35378944 german obstacles
TRANSCRIPT
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NOTES ON GERMAN OBSTAOLES
INTRUDUCTIUN
PART I.
PART II.
PART III.
PART IV.
PART V.
FART VI.
M. I. 10 The War uffice Augus t, 1943,
0160/2436(M.I.10)
nistribution List E.
no. 1
WIRE
CUNCRETE &. BRI CKWlJRK
STE:F~L
DITC:IES
TIMBER
MI SCELL.AlffiUUS
Thi s publi ca tion is' grad6d~ SE'OREl1 becau~e" or,' \t~ comprehensi ve naturE;. This grading is NuT intendec\.to prohibi.t ~_ dissemination of this information to those who should know i.t and. it is hoped that full advantago will be taken in this respect provided the complete docul11tlnt is safeguarded.
DECl~SS'f'ED
GERMAl1 UBSTACLES
PART I. WIRE
1. Trip wire. DEnASSIFIED
2. Apron types.
3. Concer tina.
4. nErun" (French type)
5. Wire netting.
6. Snar0s.
7. Knife-·rests.
8. Wire in Coastal Areas.
9. Ala.rm wire.
10. Heavy gauge wire.
11. Standard types of iron pickets.
PART II. CuNORETE AND BRICKWuRK.
1. General
2. vla.lls
3. Cubes
4. Dragons teeth
5. Tetrahedra
6. Hedgehogs
7. Posts
8. Stars
9. Erickwork.
PART III. STEEL
1. Curves rail
2. De Cointet (ElemGnts C)
3. Ht;;dG~hogs
4. Tetrahedra
5. Roll~d Stebl joists.
PART IV. DLf0U'EE 1 > •
1. LJffi ci'ai tYPE:S
2. Existing types.
3. Tank traps.
4. Inundations.
PART V. TliYlBEB..
PART VI. MISCELLANEUUS.
1. Crowsfeet.
PLATE 1. Apron
IN D E xDf&L~SS'lrl ' fence in depth. ''-J ~~
" 2. Apron fenoe West Germany.
n 3. Conoe.:r:tina fence on a promtlnade.
ft 4. Knife rests on beaoh.
II 5. " " West Germany.
rr " 6. Wire fence to a works.
7. Two parallel fences.
" 8. Three II " If 9. Rough wire on sea wall.
" 10. 'Afire on a promenade.
2 lOA. Wire on top of sea wall.
If lOB. Wire netting on quay.
n 11. Trip-wire alarm.
ff llA. Heavy gauge wire.
It 11B, Standard iron pickets.
" 12. Curved fact:: wall.
fI l2A. Straight face wall.
" 13. Beaoh wall with rear ledge.
It 13A " " wi th round top.
n 14. Wall with skew and straight gaps.
" 14A. n " " 143 .. II " II rt
n 15. Walls across main highways,
" l5A. (Fig. 1) '~all across town thoroughfare.
" (Fig. 2) Reinforcement in beach walls.
t1 15] - D '~alls in OHERBvURG.
If 16. Dragons teeth.
1/ 17. II II
II 18. " " 19. " " DECLA:SSlfrfO 20. Brick wall.
" "
PLATE 21. ) , oj, - ~,'() .~
t ~'G.;) '~, ,lJu:ry~d~ ~tt!e-l rai 1 obstacle. . "..., 4' • ., •
w.. 7- ~ ) ~" .,.
ft. ... ', ~~.' )
) IT 24.)
ff 25.
n 26. ) )
rr 27. )
fI 28. ) )
" 29. )
" 30.
It 31.
" 32.
" 33.
If 34.
n 35.
tI 36.
n 37.
fI 38.
" 39.
11 40.
Constructional details of curved rail obstacle
De Cointet obstacle.
Construction details of De Cointet obstacle.
Steel Hedgehogs.
II To trahedra.
R.S.J. (vertical) obstacle.
ufficial German ditto.
R.S.J. (inclined) obstacle.
" " If
ST. MALu A. Tk. ditch.
Road block in timber.
ufficial German timber picket obstacle.
Steel "Crowsfoot"
"
WIRE.
1. TRIP WlrtE.
The' German name for this obstacle is Stolperdrahthindernis. I!1-structions given in German manuals are as follows:- These obstacles should be ~t least 30 ft. in depth. They consist of irregular rows of wooden pickets, 2 ft. long x 3 in. diam., and plain or barbed wire stre~ched at a height of 4 - 8 in. between pickets. The interval betweeL pi cke ts in rows should be 10 - 13 ft ~. and in ter1Tal between rows 7 - 1(; fT,. The freshly cut heads of pickets should be painted to tone wi th the sur·· ri
OUlIJ.dings. RUB ~y wire should be used if possible and the obs tacle may nc ude snares (see para 5).
Trip wires are frequently laid in front of main obstacles. They are to be found between high water mark and the first continuous fencu · or in fields covering the main defensive position and obstacles. Exampl~s noted have had the following approximate dimensions:-
Height 4 - 6 in. Lbngth of diagonal of diamond - shaped
section 4 - 6 ft. Width of obstacle .12 - 2C ft.
In the fields, betwe0n road approaches to DIEPPE) the followi~g type was r&ported by Ps/W:- A quadruple fraffiework j each frame b~ing aFfroximately 1 yard squarb with diagonal strands. The depth of the obst~clt was 13 ft.
Details of alarm devices attached to trip wires are given in para.9.
2. APRLJN TYPES.
These may bt single, double, or a seri~B of double apron fbnc~s emplo¥ing angle iron or screw pickets, the former usually embeddei i~ concrete to a dbpth of about 18-in. A coil of dar-nert - type may bE; found und~r thb double ,apron and sorretimes another coil is fixed on the top of the fence. For one doubl~ apron fenCE; the following are approximat~ dimensi or.LS: -
Height of obstacle " " n
Width " If
4 - 5 ft. (with coil on top) 7 - 8 ft.
up ·to 9 ft.
The standard German obstacle in depth is shown in' Plate 1. The obstacle consists of Simple wirb fences about 5 ft. apart conn~ot8d bJ' criss-cross wires, the spaces btitween them filled with barbed wiru in spirals sbcured to each other and to the paints of intersection of th~ criss-cross wires. Aprons are provided on the front and rear £a.ces •
. A type of apron fence erected, it is believed, somewhere ir West Gbtmany is shown at Plate 2. The similarity between the wire here 9.nd th",t. described iL para. 10 will be noted.
3. C0NCERTIN) ••
There art;; two tYPt-s of standard con.c0rtir.a, the: S-rollc -(barhl-d.;, and E-rolle (plain). These are often.r~ferred to as ~annert - type. Single, double or trir-lfj coil are us(;d wi th anglE; iron or screw pickets •. Triple coil is oft0r. fixed on promenade railings (Plate 3). Some;tim(;s .coils may b~ found s',.lpported on and 1~]ired to concrete posts, interwoven between concr(;tl: dragons tð and fixed on top of walls, quays etc.
4. "B2UN" (j]STACLE.
A number of reports have beenreceiv0d that the G~rmans have E;r~ctLd this obstacle, which is of French design (R0seau Brun). The following d~tails have beBn suppli~d by the Fighting Fr~nch in this country,
( a)
fenc€;:
Dimbnsions.
diametBr of unit, extended 3 ft. 7 in.
18ngth " " " 65 ft. 7 in. w8ight of ur.1i t 4C lb.
" per metre 2 lb. n II foot 9.5 oz.
The above; two sets of figures include 0.2 k~./metre for bi~din~ wire.
The following ~re the approximate dimensions for a triple co~cortina
height width
6 ft. 7 in. 7 ft. 3 if.1o
(b) Description.
This obstacle is designed to barricade roads against the attack of light ~nemy A.F.Vs. The wirG stops the vLhicles by wrapping itself ro~nd tracks or whu0ls which are thus immobilis8d. An obstacl~ is composed of idE-ntical ULi ts (;xtend8d across the' road and 'plac~.;d parallel to one anothor in d~pth. Th~ ur~it is a hollow cylinder or spiral, the surface of which is composed of large mesh wire notting of 0.75 mm. (O.03-in) steel wire (grad~ A.C. 54). Each spiral comprises 6L coils, connE.:ctcd in Fairs :1t seven pOints.
( c) Er e c t i on •
To placo the obstacle in position, two men take hold of a unit, ono at e:-.ch end, and draw it out by walking backwards s'tlay from each other. T1.(;; unit should be laid loosely across the road to be barrud, the ends being fr~e, and should l-xtend well beyond each side.
An effective obstacle against single wheeled vehiclbs, and track~d vehicles of nine tons Or less, consists of 40 coils placed in depth touching uach other and in one layer. Six' men can erect such an obstacle in halfan-hour •. The total weight of wire required is 720 kg. (1590 lbs.)
Thb obstacle, which is put in position very quickly, is almost equally (;asy to remove; it therefore should be covered by M.G. fire to prevDLt the crews of attacking vehicles from removing the obstacle from the road.
Thl, obstacle should be placE:;d at defiles 'on the road where they canrwt he by-pass6d Ii. e .• roads in woods, bridi:'(; approaches, roads in cutti ngs or On emb,an1cmen ts I villages, etc.
The dt.:pth of the obstacle is considerable, of thE:; order of 50 m. (164 ft.). If a bottleneck of this length cannot be found on the road, or if the M.G. which is suppos~d to cover the obstacle cannot do so for such a depth, it will be necessE:l.ry to place the coils in two layers one above the other. This arrangement, although it may halve the depth of the obstacle, rsquires more time for erbction, and definitely causclS the obstacle to lose so~e of its efficiency, above all when it is attacked at SPeed, so that it sho-Il.ld only be adoptt:::d as a last resort ..
- 2 -
When/ ••
J ~; .. h .. ,
,.' • I .:",. ,.1. ~.'
When the width of th~ roa.d to be barred ]~llO\\lsf,th,e ba;rtir to bv attacked by several vt.;hicles sidt;; by sid8, it is n8CfJSSary ·t.o:'rise the numbtr of cOils in the obstacle to 50. "~bJ
Cd) Strengthening.
If the obstacle is li~cly to be att..'1..Ckerj by 'pow(:rful tr" ckt,;;d vt..:hi··· cles, such as tanks, the simp~est method of ITakin~ it capabl~ of ~ff~ctivG rc 8i s tanct,;; is to place on thG nEar c;ds'l, a cer tain numbGr of light infac try minbs, carE:fully camouflaged..
5. WIRE NETTING.
Thb use 0 f l.,td sis m&n ti oned in a GLrman manual' and call(;;d 11lJiascht;ndrahtzaW1". Thl; netting is intendbd as a haGty obsta,cle ae;,::linst infar:.try: Th::- document stat\...s that it should bt..: ,secured lightly· to thl';; g,round. wIth WIre and pickt:ts. The standard h~ight is pr'obaoly 5 ft. 6 in. for this typ~ of matt;rial.
It was bncount0rbd in front of barbl,d wirG in clbfts in th~ cliffs (DIEFPE raid) and watl prob'.tbly intend.E..d to prEVtnt tht.. quick (;:mploymvl~t of bangalorb torp8do~s.
6. .SNAaES.
Tht) Germans rE:;coIT:ffiEmd the; use of snares (Drahtschlingcn) in all ,types of cour .. try as anti-pE:rsonnel obskJcle:s lowing to the ease wi th whi cll they can bb conc~aled~ Th~ diametar of the wire used should be 0.04 -0.08 in. and it should form ~ loop about 1 ft. diam. Two or thr~e snarE:;S may be secured to a sinf:le woodLn pi~t(:t I ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. (j iL. lC'n~.', or a Single snare attach~d to a la-in. bar driven into th~ ground at 45° ar~d pOintin[, away from the dlrl..:ction of attack. Snar(;s should b~ S0t at intervals of approximat~ly 2 ft. 6 in. in sevLral rows.
While no mE;ntion of snc9rbS has been made in reports from (Jccupit..:d Europe, their E;xist~nce is to be l;xpectt;;c ..
7. KNIFE RESTS.
These are constructt.;d of angle iron or tirr.btJr fraIIlGs. Long l~!".F,tU.i
of woodl ... n knife rE..S ts have been seen Or .. thtj bt;;achos above high '(I/~ t~r Ifjc:.:rk (Plate 4). Photographs show that in somu cases ~ucn f~ncc;s may consist of four wooden knife rests connected to~ether by a crb~s~bar. ~th8r photogr~fhs show two irreg~lar rows of knifo r~sts, one behind th~ Gth~r with thG SP~CL brJt'tlebfl varying to a considerablt.. cxtunt. Tho approximatL! dimt;nsions of timbbr knife r8sts are as follows:-
Height of ob3tacle Width If "
Distanco b~tween trestles Length of 4 - trestle unit
about 4 ft. " 4 ft. " 4 - 5 ft ~ fI 12 - 15 ft,
Thbrb app~ars to bE; considerable variation in th0 distances bwtwL~n tr8stlcs.
