Coast defenses in Greece

[Dili]

Any conclusion on 210mm guns at Salonika yet?

Who controlled them after Germans invaded, any HKAA or Marine Abteilung that lists them?

And the model?

[jopaerya]

Hello Dili

On the few lists that I have from H.K.A. and Kriegsmarine at Greece, there is no 21 cm at Saloniki .

Regards Jos

[Dili]

Thanks Jos

There are photos of german troops there which seem to make the battery operational.

So it is very strange it does not appear in any documents. Any other model of heavy gun candidate?

[ROLAND1369]

For what is is worth Von Harnier's Artilerie in Kustenkamp MM does not mention these guns also. In addition the earlier photos show several 150 mm german field guns in front of the emplacements which could explain the presence of the German troops. The orientation of the guns on different azimuths would also indicate an inactive battery as a Good battery Commander would be unlikely to allow such positioning if not cleaning or firing. I believe the photos represent the battery as captured.

[Clive Mortimore]

Looking at the photos there seems to be battle damage to the emplacement. Had the battery been knocked out ? Either by the attacking forces or the retreating Greeks, making it useless for the Germans hence not appearing on any of their list.

[Dili]

I page 3 of this topic there are photos that appear to indicate the battery is okay - with German soldiers - compared to the other photos where they show it damaged.

[Clive Mortimore]

It does seem odd that the photos from the front show an intact battery yet the ones from the rear show a damaged battery with shells close to the guns. I may be totally wrong but I still think it was not listed and/or unused because it had been made useless by someone.

[ROLAND1369]

From looking at the pictures there appears nothing in the guns or emplacements that would preclude repair. I think that the lack of use probably had more to do with the obsolescence of the weapons and more importantly the ammunition. The visible shell behind the gun is the short 1800's style short projectile. Given the age of the system probably there was insufficient ammunition for the weapons. Just because it was a standard German caliber did not mean the Germans had ammunition or propellant which would interchange. The production of new ammo would hardly be cost productive.

[Dili]

In this thread there are pictures taken in different periods i think. Some with emplacement with debris and others when it appear it was cleaned.
The guns don't appear to be damaged.

It is possible that Roland is correct.

Edit: from looking at guns they don't appear obsolescent

[ROLAND1369]

Given the era of emplacement the guns are mounted on sliding top carriage gravity return mount of the turn of the century. This coupled with the old style ammo would severely limit the range when mounted on the current carriage. It would also severely limit the rate of fire.

[Dili]

Is there a photo that shows the current carriage?

[jopaerya]

Found some more infomation on the batterie with the 636 in this Topic , it should be the H.K.B. 864 b with 4 x 10.5 cm .

Regards Jos

[AvB]

Nice Jos! High on my list with Mount Olympus in the background.

[jopaerya]

This should also be in Greece , please note the half round gun emplacement . Regards Jos

[Dili]

155mm?