Coast defenses in Greece

[sturmvogel]

Does anyone have any information on German coast defenses in Greece? I'm aware of the guns absorbed into the 133rd Fortress Division on Crete in early '45, but they surely can't be all that was deployed in Greece.

Jason

[jopaerya]

Hello

Here a 15.5 cm K 416 (f) used as coast defence in Crete .

Photo = Ebay.Usa

Regards Jos

[jopaerya]

Hello All

Here some Greece coast defences ( Saloniki ) with German personel and gun .

Photo's = Ebay.de

Regards Jos

[jopaerya]

Hello

Looks to me a 15 cm S.K.L/45 , according to the photocaption in Greece .

Photo = Ebay.usa

Regards Jos

[Dili]

What would be the big gun in Saloniki? I can think of only one of 7.5" from Battleship Lemnos. Those were in casemates so a turret would have to be adopted.

Edit: looking at it again it appears bigger than 190mm(7.5") so what could be this gun(s) - second image shows 2 turret guns-?

[David Reasoner]

Although this has no bearing on the guns at Saloniki, it does regarding half of Lemnos' four twin 8/45" turrets:

"The Araxos fort was built on the northwestern shore of Peloponnese, at the entrance of the gulf of Patras. It had two 20,3cm twin turrets from "Lêmnos" (on cape "Pappas"), four 10cm guns, a fortified A/A battery and searchlights. A line of mines starting from there was cutting off the entrance to the gulf. It ended on a point to the west of the port of Meslongion, on the southern shore of continental Greece. Another fort should have been built there but wasn't. Further to the northeast of Patras, at the small port of Rhion, an underwater barrier was closing off the western entrance to the Corinthian gulf. This ended on the opposite port of Antirrhion, on the south shore of continental Greece. A battery of four 15cm guns was protecting the barrier at Rhion.

The Araxos fort was commanded on 1.II.1941 by Commander G. Sklêbaniôtês. He also had under his command the 7th and 8th 'Araxos Infantry Companies'. The Rhion fort was commanded by Res. Lieutenant P. Methenitês.

I also found out that no permanent fortifications were erected on Kerkyra/Corfu during the inter-war period because the island was considered 'neutral'. After the war started four QF Rheinmetall 127mm guns were installed on the island to cover the straits between Corfu and Epirus. These were half of the guns that had already been bought for two new destroyers ("Basileus Kônstantinos" and "Basilissa Sophia") that were to be built in Piraeus in 1941. This project was canceled due to the war. The other four 127mm guns were emplaced near Preveza, on the western shore of continental Greece, to the southeast of Corfu."

From Dimitris Christodoulou, of the WW2 Greece Yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WW2Greece ... =186201585

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_8-45_mk6.htm

In addition to her main battery of 4 x 12"/45 guns in twin turrets and the 4 twin 8"/45 turrets mentioned above, Lemnos also mounted 8 x 7"/45 guns in single casemate mountings, but I have no information where or how these guns might have been employed.

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_7-45_mk2.htm

David

[ROLAND1369]

Neither the Lemnos nor or her sister ship carried 7.5 inch guns. They carried 12 inch(305 mm) in 2 twin turrets as main battery, and 8 inch(203 mm) in twin turrets as secondary battery in 4 twin turrets. Their tererary battery was 7 inch(178 mm) in single mounts. The guns pictured are most likely 8 inch 203 mm most likely krupp from their design. They do not resemble the american 8 inch carried by the lemnos and her sisters. Acording to italian sources and confirmed by Von Hammers "Artillerie in Kusten kampf" they are located at Cape pappas Greece. At least 8 of the 7 inch (178 MM) were used by the greeks in two batteries.

[ROLAND1369]

David, I hatet to disagree but the turrets shown are quite obviously not twins from the lemnos but are single mounts. Also the guns themselves lack the muzzle sreel associate with the american 7 inch 45 caliber which was mounted in these turrets.

[ROLAND1369]

Sorry the preceeding message should have read"muzzel swell". Big fingers little computer keys.

[David Reasoner]

David, I hatet to disagree but the turrets shown are quite obviously not twins from the lemnos but are single mounts. Also the guns themselves lack the muzzle sreel associate with the american 7 inch 45 caliber which was mounted in these turrets.

Roland, if you go back and read the beginning sentence of my post more carefully, you will note that I said my post had no bearing on the guns at Saloniki (i.e. the ones pictured previously). I was simply providing a little more information on Greek coast artillery in general from my notes.

I never suggested the guns pictured were from Lemnos.

David

[ROLAND1369]

I stand corrected and appoligize for my misunderstanding. As always I am greatful for all new information about Greek coastal defenses as information is very scarce. Have you any info on the 305 mm twin turrets at CAPE AEGENIA. Other than a few pictures I have seen little although the emplacements(less guns) appear to be still visible on google earth.

[Dili]

I checked my data and have this:

4x7" Flebai Coastal Fort (pronounced 'Fleve)- Flebai is to the SE of Piraeus: it is a small island in the Saronic Gulf just south of Cape Kabouri (: which is on the southwestern coast of Attica). Some places refer to it as Flevai.

and

3x7" in Southern Euboean Gulf Fort at Karystos? or Agia Marina?

in Megalo Emvolon Fort at Salonika i had hidden a reference to 2 x "210mm(old turkish)" Maybe those above were 210 mm Turkish and put in turrets shown above.

Edit:Most of my data came from Dimitris in Yahoo Group refered above and Dr.Leo website http://niehorster.orbat.com/027_greece/ ... coast.html

Maybe some in know could tell what 210mm guns Turks had. Dr.Leo website while not refering 210mm guns says the weapons at Salonika came from 1912 captured guns.

Edit 2:

Neither the Lemnos nor or her sister ship carried 7.5 inch guns.

You are correct, my mistake.Thanks.

[Dili]

Could be this?

turkemir1.jpg (100.5 KiB) Viewed 6263 times

Source http://www.network54.com/Forum/330333/t ... ion+thread

[vonkalts]

Hello

Looks to me a 15 cm S.K.L/45 , according to the photocaption in Greece .

Photo = Ebay.usa

Regards Jos

I have one photo with the same type of turrets (from 1950) from "Mounta" Battery in South Kefalonia. This Battery has 4 guns like this in the photo, and the place around is same .. I think the photo is taken here ...

[Dili]

I think the pic i posted is from gun of heavier calibre. But it seems close in design.