Timber k~ifo rests are ih USb on a larg~ scal~ for closic~ vbnicl~
and pbdGstriar:. t;aps in wc5,lls Rnd inland to block rOb,ds.
The angl~ iron typ~ of knife r~st -appe~rs to b~ little uS6d iL UCC11pi8d Europe, r(;c(;nt reports have rl;i'vrr(;d to them vaguely, but it protr,bly 8xists in some quantity in Germany from which it is bt.;licvt;d tht2 pho tograph at Pla te 5 Wf.iS tELk8n. 'rh0 heavy gaUe;(; wirt..., d~s cri b(-d in '.,' r~,. Ie I
can bG seen on this photo~rrph.
8/ ...
Althou{:,h th!;1re is e, certnin amount of standardised construction thcr(; c;,re malJ.::r dE-pR.rtures thert;lfrom. Il'he following must be condidLrvQ only as a ~uidL to what is to be expt;ctl:-d.
(~) Vertical fenc~s.
0ne tyye of vertical bRrbed wire fence is illustrated at Plat~ 6. Th(.; 81 tt.: is probably the entrance to a works or other restrict8d 10CD,li ty and this kind of barricade is ·to be found round one railway station Wh1.C;L is a fortifi~d • Bty. position.
In dune coun try and qUiet parts of the coast two or three of tht ft;nc~s may be found together, from 4 to 8 ft. apart, each with 5 or 6 strand.s of wire. The; space butwl;;!en is SOffitl tim us filled wi th a 'IJo/irc t;ntant:'lemE::.D. t andi or minus. The wire is suppor -by woodt::n possts, anf1f-'lE;-iron orsare-wpickc:ts. Tht; height of thE.: !'cnces 4: - 5 ft. QJIl..; 0-
these. ff-~'llc?,,::s may havo blBn erl;.;cted by landowners and farmers and thGr'.:fore have no rarticular military fieanet.
Platt 7 shows two parall(;l fences wi th bn,ck struts and Plate 8 sllO,JS tt..rt.;u parallel rows of wire fence in dune country. In thu latter note tl~(; single wire fenc~ running ~t right anglbs n0ar the point marked 'X'.
A new type of vertical fencl; has been rE:fort(;d. It consists of stt.;,.;l pickets, embedded in tht; top of a sea we.ll, stanl~ing about 4 ft. hiF=.'h. iJ:LI.:' pickets arL about 8 ft. apa.rt and have 5 strands of b'.:!.rbed wire Flnd .'3 str:::'Juds of plain wire. J!"rom the bottom, the 2nd, 4th and 6th strands art; plain. r.rho tops 01 the pickets are bE;;nt back and eRch bay of fenet;! has two barbE::d diaE,ono,ls from tht; 6th strand to the foot of thL! eke t.
At one brid~(:; of minor importance the staggered walls of the road block !:;,rE; supplbmbnted wi th thr(;1;.; barb0d wirl:l ff..;r.lc0s on each sidE; of the block. Thl; skc;tch providod by source indicatus that only p(;)dt;;strian. traf fic r;!-'L rl(;f::,otiatL: tht.; wire and then by walY.:inb to and fro bet'l;vl:en the parallcl lin·_s of the fences.
At OilC;;; plaCe: round bars, loopE:d to resemble long sereW }Jicktts, have been lE:!t into the top of a sca wall and then bt;nt forward towards thc;;; sea ;',nd hang down the face of the sea wall. Barbud wire is fixed to thr:: bars, horizontally, vertically and diagonally.
A r wirb obstacle is shown in Plate 9, Note thu wire hanging down thG fRee of tho sea wall and the gap between the 0.P./Pil~box and thb promenad~ railings.
A wir,e obstacle on the western e<.1.ge of a mole is believed to consist of a four-strand fence, supported on steel pickets at about 12 ft. intervals embedded in the con~rete wall and with a single coil of barbed w~e WOvt;n into it ..
In s, the st.;a has beaten down wire fences and maintl;;!nancb work is being constantly carried out. Iron pickets are reportBd to have b~en provid~d with a 1 ft. 4 in. squar~ base on certain 6xposed str~tch~s of the coast.
TL.f:; typc:; o.f wire obst?cle, shown in Plate lOt is near a pillbox and 8i t~d or ... r .. prombnade.
(c) / •.•
- 4 -
(c) Wire in cliffs.
in gullies and cl~fts in the cliffs the wire is laid in a d~nse entanglement. The wire is often continued as a single fence up to the cliff-top on either side of such feature. About half-way up the side of these gullies it has been noticed that the wire is a little eaSier to pass through. The use of wire netting is mention8d in para 4.
(d) Siting on beaches and sea walls.
The "lire is usually straisht and roughly -parallel to the shorb in front of strongpoint localities. In between these localities the wirt juts out towards the sea. The length of the arms of onp 'dog-Ieg l may b~ over 100 yards; olsewhere, wire generally follows an irregular cours~.
In addition to the more standard types mentioned elsewhere in tillS chapter the Germans haV8 erGC ted barbed wir.8 in a vari ety of ways. A selection of these are described below.
(i) Plate lOA shows wir~ fixed to the top of a sea wall. Th~ report states that iron pickbts, l~-in. square, are let into the wall and the wire fixed as shown. The vertical pickets also carry horizontal strands of barbed wire alon£ the top of the SGa ~Nall.
(ii) Plate lOB is a sk0tch of a wire obstaclo reported on quay walls. It consists of long rolls of wire, attached to ropes which can be let down over tho sides of quays to prcv~nt scaling by landing troops. It is probably somG kind of wir6 netting nailed to slats.
(iii) A reliable report mentioned the construction of an inclined wire obstaclt- betw8(:m the top of a wall and !=l river bed on one of the prinCipal estuaries of ~~CE. Between the toe of the obstacle and the sea wall wood~n posts were erecttd to take tho weight of wire at about mid-span. This obstacld is now report~d to have proved a failure b~cause of tidal influences in the estuary and that it has b~en replacod by a simple "cattle" fence along th0 top of the sea wall.
(8) Depth of wire.
The distance betwe~n the outer and inner wire p~rimeter of a strongpoint varies with the topography and importance of the sitG. It may b8 as small as 30 - 60 yards, in others it may be betweun 70 and 130 yards, or even as much as 20G yards. In general, the distance from the outer edge of wire to the nearest pillbox or other firing posts i~ not less than 30 yards.
(f) Combined fences.
A typical example is as follows:- A trip-wire, immediately buhind it a trestle fbnce, and some Ie to 2C yards further back an apron feGC0; th8 total depth of the wired area may be 30 - 60 yards. vn the sea-front of towns there is generally an apron or trl:stle ft;..nct: on the beach c,nd a dannbrt tYPE;; (or apro~) fGnce on tht; top of the St;a wall and promenade.
(g) Wir~ with min6fi~lds.
Wire is normally us~d to fence off all sides of a minefielQ. Generally speaking these fences consist of a single row of posts with 5 or 6 strands of wire. une P/W describ~d a fence which h~ said was standard for surrounding minefields and that men were taught to r~cognise it as such. It consisted of 3 horizontal strands with diagonal wires betw~en pickets or posts. The fence was 4 ~ 5 feet high. The diagonal wire bracing ffiay be the "clue" to what is behind the fence.
DE Cst ASS I Ft EO (h)/ ...
Some road blocks consist of a wire entaglement ·or fence on each side of the road with the gap between closed by movable gates of various types. The use of wire as the principal material for road blocks has now been suporsed~d at all places wmich are seriously defended ~XCbpt On minor obstacles connected therewith.
(i) Wire with ditches.
There is generally a thin belt of wire on the outsidb of the ditch. Thoro is no information that the Germans have laid wire in ditches, this may pe a little surprising since official documents stress the us~ of wire to make the obstacle anti-personnel as well as anti-tank.
(j) Wire with walls.
Concrete walls in som~ instancts are provided with hooked bars for lashing wire to the coping of the wall. Wire is to be expectbd on or near most of these walls.
(k) '!fire under water.
Th~re nOw appears good evidence of underwater beach obstacles. Un BELGIAN beaches, oblique photographs seem to show "lire at low wRter mark. uther sources of information also say that it exists. There is no information available on the deSign of the obstacle.
9 • ALARlvl 1AlI RE
There have been a number of 'reports of wire being charged with electri ci ty. une P/Vl source who had 1J\lorked on the Siegfried Line said that in these caSes there wer~ two plain copper wires carried on glass insulators and his impr~ssion was that the top wire was electrically charged and the bottom wire was connected with some kind of electrical warning device. The p/W further stated that a c~rtain number of stretches of wire had not been provided with copper conductors, prt::sumably for the b~nefi t of their own troops-. It is not known if thes€;; electrifiud fencGs exist to-day. So far as the .uccupied countries are concerned this ty]Je of obstacle might be tlncountered on very special installations and is not to be 0xpE;cted elstwhere.
It is nOw established that· the enGmy uses a warning device, consisting of flOOdlights actuatt:d by tripwire, in front of beach strongpoints. At one point the trip-wire is sited about Ie ft. outside the wire perimeter and is supported on short ckets 6 - 8 in. above the ground. Immediately the trip-wire is touched the entire area is floodlight; the source was unfortunatuly NuT able to discover the type of lights used or their location.
une type of standard trip-wire alarm (ALA..1i.HSCHUSSGERAT) is 8.S follows;-
(a) Description.
The equipment is illustrated at Ple.t0 11. Although a detailed description of tfH;; eQuipment is not available, it appears that the device consists of a box (1) with A. nLC~'= at the top into which the alarm cartridge (2) (Alarmschusspatrone) fits. Through the bottom passes a strik~r, wi th a T-shaptd head (3) bv ~~Ihich it may be pulled down, against a sprlng, for cocking. U
AI · · · - 6 -
n~~;~·~ i~f;
i ~~."~' "1· f';_ i~ 1 ~ . - .
, A spring loaded, right angle t' th.(:J:)_."~Pi~t,Qt~d~tiJ~)!e f is fork~d 'on ~he horizontal.p~.t which :PaAhA~'~~'~!' " . b.~~~1fl :~ the s trJ.ker pl.n in the cocked .posi tion. To the centtlf' "Y1ih~s ~ ,'" c, .IS fastened a clamp (6). whose jaws grip the wire used to raise the a~ ··m. Thi s wir€: may be a strand of the exi sting wire' defenses I a. special wire trip, One of the wir~s used in binding togeth~r an obstaole such as an abattis, etc.
The alarm cartridge (2) is of signal cartridge ty!,>e, 83 mm. (3i-in.) long and 27 mm. (1 1!16-in.) diameter, weighing 70 gm. (22 oz.). The -body is paintud black. Its recognition by feel is made easy since' its sealing disc (7) extends over the outside and the rim (8) of the base is half smooth and half serrated.
(b) S~tting up the device.
A picket (9) of T cross section is driven into the groUnd near the wire. The device is well lubricated and slipped over the picket to ~hich it is then fastened by the clamps (10). By positioning the 'retaining ring (11) the eqUipment is held at such a height that the clamp (6) engages easily with the Wire.
The wire is placed between the jaws of th~ clamp and locked in such a position that the wire is not under any tension and th~refore does not tend to move the lever. Slight pulling or pushing of the wire s~ouldt however, be sufficient to operate the device.
The alarm is tested by cocking (that is by pulling down the Tshaped head (3) underneath until the coCking stop engages with the fork: of the lever (4») and moving the wire slightly when the striker pin should rise.
The alarm is loaded by pulling down the retaining spring side wall (12) and sliding the alarm cartidge in from the front, over the striker 'pin. The device is then cocked as before I after which the trip wire must not be touched.
(c) Action on firing.
Wh~n, tbe alarm cartidge is f'ir(;jd a flame about 6 ft. high and lasting for lQJ .,etonds is produced. During darkness, this flame will illuminatu the surroundings' within a radius of 50 ft.
(d) Safety.
Although the alarm cartridee closely resembles signal cartidges' tired. from the standard Signal pistol. it must on no account be used 11'1i th that weapon.
