RC Goliath in Atlantikwall defence?

[Andrzej Ditrich]

Hello

Did Goliath was considered as a weapon in Atlantikwall defence?
For me this photo is a proof.

But in what way it was considered as a weapon:
1. for demolition allied tanks already landed on the beach?
2. for demolition landing ships?
3. for demolition groups of soldiers?

a. how it was going to be used in quite heavy terrain->sand with water?
b. what units used it:festung units or tank units?

Opinions/suggestions are welcome

source:national archives

Brgds
@ndrew

[Andrzej Ditrich]

...one more photo taken on Normandy beach.Nice field shelter for tank

source:Corbis

[jopaerya]

Hello @ndrew

I found not so much info on the Goliath , only that they were "Bodenständige
Waffen" so they belonged to the Widerstandnest or Stutzpunkt and not to the troops.
On 31 juni 1944 there were in the area of the 89 Armeekorps ( Belgian and
a small piece of Holland ) 84 Goliaths , there main targets in the Atlantikwall were
tanks and landingcrafts.

Regards Jos

[Andrzej Ditrich]

Hello Jos

That is valuable info-thanks for reply.

Brgds
@ndrew

[AvB]

Hello Jos

That is valuable info-thanks for reply.

Brgds
@ndrew

There're actually specially designed concrete shelters for Goliaths..
Can't remember an example though at the moment.

[Andrzej Ditrich]

AvBwrote:

There're actually specially designed concrete shelters for Goliaths..
Can't remember an example though at the moment.

Interesting! so even small Goliath had its own 'fortyfied garage'
I guess it wasn't a H-602...but worth of mention:

H-602 description says:
For Pzkpfw 1-4/
7,5 Sturmgeschütz 7,5 Pak 40 /
7,6 Pz Selbsfahrlafette/
Z Kw 18/
Ladungs. B IV Munitionschlepper
-> one demolition vehicle was considered in defence of fortified areas.
I'm looking forward to seeingthis bunker

Thanks for help
Brgds
@ndrew

[SES]

Hi friends
From an old IBA-Heft
bregds
SES

[Andrzej Ditrich]

Interesting plan!
I guess that there were used this 'special' sheets of wave formed steel.
Thanks


Brgds
@ndrew

[SES]

Hi @ndrew,
Yes Weiblich or corrugated iron like in a Siegfred Unterstand.
bregds
SES

[Andrzej Ditrich]

corrugated iron

- I was thinking about this but forgot exact name.
Getting older....

This form looked to me similar to MG Stellung 'Heinrich'

[jopaerya]

Hello

Found the actual drawing where the IBA drawing was based on .

Regards Jos

[Liesje]

I found not so much info on the Goliath , only that they were "Bodenständige
Waffen" so they belonged to the Widerstandnest or Stutzpunkt and not to the troops.

Hi Jos,

What exactly are "Bodenständige Waffen" ?
I have heard that term before but don't know the meaning.

Here also another picture of a Goliath with what looks like a bunker on the background.
Note the socks on the barbed wire annex washing line
(Source: Archives Normandie)

[AvB]

Hi Liesje,

Bodenständig means it belongs to the Stützpunkt it was assigned to.
So the troops can differ but the weapons belong to the Stützpunkt.

The bunker in the background could also be a regular gunbunker on of
the beaches. i.e. 612, 667, 677.

[Liesje]

Thanks Arthur!

Here a nice picture I found on the site of the Bundes archive.
I looks like the guy on the left is operating the vehicle?

Regards,
Annelies

[P. Heijkoop]

[/quote]

There're actually specially designed concrete shelters for Goliaths..
Can't remember an example though at the moment.[/quote]


In Hoek van Holland there should be some examples along the road in Wn 33H