow ; as a result the gunner would systematically loose his target from his sightline. Several design changes were experienced on prooving ground about two options :
- Adding a muzzle brake to oriente or disperse the smoke. Several muzzle brake shapes were tested.
- Changing the powder type.
No good result was obtained. In the end, a so called "solution" was found : an observer was set on the side, away enough not to be hampered from the smoke. He would indicate to the gunner where was the target to help him to retrieve it trough the aiming optic once the smoke has vanished. A kind of apparatus made the link to indicate the target location. That is undoubtly why the Regelbau 663 had an observer cupola aside.

Bye

[AvB]

Nice Arthur, is this information from an experience report (German/allied?)

[Eax-E]

From several german reports.
I don't know if the Allied have been investigating on this weapon.

[Eax-E]

Hello,

Le pointeau Nz345 - R663 - built
Calais Hafenstüzpunkt - SK - built
Brest area -abandonned ?
Kernwerk Hoek van Holland - SK- built

The 10,5 c K.K. from Calais is not a 663. Has anyone any picture of it ?

Kr

[AvB]

‘In Angriff genommen’. But never finished? Would be very interesting but I’m doubting if it was built, there should be any photos.

I’ve never found ‘strange’ big bunkers on the aerial photos but I would love to be convinced!

[jbb20p7]

Hello

Only we can find pictures on Google of the destruction from "Kernwerk Hoek van Holland - SK- built"





Bye
JB

[wimve]

A little bit off topic but here is the link to the original archive: beeldbank.nimh.nl.

Search on Rozenburg or Kernwerk an you will get an amazing serie of (sadly demolition) pictures.

[Eax-E]

‘In Angriff genommen’. But never finished? Would be very interesting but I’m doubting if it was built, there should be any photos.

I’ve never found ‘strange’ big bunkers on the aerial photos but I would love to be convinced!

It should be on the 1943 Sommer-Bauprogramm, it gives enough time if no problems are encoutered.

Jos shown me a document about the construction of the building from 19th, March 1943 about the baugrube and landscape integration of the bunker -which is at planned stage.The height of the bunker shall be 10,40m, just as a 663. However in August 1944 no 663 was reported in the AOK15, but also no one in building process.

Anyway, i'll have to update the list for "abandonned", but I don't know if it is during the building or prior to.

[AvB]

Maybe priority changed during the building program and it was abandoned. Such a huge bunker should leave traces (in documents, photos, SHM archives etc). Was the Stutzpunkt mentioned?

From what you can see in St Nazaire and Hoek van Holland the 10cm KK was intended to block off piers or other facilities (beach) where the enemy could load off troops. The bunker itself should be surrounded by infantery defence bunkers (MG/M19) which were purely built for protection of the 10cm KK against infantry attacks.

[Eax-E]

Hafenstützpunkt-Panzerstützpunkt VI C, on the beach wall at the Westmole.