10. HEAVY GAUGE WIRE.
At Plate llA are details of a heavy gaugE:: wire probably knO~~ln as Simplex - Stacheldraht). The wire consists of a single square-section centre strand of 3 x 3 mm. cross section (1/8 x 1/8 in.), twisted once; in approximate 2-inches. The barbs aru twisted on only. Vickers hardn~ss is 197. This type of wire has been found on the coast of Franoe; tho extent to which it has been used is not known but sinc~ it is of standard manufacture no surprise need be occasioned if further information revealed it to exist On an appreciable scale.
The Vickers hardness of British wire are as follows:-
11. STANDARI TYPE~uF IR0N PICKETS.
Plate lIB figs. 1 to 4 show the four types of standard German pickets for the erection of plain and barbed wire fences. These types are:
(a) Screw pickets (Fig. 1)
Gbrman designation; "Hindernisschraubpfahl". Used in soft ground.
(b) Tubular steel pickets (Fig. 2)
German d.esignation; "Hindernisschlagpfahl aus Stahlrohr". Used in medium ground.
(c) T-secti.on pi cke ts (Fig.. 3)
German designation: "Hindernisschlagpfahl aus T-Eisen". Used in hard ground.
(d) Stand Pick~ts (Fig. 4)
German deSignation; "Hindernisplattenpfahl". Used in sandy ground.
All four types are made in three sizes, with lengths of 1.00, 1.75 and 2.00 metres (3 ft. 3 in., 5 ft. 9 in., and 6 ft. 7 in.). Weights of thcs~ pickets are as follows.
Type Lt.;ng th Weight ~ Metric Bri tish .
Screw 1,00 m. 1.90 kt~ • 4.2 Ibs, . 1.75 m. 4.90 11 10.8 II
2.00 m. 6.70 " 14.8 "
Tubular 1.00 m. 1.95 . 4.3 Ibs. I 1 .. 75 m. 4.50 9.9 " 2.00 m. 5.00 tI 11.0 If
T - s8cti on 1.00 m. 4.40 kg. 9.7 Ibs. 1.75 m. 7.70 II 17.0 " 2.00 m. 8.80 n 19.4 " I
Stand 1.00 m. 8.0 kg. 17.6 Ibs. 1.75 m. 10. 3 II 22.7 II
2.00 m. 11. 0 " 24.3 "
- 8 -
Plate I
J
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r' /'-/ I.:. I
I / ,1 { t
< J
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J
M i.IO &/782-I Au8·4~ J.fP.
T 6-7"
1 L
Shore
~ay Wall
1
T
Sea Wall
Plate lOA
\
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Plate 10 B
M ,. '0 b/749
J~nQ. A-~ N3w
/
TR.IP WiRE ALAR.M
Plate II
Plate I~ ~
w -."
GERMAN PlCKET~ fOR, WIRE OB5TACLE5
.~~,'. 10 b 174~ ·.TtI ne A~ /I&'t4
Plate liB
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GERIYJA-N PICKETS FOR- YYIRE OBSTACLE!)
Plate 118 MI. 10 b/744
Juncz. 43 16't4
•
1. GElJERAL.
The following information principally concernS types of contruction i~ liu1lJU~, BELGIUM and FruU~CE
The use of concrete in the construction of walls in all strongly defended a:reas is common. Walls are used to ,block streets and roads in coastal towns, at the approaches to key pOints, and on the outskirts of towns generally. Access to a built-up area from a beach is often blocked by a continuous wall along the entire sea front and where the wall is sited along the building line the ground floor window and door openings are filled in with brickwork. The wall is sometimes in front of the building line.
)rr .if"i a study of the avialable photographs th0 standard of workmaSnsldp on th8se walls appears to vary from good to fair. Timbur shutterinE is used almost exclusively, in fact, there Ims b00n no evid~nce of the use of ste~l 'shuttl:.-ring. The timber shutt0ring has, on some si tes, been very rou[hl.,y fix(;d and badly strutted against slip when the concret!.;; is pnuredj this is particul~rly noticeable in the South of FranCe.
The proporti ons of the concrta te mix are not known, 5,1 though evt:;;ry t3ffort has bebn made to obtain th0m. It is very pro'ba.ble that local materials hu.vl:l been used whenuv(;lr available including large <luanti tibs of shore 'gravt..;l r:.:nd sea sand. The placing, of largu stone or "plums" particularly in the foundations, has also been rt;portt-d from good sourceS. Thu use of "plums" is not likoly in tht; reinforced sections of walls. The usc of "plums" in mass concrete retaining walls is comoon engineering practice but they ar~ of doubtful value in walls designed to resist A.P, shot and explosives. The quality of thu cement used in thE! various districts is not known. uno sample obtainL·d from thE, CHERBLJURG area (Hotes on Gorman Fieldworks No.2) indicated tht-::..t, in this l~cality at any rate, the quality of the cemont was not equal to normal British portland ceDent. A number of r&ports have mentioned the USt;
of a "'-'let mix" concrete, which implies a high watcr/cem~nt ratio and thE.:refore, correspondingly a lower strength in 'jihe finished concrete.
The use of steel reinforcement in walls and oth0r concrete obstacles is now established beyond doubt. Although earli0r reports made no mention of th6 usc of ste61, and it was believed that littlu, if any, was used, it is by no moans certain that thu earlier works are entirely mass concrbte construction. The use of second-hand railway rails in three rows of closw spacing has boon mentioned by a s ouree who is considered fairly reliable and observan t. Hooked bars have bOt:m seen projectin€ through the top of ti ... L.
walls and these may be intended for holding wire concbrtinas as wull as reinforcing the concrete. In several localities it, has been reported that broken glass has been cemented imto the top of concreto walls, especially ro~d-block walls.
In connection with the construction of thuse walls, it should be not~d that di tches are being excavated along the tOt;S or' \Alalls to ioprove the effectiveness of the. obstacle, or alternatively, a tank-trap may 'bu constructe( i~ the form of a pit covered with plap~s, vaultbd in brickwork, road metal or r.J.lstting. In areas where large quanti ties of stone arb rt:adily aV'ailabl c from quarries, road blocks are often construct(;d of stone and not concrete.
2. WA1LS.
~~ic::n::::::~lli~,:_eil"slO~OS\ fllU (1.5m.)
".. ,1J1ta~ 6: ft. 7 ins. (21.1'1 " . frequently reported 8 ft. 3 ins. (2-5n.) " max. to be expected 10 ft. (3m.) to 11 ft" 6 ins.
(3.51].) ....
- 1 -
Heih ~~vj';, oun~l~v~l
::ninimum 6 ft. (' ins. (2::L,) most likoly 8 ft. 3 ins. (2.Sm.) r.1ax. to be expected 10 ft. (3r..l ) to 11 ft. h iT,..
(3,51:1. )
Height, including ditch in front
probable minimUL.1 probable maximum
15 ft. 25 ft
Plate 12 shows one of the largest walls yet seen. The curvod s8ctio~ of the wall is formed by straight shuttering in narrow widths; there is ulso a substantial toe and the back face of the wall is inclined towards the front. The centre of gravity of this wall is probably within the front third of the fOUf.i.1.ation TNid th. A nunber of dark marks on the end of the wall wert; Hoti c6d on tL\;, original photograph, SOl:!€; of which are to be seen on the illust,ration. The SS 1..,0,;>7 be:; 'Nood blocks left in the concrote, to be cutout later WLl;~~ tL.(;;
next 18~gth of wall is bonded to the old work. If steel reinforce~~nt is used. in this wall no provision has beer:. made to bond tht; r6inforC8rat;,1~t (if any) of TIc'" 'Nork to the steel j if any, in the wall illustrated.
,A, Y'l tical concrete wall wi th splayed projecting section of about :3 ft. 6 iLs, 1s ShO\<lll in Plate 12A. The height of the we,ll is estinatod as ~ ft. 6 ins. I'l'~c; wall constructed in brickwork ~.1a;)r l ... c,ve a bui behind it.
lm. BLother wall of sinilar shape, where the splayed projection was deep6r, ttt; steel bars n0ar t.he face of the 'NaIl had bl.;;en cut 10EE; onough to pro.ject through the top of the wall. The bars ap:pear to be i in. di~L}. at 9 in, c>'::!ltrE::;S, 111ith hooked ends and having a loop bent in thG bar about half way bbt~(H;612 tht; top of thb ',..Tall and the end of the hook. The bars are bt:JL t forward to oV8rhang the walls and may be in tended. for barbed vlire to scaling landing troops.
AnothGr type of projection, reported rec~ntlYI consisted of a plain cantilevLr 1 ft. 8 in. long at the top of a 10 ft. wall; the tlJicknGSS of the cB~tilever w~s not giVen.
Another type of concrete wall is shown in Plate 13. This has a rounded top, curved face and a ledt:'8 on tht;; back of tLI;;.; we,ll. The purpose of tLt·.: ledgs has not been deterDined.
Th,:; tYPE:; of wall shown in Plate 13A has, up to datt:, been the ::IOSt Cor.1L1on for::.t of continuous construction. This wall is probably 6 ft. 7 ins. thick x 3 ft. 0 ins. above ground level.
(b) Walls with gaps.
The gap is usually sifficient for one vehicle to pass at a time, A
number of reports have mentioned the use of steel rails and reinforced concrete beams for clOSing the gaps; the former being the most common.
Fl::;.k'14 shO-i/S a wall 7 - 8 ft. high, 5 - 6 ft.. thick at its basL, huilt a9r Oes a road,.but two gaps, one for road traffic, th~ other for a .l~ght gauge raIlway. \:jnds Of the walls facing th~ railv/ay are slotted. to take rails or other Daterial for closing the gap. The two soctions across the road are,built on the skew and may overlap so that a long distanca view of thE:: obstacle would tend to give tiLe iL'l.pressior.l. that there is no ~~al.
Plate l4A shows a typi cal wall of the rourd.ed top type. Thi s wall is probably 6 ft. 7 ins. thick x 8 ft. 3 ins. high. RefbrencG is i:lade to th6 steel hedgehogs in P3J't III, p"ara. 3.
/ Plate 14B
.... 2 ~
Flate 14B shows a straight through type of road block with walls slotted for some kind of barrier.
Plate 15 fig. 1 shows a type of road block between AMSTERDAM and HAA.RLEM. The two 'outside blocks are 6 ft. cubes and the centre block ~s l~) ft. long, 6 ft:raigh"-~ ,ft, ',wiue. )':'Between the blocks there is Just sufficier.t s:pac~~:Il~r. on~ cau.o'.~ass .. ,:~ It will be noticed that the cycle track and tb.~ tramlRaY1R~~her side of tp.e road are left unobs tructed~ v.,
Plate 15 fig. 2 shows the layout of a large road block near THE liAGTJ~. It is said to consist of a wall 10 - 12 ft. thick with the gaps askew to the line of the road. From a distance, these gaps may appear to be very narrow. Large concrete pyramids are kept at the' side of the road ready to block the openings. un the banks of the road there are a number of wooden posts 9 ins. diameter standing 1 ft. abov~ ground level. Beyond these posts, barbed wire fences continue across the fields. The widths of the openings left for traffic are estimated dimensions.
Plate 15A fig. 1 shows a type of "skew" road block at ST. NAZAIRE .. Where lliinor roads are completely blocked the main thoroughfar~s have a gap sufficient for one vehicle to pass through.
Plates 15B, C and D show the types of concrete road block reported from CHERBOvnG. Fig. 4 of Plate 15D is an illustration of the design used but this 'may have been superseded by a heavier and higher wall in more recent construction.
(c) Reinforcement.
While information on the use of steel in walls is very limited one refugee source has given some details regarding one particular wall at SANTEC. A Sketch is given at Plate l5A, fig. 2. The wall is reinforced with 3/8 to 1/2 inch bars at 12 ins. centres. Good sources from HuLLlUTD have cons tan tly mentioned "light profile reinforcement rr as standard, and thi s agrees well 'Wi th an earlier account of the SANTEe 1.'all,
(d) Loopholes.
In the CANNES locali ty a source has men tioned loopholes 12 in. 'f/id.:.: x 8 In. decreasing near the centre of the wall and then expanding to 24 in. wide x 16 in. on the target Side. Pillboxes are known to be buil t into walls at the HAGUE and MARSEILLES and A. tk. and M.G. emplacements behind walls are very common.
3.. CUBES.
These are used in the same 'day as "dragons r teeth" but are also to' be found across hollows in dunes which might provide an exit for vehicles. They are used in 1, :3 and possibl.r 3 rows, not always staggered. In dune country they are generally on a forward slope near a crest. Where the pillars are rectangular, they measure about 3 ft. on each side by 4 ft. high and the cylindri~al types are 3 - 4 ft. drain by 4 ft. high.
