H.K.A.A.1255

[jopaerya]

Hello All

I am looking for information about a number of batteries
of the H.K.A.A. 1255 just after the invasion in a K.T.B.
they are called then 6./ , 7./ and 8./ 1255 , I only know
1./ till 4./ .1255 ?

Regards Jos

[Jeremiah29]

Hi Jos,

I'm agree with you for the number of the batteries of HKAA.1255.
They were in the sector of Houlgate :

- HKAA.1255 near Mont-Canisy
- 1./HKAA 1255 (6 x 15,5 cm K 420(f)) HKB Villerville / Bruyères
- 2./HKAA 1255 (6 x 15,5 cm K 420(f)) HKB Mont-Canisy
- 3./HKAA 1255 (6 x 15,5 cm K 420(f)) HKB Houlgate
- 4./HKAA 1255 (4 x 10,5 cm K 331(f)) HKB Trouville / Hennequeville

The HKB Vasouy used by 9./MAA 266 was too in the sector, and the 8 batteries of 711.ID in position near Villerville (1./AR.711), Trouville (2./, 5./ and 8./AR.711), Saint-Vaast-en-Auge (3./AR.711), Gonneville (4./ and 6./AR.711) and Grangues (7./AR.711).

If they exist I don't know the other batteries, I'm sorry...

Regards.
Lo

[jopaerya]

Hello Lo

Here a part of the SeeKo Seine-Somme from 18-07-1944 .
Maybe the other batteries of the 1255 were relocated and
did recieved a other number . Also it's not a typo because
there are several mentions of the batteries .

Regards Jos

[Manuferey]

Could the retreated personnel (once their positions had been overrun by the Allies) of the three batteries of HKAA 1260 (Pointe du Hoc, Riva Bella and Mont-Fleury ?) have been reformed and placed under HKAA 1255 as the new batteries 6, 7 and 8 ?

Jos, do you have any idea of types of guns for these 6,7 and 8 batteries in the document above ? That may give us some ideas.

The following German website, that seems to use original sources, mentions only 4 batteries in a brief history of HKAA 1255.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... e/HKAA.htm

Heeres-Küsten-Artillerie-Abteilung 1255
Aufgestellt am 8. Dezember 1943 beim OB West aus der Heeres-Küsten-Artillerie-Abteilung 510 zu vier Batterien für den Einsatz in Frankreich.Im September 1944 in Frankreich vernichtet.

Emmanuel

[jopaerya]

Hello Emmanuel

I don't the types of guns of the batteries , I was
hoping other members had some anwsers .
But I will keep searching for some more information .

Regards Jos

[Jeremiah29]

Hello Jos and Emmanuel

For the moment, I didn't find any information about these batteries but I search ...

I only know that 346.ID was renforced by s.Art.-Abt.1511 on 8 June.
I also found that : on 14 June, Heeresgruppe decide to send some batteries from General Reserve (HAA.763, 555, 1151 and 1193) and two Werfer-Brigade ( Werfer-Brigade 7 and 9) in the east sector of Orne.

I notice the day (18 July 44)...The Goodwood's day...it explain Allied artillery's activity and bombing..

Regards.
Lo

[Jeremiah29]

Hello all

Found on a map a Wn Vill 017 used by HKAA 1255 "Lehr Böhe" (?) at Champs Rabats near Villers-sur-Mer. Just near by was the HKA 1255 Stab.
Sorry don't find more for the moment...

Regards
Lo

[jopaerya]

Hello All

In the 15 Army there was a "Lehrbatterie" near the 2./1255 for the H.K.A.A. in this
area , this started in 01-1944 and was a "Lehrgang" for non-commissioned officers .
In a total there were 3 "Lehrgangen" of +/- a month in first half of 1944 .

Regards Jos

[Manuferey]

Regarding a possible 5/1255, I've found an intriguing sentence in the debriefing of Generalleutnant Joseph Reichert, CO of 711 ID, by the Americans after the war, in "Fighting the Invasion at D-Day" by David Isby:
"The main strength of artillery firepower was represented in the main coastal artillery 1255th Battalion, with three batteries of six French 150 mm guns and one French 100-mm gun battery consisting of four guns, to which another gun battery of 150-mm caliber with four naval guns was added later on."

This 5th battery with four naval guns would correspond to MKB Vasouy and could have become 5/1255.

According to http://www.feldgrau.com/kmsartabt.html MAA 266 only had 7 batteries in 1944, (1-5, Bttr. Petrolhafen and Bttr. Molière d'Aval). Therefore, there would not be a 9./MAA266 nor a 8./MAA266.


Confusing, isn't ?

Emmanuel

[jopaerya]

Hello Emmanuel

I am not sure , but I allways thought that the guns and the bunkers at Vasouy
were blowed up by German Kleinkampfer with Linsen in 08-1944 because Allied
forces could fire on Le Havre ????

Regards Jos

[jopaerya]

Hello

Found 2 places of the higher numbers of the 1255 batteries .

Regards Jos

[jopaerya]

Hello

If you see that 8./1255 ( Douville ) could fire from Douville to the Orne mouth
were a French battleschip was laying this must be a very heavy gun ??

Regards Jos

[AvB]

It's about 12km from Deauville to the Orne mouth. A 10.5 goes about 10, a 15.5 gets there?

[jopaerya]

Helo Arthur

You are right about the 12 k.m. to the Orne mouth , but a battleship will not come so close to the coast .

Regards Jos

[AvB]

Maybe it did by the 27th of July! I'm suprised the battery was still in German hands.