British Beute Artillery in Ouistrehem June-Aug 1944

[Sheldrake]

This isn't about Germans using captured British equipment, but the British use of German equipment in the coastal defence role at Ouistrehem.

16 Fire Command Post Unit was a small battery sized coastal artillery organisation that deployed to Normandy under command 80 AA Brigade. It collected German equipment from the D Day beaches and installed them in a coastal defence role at Ouistrehem. Its area of responsibility seems to have included the lock gates and the light house. It waged a semi private war with Germans at Merville Franceville over the Orne estuary as well as reporting naval activity.

The war diaries refer to
- Examining and firing a 5cm kwk from a blockhouse in Ouistrehem (8 June)
- Repairing two 5cm kwk guns and bringing them into action, (12 June)
- Inspecting two 2cm flak with Brigadier 80 AA Bde (14 June)
- Repositioning two 2 cm Flak in coastal defence role (15 June)
- 40mm in CD role shelled out (15 June) (( Was this originally German or a re-captured British, or was this an LAA 40mm temporarily in a CD role?))
- Their "field gun" engaged and hit a German bunker (25 June)
- Targets identified by Flash spotters and engaged with a "roving gun" (30 June)
- Exposed SL pick up object which disappeared - submarine reported (8 July)
- No 2 SL illuminated...
- SL picked up 3 MLs (2 Aug)
- 88mm troop engaged SL 18 rounds fired light went out. (16 Aug)

So this organisation seems to have at least one 88mm gun in addition to 5cm and 2cm two searchlights and a radar.

Where were the German bunkers and defences of Ouistrehem?

Can anyone identify where the equipment came from that was used by 16 FCU?

[kstdk]

Hello

Must be the Wn. 10 Riva Bella at Quistreham?

Regards
Kurt
kstdk

[Sheldrake]

Thanks. That is a good start

[jopaerya]

Here a drawing from Alain Chazette from the water-locks , the red circles are 2 x 5 cm KwK with open emplacement
and the two blue circles are 2 x 667 Schartenstand for 5 cm KwK . I think there were only two 5 cm KwK in the Stp.
The 2 cm Flak could be find every were , but the water-locks must have have also flak defense during the war.

Regards Jos

[Sheldrake]

Thanks. The locks have been extensively rebuilt since then. So this unit seems to have been based around the locks and light house.

[jopaerya]

One of the 5 cm KwK emplacements is still there ( top red circle )

[Sheldrake]

Brilliant! Can I use the image in a book please?

[jopaerya]

Please use the name of the owner of the photo, Dirk Peeters

[v60pih]

More info and pictures here:
http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikw ... dusage.php
http://www.bunkersite.com/locations/fra ... alocks.php

[Sheldrake]

More info and pictures here:
http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikw ... dusage.php
http://www.bunkersite.com/locations/fra ... alocks.php

Thanks - Brilliant!