4. DRAGliNS TEETH,
These are used to block streets, exi ts from (!I}.c:;,ys, and well defined beach exits particularly where the level of the beach approximates the level of any road or track. This type of obstacle consists of 3 or 4 staggered rows, 6 ~ 8 ft. apart, the distance between teeth.:i:rt o~nf"'_ r~~eing 6 - 8 ft. uf tht; types On whi ch informe,tion. i ~ .~vai~~b;ee '~le,~ ~.~pl1ea1 '.'. be rt:::gular pyramids between 2 ft. 6 ins. "a.n(l4 'f.t,~ 6:'''lns, ll~,g~~'" It"lS~' obable that the teeth are connected at th~i~(1:?a.se ,:~,,;fr~mi fr·on~·· td rear';' by - a concrete
~. ""t\..1 ;......, .... '. ,~ / beam
- 3 -
--beam which would prevent imm~diate overturning nn impact from a tank.
IW1,,,,pJltl'lt'm,rAximate details of a rbinforc:d ~oncrcte. dragons tooth at one particu~~"locality. Source who gav8 thlS lnformatlon indicat~d that the dragons teeth were built in three sizes, the one illustrated being the largest, one behind th6 other with their foundations touching. Apart from the slope of each tooth there was no gap betweun them. Th{j spacing, centre to centre, between sets of three across the road, r.~a:yby 6 to 8 ft. No details are available of the intermediate and smallest siz~s but it may be assumed that the same method of construction was us~d throughout.
Plates 17, 18 and 19 show this type of obstacle somewhore in Germany. It has been reported that the barbed wire has bt::en removed for use in other areas. The te8th are almost certainly connected by continuous beams in reinforc6d concrete. The' four row type has been ruported to have teoth varying in a straight incline, from 1 ft. 8 ins, to 4 ft. 7 ins. high constructed on a continuous beam 2 ft. 8 ins. thick.
5 • TETRAHEDRA.
These are described in German documents as being about 3 ft. 3 ins. high a~d consisting of three reinforced concrete beams forming a tripod and connected at their apices by a concrete cap. Each tetrahedron is secured against overturning by a basal cross-piece (Grundplattenkreuz), the exact deSign of which is,not known, and is secured in the ground by concrete piles. There are no reports of their use in occupied Western Europe.
6 • HEDGEHuGS .
These consist of three r~inforced concrete beams connected at right angles at thEiir centres, and stand up to 5 ft. high. There are no reports of their use in Occupied W8stern Europe.
7. CuNCRETE puSTS.
A traini~g document dated 1940 states that conc£6te posts may b~ precast b6twBon double-channel sections and may be fixed upright or pointing to~ards-the enemy, and are generally arranged in chequer-fashion in up to 7 rows. Reports state that obstacles of this type, 2 ft. to 2 ft, 6 ins. in height and 1 ft. 6 ins, in width, have been used as roadblocks in N.W. coastal districts of France.
8. STARS.
Stars haVE:; not bGt;n reported for SOme years, ThtlY consist of four reinforced concrete legs, radiating from a centre, each set at 1200 to eacli other, and each leg is about 2 ft. 6 ins. long. The eff~ctive width of each is 5 ft. 3 in, and the standard lay-out is thre~ rows with up to 16 ft. between rows.
9 • DRI CKW()RK .
A number of brick walls have been constructed but the use of this material is, with few exceptions, confined to the blocking of subsidiary highways. The quali ,ty of the bri cks is not 6xpected to be high and certainly not equal to the best pressed engineering brick produced in this country. The height of these walls may be up to 9 ft. high and 2 ft: 3 in. thick. Plate 20 shows a brick wall built across a subsidiary street having three piers, and a plinth; the thickness is not known. Many of these walls are built to protect harbour areas from trespassers and observurs.
-'4 -
"11.108/783 "'9 i-3 J f.P
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flate 14~
-
{y.c!e Track
M /.lOB/T84 Aug ~~J.E.f
6' 13' 6' -T
7' 7' 6' -- -approx. approx. t .TramWdJ_
.c Barbed Wire
o 0 0 qin. Posts
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o 0 o ~ ... 'I in. Posts
Barbed Wire
Plate 15
M 1.106/785 AU9·~3J.E..P.
D imens/on5 assumed - Scale 10 ft = I in
~ -= -
I.. 3'.b"
Plate 15A
"'/e - Y2" aiam. bar.s 1i) / l in
centre.s.
Rough concrete with 'P'/ums" in foundation
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Plate 16
Em~ r-1~8~
TYPICAL .5JiC T!ON OF FRENCI-I RAIL
(ONeRE-Tl: lEEJJ!
DRAGO"'S
PART III - s:fJtJ 1. ~U~\~D 3AIL. , Cl A
. "Ins t~-p", of obsta1:le was, apparently. first in4 ta~I~rr:a:;lS ~r10r _~ 1940. Platus 21 and 22 were probably taken ~~~. 1 0 ~s repr OdUC8d from a photograph" captured in North Africa, a ,2 sLows thtJ obstacle forming part of b8ach deitlnces. Full details are n '. ah.1.0 but ~ rec.onstruction from available photographs a..YJ.d skttches is givGE ~t Plate. 25.
2. DE CuI :!TET .
This is more generally known as the Belgian Elemt:nts "e" and is found:
(a) Alocg opBn beaches, occasionally in stretches over a mile sorretimes across the vstuaries of small streams.
(b) In front of and at flank approaches to defended localities.
(c) As a temporary obstac16 until concrete walls art compl~ted.
(d) In sllctions as movable barriers for strebts, bridges, quays, jetti os, and possibly a modified design far railw~ys.
Plate 26 shows a side view, the st~el rollers being partly obscured by long grass; uote the towing hooks at the rear and the stG~l loops on thG side of the front vertical membur ~rJhich are for taking thl;:;! locking bars.
Plate 27 shows the sections fixed in position.
Plat~s 28 and 2~ show the approximate dimensions of this obstacle.
3. HEDGEHlJGS.
These consist of three lengthS of angle iron connected at right angl~s at their centres by welding or gusset plates. The latter method is the more usua.l. It is a standard obstacle (Stahl - Igel) and may 'oe up to 6 ft. high and are commonly used in continuous rows. Plate 30 shows th~ official G~rman deSign taken from docum~nts (Bildheft Neuzeitlicher Stollungsban dated L-; Sep. 42) and it is interesting to compare this illustration with Plate l4A.
In addi ti on to tht:.3 movable type of hedgehog, they may be found l-Iubedded in concrete or prepared holes made in the roads to receive one leg from each secti on when the order is gi yen to close tht) road. It is w811 known on beaches of the French channel coast. I t seems very probab10 that this obstacle is noVl superseding the timber knife rests on important approaches to defended localities.
4. TETRAHEDRA.
These are made principally of an6le section stbel to block beach exits, ramps, promenades and streets leading from the beach. They consist of three or four pieces of steel embedded in concreto with the ap~x welded or bolted. Plate 31 shows thesb, of varyinb hl-ights, embedded in concrete with small in-situ concrete blocks to assist in exposing the belly of A.F.Vs to firG. There havb been no reports of these being constructed in more than one row.
Thert; apprear to
(a) 2 ft. 6 in.
(b) 4 ft. 0 in.
( c) 4 ft. 6 in. ", bol tt:d 3 it. :3 in. above E:;round level, wi th tho Gnds projectin~ above the join.
/ 5. - 1) ..
,.... ~'. . Pl~~' ~\ DE" ~~;:- u. 5. RuLLED STEEL JuISTS .• ~\ .; .... \.
In recent months ~.S.~s~ ~ar to have been used on an increasing scale A phot~grap~.i. of OP8,-o1' ~"e ob~tacles is ven at Plate. 32 •. The offi~ial typ6 sl v~ ~n felJna~"o6uments 1S shown at Plate 33 and 1 t wlll be S\JL~L to com.p~e .weif'l ~ ~ ~hat actually constructed in occupied terri tory. The of-fi~a~~rJ~~ term for this obstacle is Schienensperre.
It .. ~" . til ,
B~hin~ thb walls blocking the seaward end of streets loading to the proIDE;:nadt in Belgian coastal towns, rows of uprif:-'ht rails 3 to 5 ft. high are reported only 6 to 7 ft. from thE;: walls.
Ano tht;r type Sben on the coas t of HuLLA1·JD is shown a t Plato 34. Tl:1..rails are Set at an angle of approximately 500 , pointing seaward, in ~ continuous concrete in-situ slab. Une report gave the thickness of concrete 1'or this type as 6 ft. 7 in. and said that the maximum height of the rail above the finished concrete was 1 ft. 8 in.
Early in the war thc Frbnch reported a type of inclined stebl obstacle which soems to consist of pre-fabricated jOists. Plate 35 is belit;ved to be a photo~raph of this somewhere in the VOSGES •
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FRONl ELEVATION
REAR ELEVATION
Belgian .' Elements C· A tk. Obstacle MI.IOB/753 PLATE 2.8
Belgian Elements 'C" A tk. Obstacle
SlDE ELEVATION
PLA~
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GE:RMAN R.S. R~'L OBSTACLE:
PLATE: ~~
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1. uF:h"I CI.A1 TYP1S. PART IvDEtiASSli,Ed
TLe G-(;;rmans lay down that anti-tank ditches should. be of trianE:'ular cross-sbction t the. rear side vertical, 4 ft. 6 in. deep to 6 ft~ d8e:p and 7 ft. 0 Lc.!.. to 21 ft. wide, wi th a 2 ft. 6 in. earth parapet on Gach si,iiJ. The 'Tbrtical face should b(; retainea, where possible. by a concretE; wall. Anoth8r tYPE; is the water di tch. up to 18 ft. deep and 36 ft. wii6 s.t tLc to,f. Great stress has been laid on the importanct; of camouflage e.g'. b;\coils of barbed. wire laid in thE';; ditch covered with camouflage matbrial. Cthontr~ry to th~ir teaching the Germans have not taken any stops to camoufle6e
e flLl sht:d 'Nork except 'N'here tank traps have been cons tructed ill coastD..:L districts.
2. EXISTING TYPES.
Di tchbs are found practically to encirclt; key-points particularl:r in HuLLAliD and BELGIUM where the land is flat and watt:r is ready to hand for flooding the ditches. Where ditches meet major roads the latter are not excavated but roadblocks are constructed which only a110\,,1 single line t,rg,ffic. In co~stal districts thert.. may be two ditches, ~]ithin a few yards of t,ach other, cut in the road so as to leave a gap for singlb line traffic. The di tch is Ldnerally revettbd wi th cr'!lcrete on thd vertical fac~ and in somb cases Lay b~ entirely linod with concrete
The ditch at HUuK is a notable example of revetment with osiers and it is probablb that the very wide ditches are not revetted in concrete.
The prinCipal dimensions of ditches are:-
(a) HvLLAND (inland)
Width (top) If (bottom)
Depth
(b) ELSEWHERE (coastal areas~
Width (large works) fJ (minor fI )
Depth
60 ft. 50 ft. 15 ft.
30 ft. 9 - 20 ft. 7 - 15 ft.
A low obli~ue of the Eastern end of the ST. MALu anti-tank ditch is given at Plate 36. The ditch is approximately 30 ft. wide at th6 bottom and has gently sloping sid0s. There are two pile-drivers on the South~rn bank and it is likely that these are engaged on the construction of a sluice which will cOLtrol the flow of sea water into the ditch, the bottom of which is below sea level. If not floOd..ed the di teh would not be a tank obs tacle.
To improve the effectiveness of a sea wall obstacle the Germans, since the DIEPPE raid, haVb excavated trenches down to the toe of the walls. Unly approximate dimensions can be given since most of them will be affected by tidal influences; th~se are
(c) Width (top) " (bottom)
Depth
- 1 =
15 - 30 ft. 5 - 1(; ft. 7 - 12 ft.
/ f ounda ti Of ...
The tank traps reported in conjunction \vi th road blocks t appartntly consist of small trenches covered over with timber or thin concrete slab wi th the road surfacing relaid. The thin covering is prt;;sUIDed to bE; stron{:: ~nough for very light traffic only.
4.
The, Gc:rmans have a rocogni sud drill for COns tructint~ dams. In ar0as wh~rE: therE: are sI,P.all rivbrs the nb-rrow estuaries and a fairly widE: flat vallbY bl;:;hind, the practict; of damming up the estuary, usually at 3. bri and controlling th(;; flow of v/ater by a sluicb is fairly common. In this way ar8as up to three miles inland and up to O~~ mile broad can be flood8d in emvrgency to form a barrier to troops and vehicles.
