Batterie Kolimvari on Crete

[vonkalts]

Some pictures from bunker in Ag.Galini in Crete.




.. and the view from the bunker.


Thanasis

[assfort]

Hello,
I'm from greece and i search about axis fortifications in my country (http://www.fortifications.gr sorry but only in greek for now). The Documents here is very usefull in my search and i regognise many places .. do you have the full list or part of this?
Thanks
Thanasis

Hello Wargamer.gr and congratulations for the website http://www.fortifications.gr
In your website, can see many structures that seem built by Italian army.
In addition to the many, small pillboxes, there are structures (sometimes with added side walls) that are very similar to the first generation bunkers built for coastal defense, in Sicily and Sardinia.


To have a confirmation, or not, it would be interesting to see the images of machine-gun loophole photographed from the inside.
Normally, these italians bunkers have a kind of "bench" in concrete, to support the "tail" of the heavy machine-gun tripod.
Instead, in many pillboxes there is - in the center - a concrete plinth, with a similar function for Breda 37 or Fiat 35 machine-gun.
Finally, the 47/32 anti-tank gun blockhouse show 3 grooves: 1 under the loophole, and 2 in the side walls of the blockhouse.
Regards Daniele

[/img]

[Natter]

I found this bunker close to the Tavronitis bridge outside Maleme. I was told it's german and built during the occupation. It seems to have been equipped with a panzer-turret of some kind (rather large diametre of the opening - close to 1m).
Anyone know more about this and what kind of turret being mounted?

Position for Google Earth etc.: N 35.52686 E 23.82394 (it seems more excavated today than it appears on the older satelite-photos).

[Natter]

I'm not sure about the partly "naval" theme here, with the two US Mk 6 minesystems on the bunker and the two UK Mk VIII (or perhaps it's Mk IX) torpedoes placed by the bridge... (this is close to the Maleme airport).

As torpedoes are my main interest, I'm curious about the modifications on these two... One had a warhead (unknown type) and the other had a german type 5081 exersice head from the 60's. Both were also equipped with a "hängewarze" from the german G7a (TI) WW2 torpedo, suggesting post-war use from german WW2 surface tubes..?

[Natter]

I wan's able to get out to the german battery on the tip of the peninsula, as the road requires a 4x4 and appearantly isn't fit for travel after heavy rain (name of location is "Spathi" or "Spatha"?), but this guy has posted some photos:
http://www.panoramio.com/user/3466702?c ... oto_page=3

Is this battery included on the lists supplied by Jos earlier in this thread?

[Natter]

what kind of turret being mounted?

I guess this is the answer:
http://www.fortifications.gr/images/sterea/162_3.jpg

[jopaerya]

Thanks Natter

For the picture's , must be one of the fifty 3.7 cm Kw.K. 38 (t) that were planned at Crete .

Information = Andrzej D.

Regards Jos

[KOSPAANG]

Name Platanias - impossible to find - there are dozens of different Platanias-villages.

Maybe not so impossible to find. A few km's east of Maleme is a well suited strategic candidat, witch I have visited many times. The problem is that the small town has been flooded with hotels and restaurants in recent years - so the imposible part may be to find remains in a rather steep terrain filled with buildings.

/regards

[Natter]

Does anyone have the correct name/number and armament for the battery on the Rodopos peninsula / Spathis in question above?

I have been looking for some information on other batteries and possible remains on Crete so I have some sites to explore on future trips (I'm not wasting time on the beach...), but it seems online information is sparse - at least in english.
The list below is something I found on the greek fortification-site (ref link in a previous post of this topic), which I've run through Google Translate. I did some minor editing as well, to make it understandable...

Maybe someone feel like checking and correcting this list, and possibly add some locations/ map-references (preferrably for the installations in Crete)?

The red text is possible candidates for the Spathi-battery I think. Comments on this?


German naval artillery (Kriegsmarine)

MAA 520
From 7-1941 moved to Crete with 3 batteries located in the following areas:
1. Battery in Souda 3 x 15cm
2. Battery Hania 3 x 15cm
3. Battery Kastelli of Chania with 4 x 10,5cm

In 1942 it had the following batteries:
1. Battery in Kalami with 3 x 15cm
2. Battery Hania 3 x 15cm
3. Battery ? with 6 x 15.5cm
4. Battery in Ierapetra with 6 x 15,5 cm
5. Battery in Rethymno with 6 x 15,5 cm
6. Battery in Akrotiri ? with 6 x 15,5 cm

In 1943 it had the following batteries:
1. Battery to the east of Heraklion with 6 x 15,5 cm
2. Battery in Heraklion with 4 x 15cm
3. Battery west of Heraklion with 6 x 15,5 cm
4. Battery in "crucified" with 4 x 15,5 cm
5. Battery in Platanias with 4 x 10,5 cm
6. Battery in Rethymno with 4 x 15,5 cm
7. Battery ? with 3 x 15,5 cm and "mathes" with 3 x 15,5 cm
8. Battery at Cape Drill with 3 x 15cm
9. Battery in the Red village with 6 x 15,5 cm
10. Battery at Cape Heraklion with 3 x 15cm
11. Battery at Cape Hania 4 x 15cm

In Autumn of 1944 was incorporated into 133. Fortress Division Festung "Kreta" and had 7 batteries. Dissolved at the end of the war with the surrender of the German garrison.

