Fate of E-Battr 722

[jpz4]

Found some interesting images on the IWM website that are related to these posts:

Looks to be at Torigni-sur-Vire , photo is from Ebay .

Regards Jos

(original post is here: viewtopic.php?p=2053275#p2053275)

I think that it is originally a US Signal Corps picture as indicated by the number on the top right (FA 35B). I have seen a similar number (FA 55D) on a Signal Corps picture of a series taken at Torigni in August 1944.

Emmanuel

The IWM show the same piece Jos that posted, which is typically identified at '(near) Torigni-sur-Vire'. The IWM has it with an official caption as Villers-Bocage, date 6 August 44. The gun is 919084, which was, indeed, previously discussed and shown in this very thread here and here. (identified as La Couaille)

It's interesting that some photos of this gun shows US troops and others show British forces. If you look at the different captions it would seem that the Villers-Bocage / Guilberville / Torigni-sur-Vire guns are actually the same piece... but where exactly? The building in the background on the photo that Jos posted could be Gare de Guilberville, which is near La Couaille). As on the photo the building there has three chimneys, first one is wide while the others narrow). This photo Emmanuel posted here has some more clues on other nearby buildings... but I've not been able to match them yet. There is however a smaller building next to the main building which could match the one that is still there as well.

Any way, here are the images:

source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205417849

For even more photos of this gun (sorry, no time to post right now):
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205417850
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205417851
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205417852
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205417853
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205417854

[jpz4]

Guns from Vire (referred to by Simon?):
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205418006 (no gun visible?)
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205418007 (two guns in the background. Same pieces as the 4th image here. (notice locomotive and covered barrels)
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205418008 (gun 919080)
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205418009 (also gun 919080)

[Manuferey]

The following links give the different train stations in the area.

This first link contains the map of the railway line between St-Lô and Guilberville (go to "Liens externes/External links"):
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_de_ ... ilberville

At Guilberville the line joined the Caen-Vire line.

The railway line between Caen and Vire which included the train stations of Guilberville and Villers-Bocage, can be found here:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_de_Caen_%C3%A0_Vire

Emmanuel

[Manuferey]

Note that the picture identified at La Couaille here
viewtopic.php?p=2176359#p2176359
shows what looks to me the same type of electrical pole/antenna as on the following picture at the train station at Vire. The gun also has the same kind of folded tubular structure on the side.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205418008

The same pole/antenna can be seen on the picture 4) with the 2 guns:
(Post #44)
viewtopic.php?p=1746479#p1746479

And on the top right of this picture (from Delcampe auction)

(higher definition than on this IWM link:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205418007)

Here are the two pictures that have disappeared on my post #44 identifying the building at Vire train station:

Emmanuel

[Manuferey]

And here is a picture (ref. 13 Num 818) of the associated Vögele turntable on its railcar.
http://www.archives-manche.fr/ark:/5711 ... a35e0fc4ff
(Caption: German railway gun caniage for feeding 240MM shells into a mobile gun is inspected by two American soldiers after its capture in the Torigni aera. 5/08/44)

Emmanuel

[jpz4]

Hi Guys,
I'm looking for a post which mentions an attempt to turn 1./725 or 722 against the Utah Beachhead on 6-7 June, but that this was impossible because the railroads around St.Lô(?) did not allow this. This this ring a bell with anyone?

I'm pretty sure I bookmarked the post, but to my frustration I'm unable to find it

[Manuferey]

Niels,

An intercepted Ultra message from June 6, 1944 (KV6676 in DEFE 3/66 of UK National Archives) indicates that the battery could not fire right away due to railway damages.
"Railway Battery 725 with two guns 28 cm going into position near St-Lo. Operation delayed as result of railway damage. Objective banc de Madeleine [EF= Utah Beach]."

The original German message can be found in « Normandie 6. Juni 1944 » from Hans Sakkers – 1998:
„[6. Juni 1944] 22.20 Uhr – Adm Kanlk. E.Batt. 725 mit 2 mal Bruno 28 cm ght in Nähe St.Lô in Stellung. Einsatz infolge Bahnbeschädigung verzögert.“

1./725 was armed with two 28 cm neue Bruno Kanonen with a maximum range of 46.6 km. In direct line, Utah Beach is at 34 km from St-Lô. As a reference, Torigni-sur-Vire is at 45 km.

Below is a map from 1942 from the IBCC Digitial Archives showing in particular the railway network in Normandy (black lines). Around St-Lô, there are a lot of curves on the railroad that could have allowed railway guns to be able to fire at Utah Beach.

Emmanuel