- 2 -
i:~ ,-~j}~,~ r - lJ(..?
PART V - TIMBER.
~ ~
. The Gt::rmans have laid down in their manuals (J!l fieldwork's t~lG tYf0S : 1I>./1lt~ ,_ of tlrnber obstacle construction. Timber has not be(;;n used on,a la~[8 ~{/f!, ~/ii.). scal(.. but Plat 37 shows ono type reported from FRAlJCE. The dlmenSlons f,r" / f are only approximate and the horizontal and vertical members 'liero stated "~"'~ to bb 10 - 12 in. diameter wi th the verticals fixed deeply into the '.' ground. Th~ interior filling is of sand and the walls are strengthenvu by diagonal bracing.
Platt; 38 sho'fJS thE;) standard design (Pfahlspurre) to stop light tanks. It consists of four rOws of 10 - 12 in. diam~t~r timbur pick~ts sut 7 ft. :.;; in. in the ground. This design may bt: the one uS\;;ld at tht;: road block described in Part II, para. 2 (b) Platb 15, fig. 2.
-0 I D ~ 1m
(JJ ~
,:1 - 6'5/ --------rt
I
~-6Y~-1 A __ ~ f!;.--
';E o 5. > ... ) /~~-~ -- - - - - ,.;»*' »;; »>;»»>;;;;":4
SCALE: '/50 OlMEN510N5 APPROXIMATE
I----i I
&"6'"
SECTION AA
GERMAN STAGGERED ROAD BLOCK ("CHICANE" TYPE)
t----?-' I I
" I I , I I I I i I I I I I .. I ,7-3
:I~II I I I I
" J \ I \I
~ """'-3"
~ 4'-3"
~ 4' .. 3-
+~ 4'-.::\-
~@) , ....
I ." ---1-- . t'----l ... ~-3 -I~ 5-3 _I
T I, 2'-7" I
ti 15'-9'"
l : \ I V
~.
@
I I I I I I
I I' , I \ I
\ I
"
~
@
"'1
..
...
GER.MAN STANDARD TlMBER PlCK.ET OB~TRCLf:
N\l. 10 til ~97 Au",. 4~ ABW.
PLl-lTE ~8
1. CRvVlSi!1;ET.
PART VI. Iv:r SC:2LL.:\1TEvUS.
II. " 11
') .'
Two types art; known and these are intended to be scattered on ground to damag~ tht tyres of vehiclos passing over th0 area.
(a) Plat~ 39 shows one typ~:
DcscriJ2tion. The device is made of two sheet steel sta.mpings i_
I mm. (0.04 in.) thick, shaped and spot welded together to forrr; ::t symmttrical object '"Ii th four spikus forminf the api ~cs of a regular t~trahedrem. The Qdg~s of th~ stampings are chamfur~d and serrat(;;d in ordor to increase the cutting and pendtration power.
Two sizes have bcBn recovered. The apex of the larger, vlhi eh iss tamped L on one of the WE:;: b s, B tands :3.5 in. off thu ground, while the smallDr, stamped R, is 2.1 in. high.
Both si zes appl':ar camouflaged pain tl':d in two wa;yrs J ei thG!' all grass green, or grtJon and buf£'; the former SU6E:esting that this equipment is a.lso intended for use in Europt;;a.n tht.:a.tr(;s.
Mb thad of use. German crowsfeet are droI'ptJd by plant.. in 9-
container similar in all respects to the ABB 500 incbndiar~bomb containbr (Summary 88, para. 7). In on~ sample recovered thb stencill(;d markings ABB in black were present but an;v subsequent marking would have been on the loading hatch which was missing.
It is estimatbd that this container will hold 1400-2000 crowsteet.
RGcognition. In most cases early recognition in the field, of crowsfeet will dept;;nd on observation of the container. vn roads the dev~ces will be easy to see but or. tracks and fiulis they may pass unnoticed.
Efficacy. When dropped on to hard ground or ground conSisting of a hard und8r surface with 2-3 in. of loose dust or soil ~bove it, they will do Serious damage to any tyre passing over thbm.
Their effect in very soft soil is difficult to assess as this depends entirely on the amount or support available either immediately underneath or which they may receiv~ when dragged alon~ by the tyro.
(b) Plato 40 shows the older wrought iron type of crowsfeet.
GERMAN CROWSFOOT
PLATE :)9 M 1.10 a/ir5 2.
Noy. -42. J.E.P.
JJ II /~'~I/ ,. _" .. '- ~ - t ~ E,;!~ Ihi
I ....... -..,-·---1 I Tha inf('\rmat ion given ~n thi s publication i 6 n('\t to I
be communicated, ei ther directly or indirectly. to I I the Press or· tt'l any -person nC't hnl.ding an off.icial 1 I pnsi t:nn in his Maje·styl s Service. 1
NOTES ON GERMAN OBSTACL!S
)1.1.10. The War Office october 1943
0160/2436(M.I.10)
!NTRUDUCTlON
PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV
DISTRIBUTIuN LIST tiE"
'N~. 2
STEEL
TIMBER
DITCHES
1 N!J.'RU DUCT I uN
Notes on Gel'mar ... Ubstacles No.1 descroibed all the known' types con-s tructed up to Augus t 1943 toc's th'er wi th certain known standard rna terj als used.
" ~ ;~\ 1""] i'.~, rt f:l tf.::' t(;~ n i'~? n F:;:J1 '., . . . . ! .:;\ .': 1, "J i;.~h~,$':lIU1?tli C.~.tl 'whi ah should be :read ln conJunctlon Wl th the above,
';r:L' .~: t..' ~q:v¥*~t\1"I~~~n~fd es of obstacle laid down by the Germans up to .~~t;?; i '"', Sel?t'emDe~ 1942 (Bil heft Neuzei tli cher Stellungsbau September 1942).
Information on wire obstacles from refugee sources has not been sufficiently conclusive to justify circulation but comparing the poor sketches as are available with Plates I to 8 we see that the Germans have, to some extent ~nd where conditions permit, constructed their wire obstacles on the lines of the official instructions. It must be borne in mind, however, that many wire obstacles are likely to be found which differ very much from the official illustrations.
There has been no mention in official documents of the construction of concrete walls, cubes and dragons teeth, although the latter were constructed in the Siegf~ied line before the war. The construction of steel tetrahedra, de Cointet and curved rail obstacles are also,omitted from captured pamphlets; the latter has also been a standard type for sOme con~· siderable time.
In order to }:J..ave a complete publication of' official types as distinct from those known to exist I particularly in France, a certain amount of t.l:1e information in Notes No. I has been repeated here.
PART I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11 ..
1-4.
13.
PART II
1.
2.
PART III
1.
PART IV
1.
2.
.3.
4.
5.
6.
GERMAN CJBSTACLlliS
Dnuble apron fence
n 11 II
If If " for snow niK;LASS/~ . wi th singlE> coil lED
If It It It double
Apron type fence - 21 ft.
11 '1 - 33 ft •
Cattle fencea ..... Trip-wire obstacle
Knife rests
'Wire tn pillboxes in wonds
Si~lex barbed wire
.;garbed.. wire
Standard types of steel pickets
STEEL
Hedgehogs
R~lled steel rails
Picket ('lbstaele
DITCHES AND BANIS
Unrevetted ditch
Revetted di toh
Asparagus ditohes
Diteh in sandy anil
Bank:
steJPed bank
Plate 1.
!I If (f:n- snt'".w c('\nditinns)
::- l,i~_th single emil
'i double II
2l. ft.
6. Apr~n type fence - 33 ft.
7. Cattle Fences
8. Trip-wire obstacle
9. Knife rests
Sa. Folding angle-iron knife rest
10. ~~re tn pillbox in wOt"ds
11. Simplex barbed wire
12, Barbed wire
13. Standard types of st~pickets
14. Steel hedgehog
15. Rnlled steel rail
16. Timber picket
17. Unrevetted ditch
18. Revetted ditch
19. Asparagus ditohes
20. Ditch in sandy 6('\il
21. Bank
UNClASSIFI£n
":ai.I"£~_.I. PART l .... WIRE
1. D(JUBtE A!'RuN FENCE (?late 1)
C-0rn1an designatir"ln tfFlanderzaun rt meaninE; Flanders fence. The fl"lll"lw-:ng are the German instructirns:-
Shf"'lrt If
rlain 'Wire
2. D.A. FENCE fuR SNtJW (:'late 2)
The fence is intended where deep enfl", cf'nditlf'nS are e:h.-pected :"n Winter. The methnd nf erectif'n is t'he same as the ab"ve fence. vne day' s w~rk ft"r the sane number nf men ia 220 - 270 yds.
II German designati"'n "verstarkte Flanderzaunn meaning reinff'l,rced Flanders
fence.
As will be seen, this fence is st't'-engthened by the add,iti(\n flf a cf"Incertina f'f plain f"'Ir barbed wire (fir" f"Ir "SI! r~lJ.e). 'rhe cf'lncertina is fixed tn the pickets befnre the If'ngitudinal barbed wires; 167 rfl11s are needed per 1100 yds (1000 metres).
4. D.A •. FENO,E WITH DOUBLE COIL (rlate 4) ------_. __ .,----If
German desie;nati!'ln "Dhp-pelt 'terstarkte F1anderzaun";' The f'rdinary D.A. fenee is strengthened by means (If a d"uble rf'lw f'r cf'lncertinas under ~he a~rflns. These may be plain ~r bf.rb~d c~ncertinas. Tn this type the verti~al secti~n ~f the fenae'is e~m~leted bef~re the c~ncertinas are fixen. Vue' day's w~rk f('r 4 F.C,vs and 40 men is given as 440 - 500 yds.
5~ AFRvN TyrE FENC~ - 21 FEET (~late 5) II ' :
German designatil\n '!F1acnendrahthlnderni:s." This particular des:gn was referred tfl in Nt"tes nn German {)bstacles Y:r; ... 1 part -r para 2" bu.t it Was n"t knnwn at lh~. time that they had a similar layt"ut f('r a fence'2l ft. deep.
(a) urder"f wt"rk. Mark "ut "bstacle. drive in pickets, fix barb$d tri-pwires. l1"'ngitudinal barbed wires "'n 'pickets and:plai.n wire bracing betwepn pickets. !'15ce tWf'l barbed wires c'"'ncertinas in the aprf"l}l, faCing' the enemy, cf'mplet e pIv in wiring t~ aprf'ns und fix l~ngi tudtnal barbed wires.
(b) Labf'lur. 4 P.C.0s and 40 men - 130 yds per dl~,
(c) Materials.
Lnng pickets (centre) 61 6" lnng
~1edi um IT 5', 8 ft " , tl
Sh"rt tt 3' 3" 11
?lnin wire 3 - 5 mm.
1
"-
6. APRuN TY?E FENCE - 33 FEET (Plat~ ~)
The German-designation is the same as the 21 ft. obstacle and the f~nce is constructed on similar lines to that descri ted in para. 5.
7 ~ CA:'TLE FENCES (i.·'1ate 7)
If
The German designat-ion is ·!tKop·pelzaune!l f
UN'et N , A, \teD:tion is ,dr, awn t,o Notes on German Obstacles No.1 l'~rt_ I para 8 (g):
I fi;i _ !~ Q' :~t~~~ a~_ this design may be ass(')ciated wi th the layout of mine-
· ." i; f ~ :~J,~~: ! t" Q 9} ·,~n· (a) .• ' (Jrde~~~~_-work. Hark out the obstacle, drive in pi cket a and fix diagonal plain Ylire bracing. Fix the three- rewa of barbed wire. Gon ... struct the second fenc'e in the same way a,nd la\! plain or b8rbed ccn·certinas (UK" or JIST! rolle).
( b) . Labour. 2 U.C.CJs and 26 men - 875 - 1100 yds. per day.
(c) Materials. Long pickets 5' Sf!.
Plain wire 3 mm.
One interesting note in the German document says that in view of the ge~eral shortage of material it is forbidden to substitute barbed wire fnr plain wire.
8. TRIP WIRE (JBSTACLE (rlate j)
Tr .. e German designation is" Stolperdrahthinderni sU ,
The tllustration agrees 'I'lith the description given in Notes on German GbstaclEs 1'To. 1 l'art I! para 1. It will be nnted ~hat the Germans illustrate the USe of 10"se barbed wire withln- the framework of the obstacle.