MAA 603
From 5-1941 moved to Aegina. In 1942 had six batteries and reached 8 following dissolution of MAA620.
1. 187A battery 12 'Tourlos I' or 'Nord I' was placed at the north cape Tourla Aegina 3'H 4 x 15cm. 1942 renamed in Batterie 'Tourlos'. Dissolved in 10-1944 with the withdrawal of German forces.
2. Battery 12 187B 'Tourlos II' or 'Nord II' was placed at the north cape Tourla Aegina with 3 x 8,8 cm. 1942 renamed in Batterie 'Tourlos II' and outfitted with 4 x 10,16 cm. Dissolved in 10-1944 with the withdrawal of German forces.
3. Battery 12 187C 'Perdika' Partridge placed on Aegina with 3 x 7,6 cm. 1943 renamed in Batterie 'Perdika I'. Dissolved in 10-1944 with the withdrawal of German forces.
7. Battery 'Perdika-Nordost' Topothetithikesto cape Tiles in North Aegina in 1943 to 2 or 3 x 7,6 cm. From 2-1944 transferred to Apple Areti until 09/05/1945 when dissolved.
4. Battery 'Phleves I' was placed on the island in the Saronic Veins with 4 guns 7,6 cm. 1942 equipped with 3 x 15cm from the winter of 1943 moved to Apple cervix with 4 x15 cm until 05/09/1945 where dissolved.
5. Battery 'Phleves II' was placed on the island in the Saronic Veins with 4 x7,6 cm. From the winter of 1943 moved to Apple Areti until 09/05/1945 where dissolved.
6. Battery 12 353 'Agia Marine' Moved in Agia Marina Attica in 6-1942 with the dissolution of MAA620 with 3 x 7,6 cm until 10-1944 when dissolved by the withdrawal of German forces.
9. Battery in Syros likely going to Italian artillery occupied with the conquest of the island after the capitulation of Italy in October 1943.

MAA 609
Moved the 8-1943 in Kalamata and in 1944 had eight batteries. 10-1944 was dissolved by the withdrawal of German forces.

MAA 617
Moved the 6-1943 and 7-1944 in Patras at Cape Pappas in Patras with 13 artillery batteries. 10-1944 was dissolved by the withdrawal of German forces.

MAA 620
Moved 7-1941 in Piraeus with 2 batteries. 11-1941 was dissolved and incorporated in MAA603.

MAA 621
6-1941 transferred from the veins in the Attic with 2 batteries and dissolved 12-1942.

MAA 624
Created 1-1944 to Leros and the 10-1944 had eight batteries.
1. Battery with artillery on the 4th x 150mm Guns (North Leros)
2. Battery with 4 x 88mm Guns (Northeast Leros)
3. Battery with 4 x 105mm Flak (Northwest Leros)
4. Battery with 4 x 105mm Guns (Central Leros)
5. Battery with 4 x 150mm Guns (Central Leros)
6. Battery with 4 x 88mm Guns (Central Leros)
11. Battery with 4 x 105mm Guns (Eastern Astypalaia)
12. Battery with 4 x 88mm Guns (West Astypalaia)

Marine-Flak-Abteilung Leros
Created in October 1944

Marine-Flak-Abteilung 720
Created by 9-1941 at Salamis with 6 batteries. In 1942 7 batteries and dissolved 10-1944 with the withdrawal of German forces.



German army coastal artillery (Heere)

HKAR 283
Transferred to area Timpaki in Crete in autumn 1942 with 3 batteries.
1. Battery with 6 x 15.5 cm on the Red Tower (from 10 to 1942), Klima (from 2-1943), the Red Tower (1944) and Tymbaki (from 9-1944).
2. Battery with 6 x 15.5 cm Klima (from 10 to 1942) and Tymbaki (from 9-1944).
3. Battery with 6 x 15.5 cm Pitsidia (from 10 to 1942) and Tymbaki (from 9-1944).
4. Battery in "Crucified" (from 10 to 1942), Klima (from 2-1943) and Rethymnon (from 9-1944)

HKAR 475
In 1941 moved to Crete with three artillery batteries. 4 batteries in 1942 and 7 in 1944. Located in the Heraklion area.
1. Battery with 6 x 15.5 cm
3. Battery with 6 x 15.5 cm
4. Battery with 4 x 10.5 cm

HKAR 619
Created in February 1942 in Crete.

HKAR 630
Created in December 1943 with 6 batteries in Rhodes.

HKAR 752
Created in June 1942 in Crete in 1945 and incorporated in Artillery Regiment in Crete.

HKAR 819
Created on 15 March 1944 with 6 batteries. Dissolved by the withdrawal of the German forces.

HKAR 820
Created on 15 March 1944 with 6 batteries. Dissolved by the withdrawal of the German forces.

