Bunker MGs

Discussions on the fortifications, artillery, & rockets used by the Axis forces.
Post Reply
Logan Hartke
Member
Posts: 1226
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 19:30
Location: Illinois, USA

Bunker MGs

#1

Post by Logan Hartke » 02 Oct 2002, 17:50

I know from many of these websites posted, that the majority of these bunkers had MG slits for an MG to cover the entrance. What I want to know is how many of these were actually fitted? It seems like a great waste of resources to make an MG34 to cover a narrow stairway in a bunker. It is going to fire 100 rounds at most in its lifetime. Were the Germans actually dumb enough to fit most of them?

Logan Hartke

User avatar
Juha Tompuri
Forum Staff
Posts: 11562
Joined: 11 Sep 2002, 21:02
Location: Mylsä

#2

Post by Juha Tompuri » 02 Oct 2002, 22:03

Logan,
In Finland we had similar "firing slits" to cover the entrance too. We didn`t have there any fixed guns, you could fire from them with whatever you had availlable. Suomi smg would have been a good choise. To have a fixed weapon to that purpose, sounds from point of a country of limited resources, waste. As you said. But germans...

JT


varjag
Member
Posts: 4431
Joined: 01 May 2002, 02:44
Location: Australia

Bunkers

#3

Post by varjag » 03 Oct 2002, 14:34

Logan - most bunkers are part of a 'system', i.e. their main fire-object is
not right in front of itself - that's looked after by adjoining bunkers - but in front of the adjoining bunkers in the 'system'. Any apparatus(?) for firing out through the exit,cannot have been applied to whatever 'main' armamament was used by the bunker - but left, if neccessary -as Juha said - to the small arms of the bunker-crew.If you're surrounded in 'your bunker' - your are probably dead-as -a-doornail anyway - and my choice, as Juha's to get outta of that mess - would be very quick legs, and - yes Juha, a SMG with a 71-rd drum! Praise The Lord - and Pass the Ammuniton!

User avatar
Simon H
Member
Posts: 492
Joined: 11 Apr 2002, 13:58
Location: UK

#4

Post by Simon H » 03 Oct 2002, 16:24

I've not read anywhere that there were ever "fixed" MG's to cover a door. These "boxes" were built with interlocking field of fire and should have, in theory been able to cover eachother. I guess if it came to close quarters then it would be time to dispatch one of the inmates of the bunker to the slit by the door, telling him to grab a 98k on the way. :cry:

It would be waste of firepower to have an MG guarding the door "just in case".

Don't forget that these concrete defences also had supporting trench lines around them - again another reason for someone else being able to guard the door, from outside the box!

User avatar
Erik E
Member
Posts: 4517
Joined: 11 Mar 2002, 23:26
Location: Stavanger, Norway
Contact:

#5

Post by Erik E » 18 Oct 2002, 21:01

I have never seen a permanent mounting for an MG to protect an entrance......
The armoured plates at the entrance was designed to house an MG, but I don`t think they would be placed there until a direct attack on the bunker occured....
This photo is the most common entrance defence,called 484P2:
Attachments
p1010016.jpg
Stahlschartenplatte für MG
p1010016.jpg (25.11 KiB) Viewed 1864 times

A-Bomb
Member
Posts: 337
Joined: 11 Sep 2002, 13:14
Location: USA

#6

Post by A-Bomb » 19 Oct 2002, 03:24

Anybody got good pics of a standard German MG bunker circa '44 France?

Post Reply

Return to “Fortifications, Artillery, & Rockets”