(a) Labour. 1 N.C.O. and 6 men 1200 sup. yds. per day.
s. KNIFE RESTS (Plat e 9 and 9A)
The German designation is tt Spani scher Rei tern. :''h:r it shonld be 30
called is. obscure.
Two standard types are knnwn but the timper knife rests to be found in France are generally larger than 'illustratecl here. The timber framir~g :5 braced· in all directions 'vtith plain 'lArj.re 2 rom. thick and an allowance nf ~::.
yds. per ,knife rest is made.
(a) Labour. 1 N,C.(;. and 10 men - 20 knife rest's pe·r ~day.
A stcndard tyPe of folding angle-iron knife rest is illustrateQ at Plate 9A,
10. '\lITRE Tv :-'ILL3()XES lIT W()(.;DS (:'lat ~ 10)
Instructions have been given on the method' to be used in constru~tiLg wire obstacles around pillboxes in woods~ it is not kn~wn whether this has been carried out· to the letter.
Use is made of wire netting to screen the pillbox (a mDt erial not ed or. a photograph of' a Dutch pillbox), and the foll~wing pD,rtlculars pro'rTj de a gen!:ral idea of the extent to which \\Tire might be expc<;!ted in woods.
(a) Materials.
~er 100 yds. of wire nettingt-
'icket s
Net ting 4 _ . rolls eaeh 82 ft. long.
i'lain wir.e lS4 . ft. 2 mm. dlam.
f or surrounding Wire nbstaclet_ ,
?l. ckete. 1000 - 6' 6" x 4" - 6" diem .
UNClASSlfl£D plus use of tree e.
" "
Barbed Wire
rlai n " ItS" rol le (barbed
cClncertina)
tlK1I roll e (plain
concertina)
1000 - 5' 3"
400 - 3' 3"
1.350 rolls
200. 11
2 tons.
4t tons.
(b) Labour . 1 pI: 6 days @ 8 hr s/day .
x ~u - 6" diam .
x 3" _ 411 diam.
= 33 t on"s.
2 mm • • diem.
(c ) Layout. The obstacle should be up tn 55 yds . deep art'l Ulld the pillbox. :-'1ain and barbed concertina shnuld be i rregul a r ly interwov ~n .i n the fences . I The ·~wire netting should be 7 ·ft . 6 in. h igh hav ing low firing apertures to- su it the level nf the pillbox lnnphnles.
Ii. 5r '~"'LElC WIRE (Plate 11)
This is heavy gauge wire conSisting ~f a single squar e-sectinn strand of 3 x 3 mm. crl"'ss sectinn (l/a x l/a in . ) . twis ted (lnce in apr 'rClximately 2 i nch es . The barbe a r e twisted on only. ·Vickers hardnes& is 197. This wire is of standnrd manufacture and it is pnssibl e that there are slight var i ati nns in tht' am,.unt nf twi st in the wire . Crf'9S sea ti tm etc . dep.ending upnn the manufacturers .
12. BARBED W!RE (el ate 12)
Tt.i s ~re ~as cut fr~m a wire f enc e s ,.mewhere in FRANCE and is under elUlminatinn·. !t is nf lighter cr,.s s secti nn than "simplex" and the blir'bs arc SP6C~ at ab('ut 1. 75 i n. instead ('It O. '15 - 1 in. A descripti('lD ('If tr.is wire has n~t been seen in any German docum ents but it is presumed t ,. b e nn~ (If the standard tyPes ('If barbed vire in gener fl l us e.
13 . STANDARD TYPES (;F STEEL rrCKETS (clate 13) ,
The tWfI sheets flf illus tra ti('!Ds. standard German pickets. . Th ese t yp es
figs . 1 t,. 4 shfl ·w the fflur types I'I f are! -.
( 8) Screw piokets. (Fig . J,. )
German deGignatif""ln : "Hindarnisschraubpfahlu • Used in snft grnund .
( b) T'lbul ar steel pick ets (F1g, 2)
Ger man d esibnatinn : uHinderni sschlegpfahl aus Stahlrnhr " . Us ed i n m~~ium grnund.
I e) T-sect1on pickets (Fig . 3)
J er man designati on: -in herd grnund .
IIRinderni ssch l agpfnhl aus T_::is(>ntl.
- 3 -
Used
(d) '1ij.!.1...t
Stand picket~ (Fig.4)
G-erIr.an designatinn: "Hindernisplattenpfahl." grl"':.md.
Used in sandy
All ft'lur. tvpes are mnde in three sizes. with lengths nf 1.00, 1.r~5 and 2.00 m!=tr'es (3 ft. 3 in" 5 ft. 9 in •• and 6 ft. 7 in.). 1·Tc a I"f these pickets are as fl"11rws.
Screw 1.00 m. 1.90 kg. 1.75 m. 4. 70 II
2.0"" m.. I 6.70 n ----l-~~~-:-'----' -r---l-. 9-5-k-g -
1.75 m. ! 4.50 « I
Tu.b111ar
2.00 m. I 5.00 n
4.2 Ibs. 10. 9 tf
If
4.3 Ibs. 9.9 II
11 .. 0 II
-+ ---+--- ---.~-----------.---~---+----------~----- ------------
T-sectit"tn
------
LStand
-----~~--
, I
l~OO m~ I 2.00 m.
4.40 kg. 7.70 " 3.80 It
1.75 m. ---+ --------"--.---- , ---,
1.00 m. 1.75 m. 2.00 m.
t I I I
_,, __ , ____ . __ . ___ .--,--,--~-L .. -.-,
- 4 -
9.0 10 .. 3 11.0
If
1f
9.7 Ibs. 17.0 n
19.4 \I
17.6 Ibs. 22.7 " 24.3 If
"" I. 10 b /842
SEPT. 4$ 'ItJw.
Plate t
.~.
L '" . , ~I A- \0 f::l f6 j~--9 -IO-------.;..JI_-'·
.... ENE.MY -t I,
3--7
7J'1TfI.~~~~~fl.::..--L '
DOUBLE
I ,.
4-1\
Plate 2,
--fI_-g1IO··--....... t----9·IO'-' -----'......--
.J. .. , ~
:. , r--.....
... , \(J
¥ ,..' I, +- ~ 10'-' - ....... ----9·.10·· ~ 9··,O .. -.....o::lIJI~--9t.'O:: ...
NJ. I 10. b/843 I
:iI!.PT ~3
DOUBLE RPRQIV FENCE (FOR SNOW CONDITION.s)
). ~ w Z Ul
Pla.te 3
t 4'-1'
1:0
~-::y~~,r:=-~~~~~~~~~r---...-.L~- 8' -2-
~--~~~~~~~~~~-~
... ENEMY ..
PLRIN
, 3'-7-
~~~:-nr:.:":mP&i~~............Ir.J.- --*-I' I' I'
I 41
2-1 " -.
DOUBLS RPRON FENCE WITH S/NGLE COIL
~+?L ...... ~i:NE~i~;,.i;\~,~~ .. :;. -~'A2 ~~'4 q tri7."-~ .. _.,~:~ ~.. -.~ C·'.·tj.
" ~ ~-$-~,. -~#~=-~~ ____ ~ ~-- -7-~~~'--~-. ~,~ -~~ . ~.",~, ,. ~'0 . _~, ~
~~~ <-'ft' -'''~'~. ";, '~~:~A": -:M) ~ .. ~. m~~$J \h"~ .
\ :\"" ') ~~ J'
\ " - ~
'-.....
I .. " I , " ~",,11 +4-11
E.,NEMY ~ - t
31
'7" L ~~~~~~~~~~~mn~/~~r~.~~
/1 2'-1"
WITH DOU"JL/i. COU DOU{3LE RPRON FENCE 1---------";)
NIl. 10 b/tJ4'5
.I E.PF:n IJIlW.
i· I " 3-7
-f-2'-1'" ~
'1'. 10 b/l!J4 6
.J £rr. Jt3 /18M!
Plate 5
~PRON TYPE FENCJ;, - 21 ~O"
Plate 6
J ( -f-i! :. ..j I
~k -~
"- .\ ... " II \ .;,t
9'l '!r·i \,;. ,
I / ..sf ( t
~ )
(I , j
'\11
l
Plate 7
OPEN GROUND UNDERGROWTH
T" ~"'7
~~~~~~~~~~+. 2-1
-*-
f---4 '-1I" ·1- 9'-10 ~Q 13' --1' DOUBL.E: CATTL.I!!. FeNCt=. WITH .$1 OLE. COIL..
ItIJ I. 10 b/tu ../i&PT • .e 1J8.v-
CRTTLE FENCES
Plate a OPEN GROUND UNDER GR.OW TJ..I
T \.1 II . It
\6~6 roQ-10
I -:::.t:L-------...-----,~ 1-, ..
6·6h>9 ~10
L ..seRLE r,OO
TRIP WIRE OBSTRCL£
Plate 9
TIMBER
RNGL£-IRON .1
+- 3'/;" -+ KNIFE - RESTS
~c..AL& ~O F:ULL ~aZ&
! 'r' ::l. .. .5 II
~~ L 1 %0 x 1 Yae. - L.E:.NGTH ------AA
tt
5 1'\ t I II
______ 7 \0i'2;
B- F ~. ~-- s::±:§\52% == ~ ~ I • j --------,--- 11 4 - ,i, 'iJI
GtRMA~ FOLDING AMGLt;~·'RON KNlf=.t;: RE:-~J
-0 -t:) ,..,. (I)
<0 S!)
Plate 10
~ ...r-r-.J' , r ~
~ _~ t C
II ~ • I
~ " )(
0 CO ......I ..J a: ':l ~ -..... Q ~ ::;:, 0 ~ ~ ~ \I)
l..&I ~ ....... ~
to&.. C
t--:::, ~ c:t -J
M' . 10 b/7!5' J"~1')e 43 AM
SCALE: '.- ~ULL 5tZE
• +. \ f)q.
SE:C 1 'o~ OJ:. Ct;'lTRE: STRAND
4)( F-ULL ~II.~
GE:RMAN
I~' ~'07!5" !)f:.CJ'ON OF- BARB
4- X F-ULL ~.z..E-
BAR&£:D WIRt (.sIMPLEX)
E-NO~
-c -OJ C"'I' (D
CeNTRE .5TRf:lND TWISTE.D ONCE:. IN RPPRO)(. 3~ INCHES
SCIJLE:.: FULL -SIZE. --~ 'c-+-Cb
atA +~ I .........
I\}
SECTION OF CSNT.RE. STR.RND seCT'ON OF BflR8
.sC~LE; ,)VICE: FULL SIZE.
~ E ~M AN r:,A~f'3ED WI RE
Plate f3
i \ n
~/~N
~'1 r I
.I
~~ ~/:;E,/~¥ +'1 '6
J R~MI'.' 4'1 ~ ~t 9' )
r 6;'7#
FIG,'C.
GE'RMAN PlCKET~ FOR, WIRE OB~TACLE:~
M'. 'ob/7-4~ I
.Ju nQ. A~ /J&'W
Plate 1~A
----t~--- s"'--~
~------------------s~#------------------~
F,e.~.
,3'SH
I~· t I'+~jf'
~ ~.:s. IIJ.-'X "-t*- I~l~t I~~'" .i~ ~¥j .~
I- S':!J"
1%')( I~N T ~ect;'an
I"S~'" 4M+f
/1'9~N J'sfj r- &'7'
FIG.-4. ---
GERMAN PICKETS FOR W4 RE OB5TACLE5 )
MI .. 10 b/744 J
.1uncz. 4~ It>W
In n II PART II'- STEEL
1. HEDGEHOGS (Plate 14)
The German d esignati('\n is If stahl-Igel ll • Thi s design was referrec tn in N~tes ~n German Ubstacles No, i Part III para 3.
2. RCJLLED STEEL RAILS (rlate 15)
The German designatif"n is nSch1enensperre." This design was referr8d tr in Nt'ltes /"In German ubstacles No.1 !Iart III para 5.
1. 'PICK~T OBSTACLE (nate 16) III - TIMBER .. 'I., \ 1\ t'~'f\l\l
\\" l.f\ri);)" The German designatif"n is IIPfahlsper~.u T"is design was referred to in
ITl"'tes "n Germa.n CJbstacles l'Tt'1. 1 Part V,
PART IV - DITCHES AND BANKS.'