HKAR 828
In 1941 moved to Athens with 3 batteries and went under the command of the naval defense of Thessalonica. Lovated in the following areas:
1. Battery in Epanomi with 6 x 15,5 cm
2. Battery in Kerani with 6 x 15,5 cm
3. Battery "Atheria" with 6 x 15,5 cm
In April 1942 the batteries were 5 and 1943 9. In October 1944 moved to Germany.

HKAR 829
Moved to Crete in 1941 with 3 batteries. Were in the following locations:
1. Battery in Rethymno with 6 x 15,5 cm
2. Battery in Heraklion with 6 x 15,5 cm
3. Battery in Kastelli with 4 x 10,5 cm

HKAR 831
In 1941 moved to Athens with 3 batteries and went under the command of the naval defense of Attica. Located in the following areas:
1. Battery in men with 6 x 15,5 cm
2. Battery in Chios with the 6 x 15,5cm
3. Battery in Lavrion Attica with 6 x 15,5cm and 1 x 8.5cm

HKAR 834
In 1941 moved to Crete with 4 batteries. Located in the following areas
1. Battery Souda Bay with 6 x 15cm
2. Pyrovolarchiasta Chania with 6 x 15,5 cm
3. Pyrovolarchiasto Kastelli with 6 x 15,5cm
4. Battery Souda Bay with 4 x 10,5cm
In October 1941 the batteries were 6 and in 1942 5.

HKAR 835
In 1941 moved to Lemnos and Mytilini with 3 batteries. In 1942 4 batteries.
1. Battery in eastern Lemnos with 6 x 15cm
2. Battery in Mudros in Lemnos with 6 x 15cm
3. Battery in Mytilini with on the 6 x 15cm

HKAR 901
In 1941 moved to Greece (possible in Crete) with three artillery batteries. In 1944 the artillery were 6. After the departure of the Germans incorporated into artillery regiment in Crete.

HKAR 903
In 1942 moved to Crete with three artillery batteries.
2. artillery in Serenity (until 1944) and Tymbaki (from 9-1944).

HKAR 1021
Created in September 1944 in South Crete.

[Ondrej Filip]

In another forum, there is a list, which includes 13th battery of 520MAA called "‘Cape Spatha’ with 2 x 15 cm SK L/55 C/28 guns. Could it be the answer?

If you plan trip to Crete, mayby my map will help you. I think there are three highlights - underground system in Kokkino Chorio and those two preserved 4,7 cm Festungpak 36(t) bunkers at south coast. Does anybody have any other tips?

[Natter]

In another forum, there is a list, which includes 13th battery of 520MAA called "‘Cape Spatha’ with 2 x 15 cm SK L/55 C/28 guns. Could it be the answer?

Thank you, I'm sure that's the one I wasn't able to get there last year - maybe next time (it's a rather long trip on bad roads).

If you plan trip to Crete, mayby my map will help you. I think there are three highlights - underground system in Kokkino Chorio and those two preserved 4,7 cm Festungpak 36(t) bunkers at south coast. Does anybody have any other tips?

Thank you
That's nice - a few positions there I didn't knew. It seems there are generally little preserved remains from WW2 german coastal-batteries?

[Ondrej Filip]

It seems there are generally little preserved remains from WW2 german coastal-batteries?

Hard to say, there are no sources about current state. I have searched desperate sources before my visit of Crete - Flickr, Greek blogs, Geocaching, etc. Many batteries, especially of ground forces, could be only field works and at his case, very few has left.

[Natter]

It seems there are generally little preserved remains from WW2 german coastal-batteries?

Hard to say, there are no sources about current state. I have searched desperate sources before my visit of Crete - Flickr, Greek blogs, Geocaching, etc. Many batteries, especially of ground forces, could be only field works and at his case, very few has left.

Yes, true.
Also, in general, the greek doesn't seem interested in talking about WW2 and guide you to relevant sites of interest...

[herring]

There is also 4,7cm PaK near Platanias near Chania (seen on a picture - not been there) , worth seeing is also underground complex with cave Pak shartenstand in Georgiopuli bay, few stollen and 2 blown up R612(?) in Stavromenos area, Italian Bohler gun stand with adjacent covered trenches in Hersonissos - Sarantaria (next o chapel at road). In Hersonissos also stollen in rocky peninsula in harbour. In Agios Galini a sculpturer's workshop seems to be a cave for a PaK flanking the harbour, "leitstand" resembles R697 but with entrance on the side, and with 1 underground floor added. In Kokkino Chorio also a lot of bunkers seem to be found between houses (hurry up, area is being overtaken by multiple developers), Leitstand and battery emplacements are a must-see. Along Tavronitis - Kolimvari beach - numerous rs58c and stands for 38(t) turrets heavily damaged by the sea. And finally - Labirynth - THE Labirynth - the cave complex from ancient times, being a source of all the legends about a Minotaur, transformed by Germans into huge munitions storage, actually blown up and dangerous inside (not been there, I would be very interested to see a plan of German-transformed part). Etc, etc, a lot still to be found, described and visited.

[jopaerya]

This one looks a lot on a 4,7 cm PaK K (t) bunker
http://www.fortifications.gr/index.php/ ... s/irakleio

Regards Jos