M.K.B. Kernwerk H.v.Holland

[der bunkermann]

Probably well known, but the colors represent the wehrmachtsteil.
Green for Luftwaffe,
Red for Heer,
Blue for Marine.

[AW]

right... now we know the marine tel. nr for the Küver...
lets ring
strange that the Küver is not from the Luftwaffe... isn’t it?
is this telephone map from BAMA?

[AvB]

EH is Heer. Küver types were used by all branches of the Wehrmacht.
Yes Anlage zu Kampfanweisung.

[jopaerya]

There are many plans of this Kernwerk with the St bunkers, are there also maps with the Vf and Fa works in the Kernwerk with function ??

[JKernwerk]

Jos, We know just one.
But it was more like a planning map.
We know more was built but most of the bunkers in the KW were St.
JK

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Does somebody know which is the exact origin of the 12cm SK L40(h) guns of M.K.B. Kernwerk ?

Image from Ebay
Sturm78

[JKernwerk]

I heard these came from a wharf in Rotterdam.
JK

[Sturm78]

JK wrote
I heard these came from a wharf in Rotterdam.

Thanks, JK. Do you have any more concrete information ?
I suppose that these guns are of naval origin. What ships mounted these guns ? Manufacturer ? ....

Regards
Sturm78

[AvB]

Some information in Dutch. https://www.fortificatieforum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=4536

[Sturm78]

AvB wrote
Some information in Dutch. https://www.fortificatieforum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=4536

Thank you, AvB.
It seems that these guns came originally from Holland-class protected cruisers, some of which were decommissioned in 1913 and others in the 1920's. Maybe the Dutch reused their guns as coastal artillery.
The Germans captured one of them in 1940 (HNLMS Gelderland) and converted it into the anti-aircraft ship Niobe, so the guns could also have come from this particular ship.

Sturm78

[Sanglune]

AvB wrote
Some information in Dutch. https://www.fortificatieforum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=4536

Thank you, AvB.
It seems that these guns came originally from Holland-class protected cruisers, some of which were decommissioned in 1913 and others in the 1920's. Maybe the Dutch reused their guns as coastal artillery.
The Germans captured one of them in 1940 (HNLMS Gelderland) and converted it into the anti-aircraft ship Niobe, so the guns could also have come from this particular ship.

Sturm78

I've been compiling information on Dutch Naval artillery for a while so I may be able to help a little with this.

Of the 12cm L40 type weapons, there were 18 Kn. 12cm No. 1 for the first 3 protected cruisers and 18 Kn. 12cm No. 2 for the latter 3 protected cruisers. According to projectgroup Barbara 5 Kn 12cm No. 3 were in circulation, though so far I've seen only a maximum of 3 in circulation. These cannons switched places a lot during the first world war; especially when the batteries aboard were homogonised for centralised fire control. They were also moved to various small gunboats. When the ships fell out of service some were transfered to the army. According to Barabara, 9 of the No. 1 and 8 of the No. 2. type. By 1938 and I assume up untill the invasion Gelderland had 8 Kn. 12cm No. 2.
The 12cm No. 1 was of jacket construction placed on a sliding mount and had a shield of 40mm/40mm/20mm (Front, Side, Roof) thick. The 12cm No. 2 was of hoop-jacker construction on a cradle mount and had a 100/50/25mm shield. Judging from the image, it seems the latter is applicable.

Looking at the German maps from the Bundesarchiv (RH 24-88/237), it seems only 5 120mm cannons were present in Battery Maas 2./205. According to the Kampfanweisung (RH 19-IV/113) by 1944 this had increased to 6 cannons. 2 of the 12cm L40 and 4 of the 12cm L 45 types. The munitions for the L40s were for Nos. 2-3 and L45s for 6-8.

Unfortunately due to the angle of the image I cannot discern whether this is a No. 2 or rarer No. 3. I also cannot give a precise source for the specific assembly. Jos might know more. He seems to have some information from the German side of things from his post in 3D guns - help needed. I also wish to ask him where he got that information from since it would help me tremendously with my research, but I cannot use PMs yet.

I hope this information helps you a bit.

[Sturm78]

Thank you for your information, Sanglune

Regards
Sturm78