1. mTREVETTED DITCH (:"'late 17)
The Gr-rman designatif'n is nPanzerab~chrgraben (,,!Me Nerk1eiaunglt •
The i11ustrati~n sh~ws the first and sec~nd task types, anr the dimcnsirns given arC" the ininimum al1t"1wed., The fi±-st" task serve s a IS an r'lbstnc1e and the scc~nd taek is desigped as a trap •. There has been a tendency for the width and depth t~ increase and .any ditches in France exceed 13 ft. in width •
. ' ! it\ ~~; '~r~'~ ~'i ~:1 '{~I~ jr'~ ~l it'"' r.:~ l!J'"' t,< .. "
l' ! p,~ ~1' 2~ t.~:cit~E1:Jt!:l)fli6Hr, C~late la,· • ~ ,~I ~;,~ t1 .. ~ :;' 4 "It~ It' *i "
The German designati~n is "I'anzerabweh':rgraben mit, Nerkleidung" ..
See nt'lt es ('In German (;b steoles lJ('I. 1 tJart I,r para 1.
3. ASPARAGUS DITCHES (:"lat e 19)
Thft German designatit"n is n~anzerabwehrgrD.ben .... Spargflbeete ('Idel" Fischgratenhinderni s", meaning A. tk di tch - asparagus ('II' fi shbt'lne type. Thi s ~bstacle is useful in wet gr~und and the ditches are set at an angel ('If 30~ tn eaoh t"ther lt It is intended that mines be laid in the excavated material.
4. DITCH lIT SANDY SuIt (Plate 20)
This ditch has a·vertical face tf"l the enemy, revetted with rt"lund tilIDer, a s'P~i1 bank /"In Ithe trht"lme" side and the invert ~f the di tch cf'vered wi th an. aprt"ln-type barbed wire fence. Fl"nm the drawing it may be inferred that attenti('ln must be paid in the siting ('If the nbstac1e, t('l handy pits and hl"lllnws fnr tipping sUrPlus spt"lil.
5. 'BA11K (~18te 21)
This illustrates the ct"Invorainn nf' slt"lping grnund intt"l an A.tk. t"Ibstacle. TMo efficacy f'f the t"IbstaOle is imprl"lved by f~rroing a parapet.
6. STE:i1PED BANK (?lJite 22)
This illustrates hf"lw a natural high bank can be turned, inti" a gr"('Id A. tl:. ~bstacle by excavating a step and filling in any lncal hnllnws (lr fl"llds in the gr"und.
n/206 - 6 -
Plate 14
T '5' 7"
1
I " 10 0
T , " .5 7
~
GERMAN ST-EE:L OB5 lACLE -- J./6DG£I-IOG
MI ,10 b/79b Rue. 4 3 A~'H.
a
1
Plate 15
C b a c b a c t> a 1 1 J: .. .1 .1 ~ J. .1 ~
b a 1-., b a a b a c a J. 1. 1 1 .1 ..1 1. 1 1
5-3 0 c b-'-.. a (.: b a c b a 1. 1 l· J-t .1 1 J. 1 1 1
.:!'-7"
r r
- r r r
HEIGH r 01= RRIL5 MARKED a
"b"
c ~'- 11"
GERMAN R.5. R~'L OB5TACL(;
, , : 1:
7/-
3•
: I I I I I
" ) \ I \I
~ """"-3" .. + 4'-3"
~ 4'-3"
+~ 4~3·
~. ,---
Plate 16
I 1
41-+ , .. ... 0-3 6 -3 ---1
T I :1.'-7"
~
~ 15'-9"
I I I I I I I I I I \ I \ I V
@
I I J I I I I
I I I I \ I
\:
@
@ .. I
...
GERMAN STANDARD TIMBER PICK.ET OB5TACLE
.MI. 10 0/797 Auu. ~~ A~W.
FIRST TRSJ< OBSTRr:LE
.: .:. :; £ ,
:SECOND TRSK. ,-
OBSTRCLE:.
Pla.te 17
• to
\ 11 - 5 _------'--I
, ' '-- -----------,
DITCI-I
/tIf1. 10. b/(358
fE,PT431J8W
Plate 18
13:0'
REVErTED DITC/-I
-----'1 " , 1 , /
V
Plate 19
jEeT/ON
, .,,..........~
~- 7 6 ~----1""'---
4- , FT ----'lII ........ - 4' FT 164FT. -----------a-I:~
4' fT ----Jl, .... I11(- 41 FT -~ [J
o Cl
o o
o o
o CJ
o CJ
o
PLRN
o REPRE..sE.NT MINES
IlSPRRRGUS DJTCJlES
"1'.10 b/8S9 J
JapT. 43 W.
" "--
20
"
If i. /I). 6/6/iII .1.,,-. .4$ I/IIN.
&NE,MY
Plate 2.1
S'LOP6. 110 I ____ ~ ...
,,/ ,/
~ -/
8 liNK.
- -
11/1. 10. b/862. .i£pr !43 !J8w.
.5T£PP£D BIJNK
DECLASSIFIED
PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV
PART V
PART VI
tJI.I.10 The War ()ffic e January! 1944.
0160/2436 (M.T.IO)
Nc;TES uN GEIU1AU uBST,A.CLES
110. 3.
WIRE
STEEL
DITCHES
MISCELLANEl;US
Distribution: List "En
Copy U". 359
1'ART I
1
"")ART II
1 2 3 4 5
PART III
1 2 3 4
PART TIT
1 2 :1 4
PART V
1 2
?ART YI
1 2 3
G E R MATI G B S T A C L E -S
WE\11 s Drpg"'ns Teeth vC t [lhef! ra C~ncrete R~llers ~n virfields ubstacle r-u~Tdtng Bri0gc'Exits
STEEL
De Crintet T et raheci ra He(lgf'h~gs
R~llef Steel J~ists
rITCH]JS
Anti-tank ritches T['nk Traps Irr1gpti~n Canels "Ch1crne" 0itches
UlillEEWATER vBSTLCLES
Unc.erwnt or 't,.T1 ro C~ncrete DhstBcles
C~mp('unn O~stacles
Swing Bvrriers Anti-..tdrcr8ft LDllning (J'lstvcles
4.
5. Fig. 1. n 2.
6.
7.
8. Fig. 1. n 2. II 3.
9.
10.
11.
12. Fig. 1. " 2.
13.
14.
15. Fig. 1. " 2. If 3.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21,
22.
23. 24. Fig. 1.
n 2.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
I N D EXT V P.T, l~ T E S
Wall with Gel'. Inclined Steel Rpil ubstDcle
v~a1lt "Chic[1nett type. i~TD 11 GAl) wi th T~nk Trf'p.
Germah Steel Railway Sleeper.
Anti-t~nk well t~ ritch.
'''nll Rpinf~rcement in wnll ~:.rnl1 wi th ~rrtrucling Rails.
1"i11 b,..x in Anti-T[m .. 'k: 1~all.
1~Cl11 wi th Fi r(> .... st 81).
ubstacle rn rfJmp t,.. a ,-iyke.
Drfl.g"'ns Teeth ubstacle. If n n
Drag"'na Teeth 0bstacle.
Drag"n rreeth vbstflcle with Gep.
C~ncrete Rr1ler 11 If
If 11
ubstacle Gll[lToing Bridge Exit.
De Crintet 0bstpcle
Tetr~hedrn ubstacle.
Tnclined Stc:l Barrier.
Inclinef. Steel Rail ubstncle
Inclinoc Stepl Rail t,bstv.cle with Gap.
Anti-Tank Ditch 1tlith Concreto E.0vetment. Anti-Tank Di tch with Brush 'l:lOod Revetment. Tank Trap
n- It
C"'vorcr anti-tank f.itch
C"'v,-rec nnti-tnnk ,4 itch
M.l.IOB ~35 P.E.F. ".~.~
PL.ATE I.
T
FIG. I.
FIG.2.
GERMAN YVI RE ON SEA VY~LL~
PART I .... w1:RE
The detpila given in:rtlr~ I,~~f~,UI"¥'s~n".a("r~nlJJJ?,.ats.?I(1s 1:t'('I" 1 still h~~r g"''''r a;n(l thC'r0 hDS bOJ:h' J#'~ rC'vf.\lufif"'nnry ChD~g~ ~p. r~rman ~ .... sign. '!'hc f'Xlstcnc(' flf thf' type ,",f ~1-:['ltxt.}1'(lso:.ribr'~,v4'.~:.f,;tc'sc'~Tffl.,~~1 ~ ~ tf' b~ Cxpc:ct00 nnYWhE'T0. .. ~ ..... ,:.:,- L~ ~ ~"
1. ~vrRE urT S:?..t\, i-TLLLS lilli'D BE.LiCHES.
}T ..... tes f'n German upstaclrn:3 1"'''. 1. "'rrrt !, T'prc. 8(b) gavo cot['ils ,..f barbr0. wirt' t'lbstnel0.s fin sea we.lls. R('Ip ..... rts ..... f r.iff0r('nt mrth,..rs f'f attrching thf' wir(' hpvc n"'w bpon recci~f'\ci Etl1r Sl'Imf" "f thrse ar0 111ustrntC'r (It ~lr".t(' 1.
Fig. 1 shf'ws a mpth"d which is rcp"rtC'd ns huving b('cn usee ('In the tf"'P ~f a se? ~,ll 8 ft. 3 in. high. The 8 in. l"ng irrn bprs (1) ['ro cf"'ncr~t~r in the st"no c('Iping "'f the scn wnll ane s~t "'ut at an engle. Thr 3 ft. 3 in. high screw cickpts (2) which ~r(l c"'ncr~tca int'" th(' sea wall, orrry brth h"riz,,'ntal an~ riag('ln['l barbpr wirr:s. Th('l 0,..i1s t'lf bl1rbN' wir" (3) 5C't botW80n thp guy ~res wh~ch nrc als~ barbe'd.
uthf'r r0l'f'rts nC'scrib~ B(la walls 8nr ml'lles prl"'tcctc:H~ by bprb,,( wire f~_x('r t"n I"'utw[lrd b0nt pnglc-irl"n -Pl"'sts, Fig. 2 illustrates "n(~ such nrrnng0-ment in which th~ ~rsts w~re stpt00 tr bc'3 ft. vcrtic~l with 2 ft. b~kt f'utwnrds nne tf"' be 4 ft. aport. un thp. inside' \-~ge ,..f tho wRll is P ct'lntinuI"us 0/"'11 rf wiro hung /"'v("r thp sifle,
A re-nf'rt frt"m BELGIUM ~t['tes thrt wnrning of!rtrirg~s flrC' &ttuchcd !~t 20 y[l~il int ervfll~ .t ..... nick0t s in Rflrbeo wir(l f 0nC03 "n bC'['chC's. Thi s may well refer tt'l thr Alormschussgerflt (lcscri bef! in lJrt t~S (\n GprIDnn vb str-clC'>;! Ft". 1, ~Drt 1, ~rrp,grpph 9. .
E/64'
PART II - CvlJCRETE & BRICKW{)RK
(r) Dpsign
Thr's0ction of woll, shnwn t:1t ~l~tB 2 is Dnli'-'v,-.d to b~ ono of the st rndnrd d;,signs 'for IJorth':"Wpst Europp. Thl s drrwing should 'bc compnrr-.d with Tllntrs 12 rlllo 12[1 of Notes on Germnn ubstaclos No.1. It is nf't knf'wn for cArtnin thnt thp rein-forcpment shown is thr totrl ollownd for in thp d('sign; from 'i'h'p informr,tion avoil[lblf> it would npne[lr thrt this is so. The bnrs projrcting from thfl front top corn,T E1re st~tpd to "be 'for cnmouflnge nUrP0'sPq, bu,.t it is knf'"rn thnt in somt~ plr,cc::3 thr-y hEtVP bc,-'n used. for the err'0ction .. f'f bar'bed, wire .. It is interesti.ng t('l nnte thnt tht> concretf-' is specifiC'd as n "dry mix" (If 1 : 2 : 4. ~r'f'
l't ' , tW.~,\~~, < (un 1 y. _, ,~".~ \;:l ~~ cl ~ t" "'&I ',~\ " ; t,~. '" ' 1, ~ t _;\ '; '1 .'" ,.--, ",_ . ~ " - I,'
I' ) ~ ,
1 ... ::,;,\ 'I., J '
, ) 'g,
'A variant f'f the IDPthod 'rised by thp ,G0rmnns to clos0 g~ps in wnll rood obstaclps (descri 1)ed in' ':ra,rt II pnrn. 2 (b) and illustrc-1ted pt ~l[Jte 14B of ~;f'tes on,Gertnnn CJ~'st[,clps FO. 1.) is rplinbly rp'pnrted fr('lm Fro,ncp. In th(' p,ltcrnntivp mAthod, inst8nd of i.,('lth wnlls bping slottpd to takp thp st~pl girdcis;' met!l shplvps h~v0 ~epn fittr,d into c' cut-awny scction in f'np of. the wnll's (""'late 3 fig. 1)', "'h" girders ClrE" hpld in 'P'osition- by securing pins ~Jl:lich fit, into hrlps (1) in the ~hplvps~ It will be nf'trd' th~t in thr obst~cle illnstr~t0d,;flAme thrower nf'zzles (2) hrv(' been built int(l thf' ground [t the corner of ench well.
In nnoth0r WAll, 5 ft. 7' in. high by 5 ft. wide, provi6i~n hns tE"~n mtl,de for the girders t6 be hplu in posi tit:'n by (-Jolts running l:-,t('rnlly thrnugh the WF'll. "lnte 3, fig. 2. shows the nrrnngement.
~late 4 shows R gap throu~h a wall obstacle in a French !coastal town. The gop, through which p~sses D ruilwny linp, has bcpn closed by steel rails which Cf'me ~lm()st level with thp top (If the wall and which slope towDrds the enemy.
Another repf'rt describes h(lw D. gnp in fJ rpinforced cf'ncret e w[lll 9 ft. 10 in. high and 4 ft. broDd at the bo se rnd 2 ft. 8 in. :- t the: top cruld be blocked by iron girdc--rs which fi tted int(l slots in the rond\Rfny. The girders consisted f'f steel joists eOf'ut 10 in. web and 8 in. top und b('ltt('lm flanges. These wpre set in the rf'adway in tW(l rows and inclined ff'rword at an angle of 30~. The front rf'W girders were the If'nger, the up-ppr end being FIt [-l verticrl height f'f abrut 8 ft, 3 in. frl"m the grliund. The rear rf'W hRd a vertical height frf'm the grf'und lif E1bl"ut 4 ft.
; num~)(·r of g~ps in an [lTIti-tnnk wall in !lollnnd h[\ve been set-'n tf' be bl('lcked with dragf'ns teeth,
(c) "Chicanes"
-lAte 5, fig I shf'wS a ff'rm of rond block crnstructed in the Sl"uth lif Frnnce. It clinsists of three brick w~lls built rn nlternnte sities "f thf' rf'vd, ,,.,hich f"rces tr[:ffic t" slf'w down and zig-zag thr~ugh the lil-Jstructi/"ln. The mr-in dimcnsif'ns rf the welll [Ire [IS ff'llf'ws:
Height 5 ft. 7 in. Length 13 ft. I in. Thickness 4 ft. 11 in.
( d) Walls with Ditches cnd i'ank Trnp s.
At line French cf'Bstal t"wn the nnti-tnnk w[lll hes l' g[lP which cuts thp w[lll I"bliquf'ly. The gap is 7 ft. 6 in. wide and E1 tE1.nk trEtp is 8uilt intf' the senw8rd end. This clinsists f'f a pit which is rlif'fed f'ver suffiCiently strongly tf' tnke light trnffic rnly. un the landwprd
side, there nre tw~ nblltments sl,f'ttec tr tnke girders "r rnilS's'I~~i\ l[ v"ut rf thp gDp is sh"wn [It ""11ate 5 p f1g. 2. , l~~- .
\' ,'If' '~ _ 1 _ " .. , ',\\\r' ~\) , "~ , U\,\»
""ltt~ '7 shl"'ws the' wnl1"descr,ibed 'in' ~ub-p'arn en) et"nstructed t~ SUl)l)",rt t'he 'verttc'fl'l fei'oe r·;f an .anti-tf'lnk di tah, It will be nl" ted tb t the fi'nisltpd lpvel 'I"f th~ wall is :3 ft. :3 tn, If''wcr than thp rr:k l,·'~;-(·:i "n the (;~emy 'side ,.,f the di tch;: the. wal1 1.s thtis "scr~ened frt"ID grl"und f't servt.'t. i ('Iri.
"fr ' At anl"ther French cf'aetfll t~wn all rC'Rds leflding tf' the 8.:'[1 hfYe
been bl "eked by a brick wall Rpprnximat ely' g. ft. 8 in, hi ,cl"nsi Bt.lng ('If tWf' l""W6 ('If t"Irdinary bricks. This may be ·similrr"t(,JP1('t.r',20. f'f ::i;.tes f'ri. n.~rman Obstficles Nf'I·. 1. .\ssuming. that 'standRrd
1 French L:''ijck hHe 1 t'en
USta.. this w"uld"give.ll wall thicknf\ss.('If anprl'ximr·tely l6·':t-~ches. BLlnd the wall; n a,itch,apprf'lxim~tely 5 I't.-br(\ad by 5 ft. deep hns LPEjL filled up t." rf'lrd levpl with"cnncrete al'id. steel railway epers plrnted tn f"Tn: t.r r nsv0rse knife rf'~'ts. The slt!epers atE=' described as being ,dmi:[':.~ h, t.Lf'I~~1:' ui!e>d in GermR'ny, rlC'.te.6. They have £tn nngle nf slant ('If ,!'J"t.:f'ut 60" ~nd 1'rf'trude 8b~ut 5 ft ao<'ve the cr:-hcrete which w('Iuld meF.ln thDt, they PTe
f'mtedded tn B deptrJ. ('f apprf"ximEltely 3 ft_ 0 in. The ends ('If the sIG(lper~ hove lJeen left blunt. A sec('Ind "bstael~~ is placed abt"ut ten ftjE't rt.·Lind the f'lrst and .he expressit"n ltknife rest s ll implies the use. "f larbed vlire in Sf'lJte '\tiny.
(~) Reinfrrcement.
Therl~ is further evidence thf't steel reinff'rcmpent rJ'S "bt:c·n used in cf'ncrete wfllls. A 13f'Ul?ce hve described the building nf the ~-r.r,i-
, trr.k wnll"shl"wn in PInte 8 t fig,. 1 •. A tranqh 8 ft. a.cep by 6 ft. 6 irJ.~ wide wn's dug, -and c'"ncrete 'pt'\uredintl' the ff'lundatlnns.. iTE',1".ticf'l ir"n rf'd3 tin. diame'ter were fixed "at,_,8 ,t" 12 inch interv£·ls lRtC'l'G':lly nnd :'''ngi tudin8.1Iy. and hnrizf'lntn1,rf'\'ds we,re fixed at similar ,intervr13 .,~ nd [f'\ 11Ld t('l the vert1eal r"cts by "rdinary 'wire. Tl;1us a steel grillrge "f 8 t" :12 inch eu'bes £f'l1" the wh"l.e length. width and height flf the wall Wt'S f('lrrr~ed. N,... shuttering wna used l.clnw gr(lUn'Q level, the c"ncrt't l:t'l ng p,.,ured straight int" the trench. Be£f're the shuttering ff'r the l't"st nf t.he wpll was erected. the ends "f the vertiolll Tf'ds 0n the seawr,rd ~iilE~ wpre turned inwards tf" align wi th the slf'ping face f'f the wnll ( t:' ::i,
fig. 2). ~he ~~ll WA~ bf"nded intf'l the h('luses "n ~a~h s~de "f the re~t by h"r~z"ntHl rf'ds which were embedded a(Jf'ut 4 ins. intI" e.he h~U!l7 'IIIF11.3.
~his wf'll, which tl'l('\k 3 tl" 4 days tf" crmplete, WfS built ~ .. t ;,n [Ingle t" the h"uses" A \v[l11 bl('1cking the next street hod vertic ... ·l 't\rrlls r nd ' . .,r{;S 'built at right angles tf' the h"'uses.
Anf'ther Sf'uI'c(:', descr-ib'ed as relitt',:lle, has s,tFted thr,t p 'Well f:l::;T,'ut 6 ft. 6 in. high by 3 ft.· 3 in/·thick at thE' of.se. tp.per:ing t('l ~-~ ft. '6 in. nt'l'the tnp was reinf"rced' by thrQe Tf'WS ·('If vert~c~l stef.~ rEils. ThE" f"i:mdFltin,ns weTe Fb"ut 5 ft. deep.. Sf'ckets ff'r rails had 0t>(·'n 1'1',---'pr ree in thE"" geps in the rr"ad nnathp 'P"si ti('ln vas defended by [, "T" ruck lf
tvp~ -pillr.('Ix 'wi th tnrt'E't c('Intflining n gun'r-f npr,rrximptely 37 mm .. C~ 11 bre. ,. - "" ~
Plate 8. fig. 3 t sho\lI's' a loJa:1_:!.. in t'ihich the s,t,eel rails ~)rotrlldt2-above the wall. thus inoreasing the effectiveness of the obstacl0.
The strengthening (\f wr.lls by means ~f buttresses 2 ft. 6 i .. c,e"'P x' 9: in. thick at 2 ft. 6' in. s-PFlcing heS s18(\ been repf'\rt,~df
(g) Wall s wi'tp at ep s ..
is prt"virl ed wi th small st ens flb"ut 8 inches squllre [lpprt"lYim~' t ply 4 ft. 6 in. frnm the tt"lp't"If the wall. ~late.IO sht"ws ~nt"ther wall rt"sd bl~ek. which fs"'prt"videc With (l fire step. It .is e'-nsidered thnt many t"If these st eps hflv'p prt"lbatly t"nly a limit ed use, such P..S ·tt" nllf'w guards a.nd sentries t"bservatil"n nver the wa11. The t"Iverhnng "f the wall eriC the barhF'c wire aprt"n fenc€ "'ver the pnveroF'nt in frt"lnt shr\ul~ be nf'lted..
(h) Dykes "!'J.1&\ 1':1 ~ f.~. ~0 f1~'1;'ll)L \'~': ~ '~,iIi ~, ). ~·~.6, ~\.;..;' 'l~ ~ ~,ilt. ~, . " i ' 1 ~~:.lJ)~ ~ it, !'~0;·:r~\~ ~;,)m~~~~~ "f /"bstructing rnrops, le~ding up tn the tf'lP t"f a dyke is .U ",:,,: u l.~'"~~jlO ~(if:."l '1te 11. Fflr the suke I"f clari t:r7 8 bflrbed':'"wire fene t,
, which is sitc·d i::1 frt"lnt flf the onncrete wall. is t"mitted. The pit is [1pl"rl"XimRt ell." ::"9 f+,. 6, in. x 10 ft. x 6 ft. 6 in. ana bphind it 1. S [-l
crncrete woll dcr,"ss the entire width t"If the ramp. It has been estimated that the wall :s rDt"Iut 6 ft. 6 in. high x 3~5 ft, thick. Behino this wall there are 3 ~r 4 rf'lws ~f inclined steel j~ists; ~nly tw~ rt"lws ~f steel j~ists are sh~wn t"In the sketch.
?.. DRb.GuNS TEETH
Plate 12, figo 1, sh~ws a IIdrt1g"ns teethll "'bs~[lcle which hD.s been repl"rted frnm France. The teeth incrense in height fr"m fr~nt tt"l reE1r Dnd 0.11 have (\ c"mmf'ln crncrete f~uncatit"ln.
Anltther tyPe nf drr.&('Ins teeth f'lbstA.cle cl"nsi sting of 3 rf"WS f'lf 15 triHnguIrr pyramids "f reinf"rced c~ncrete has oFen rep~rted, alsl" frt"m France. The "pyramids, rnf: ~f which is illllstreted at Plate 12 fig. 2, have a ring a·t the apex 'and "ne abf'lut helf-way up each edge, thrl'ugh whieh chains may be passed. Plate 13 is a phr.tflgrFph ~f this type ~f' nbstacle. j")lo.ts 14 shl"ws, a rnnd gap thrl"ugh (I.
cragl"ns teeth f'll:stacle. rrt"visil"n tn bl"ck the gap c"nsists "f a c"ncrrte structure slnttec. tl" take h~f'.vy gfrd,-rs, placed "n each side "f the T('IaO, This t"o'Stncle is knl"wn tf'l exist in Germany.
3. uCTAH:EIDRA
~\ rE:pt"rt fr"m France describes an "bstacle which c"nsists f'lf f'lct.ahedrr'l cl"ncrete blf'cks.
4. CuNCRET:m RtlLLERS u;"r AIRFIELDS. \ '. -.. -----
It is repl"rted thHt thE" Germans. s('metimes use h~111"w crncrete r~llcr's' ff'lr f'lbstructing airfields. ~lnte 15. figs. 1, 2 and 3, shf'lws three sketch views ~f [! r"ller, which is f!np~r:x:imatel:v- 4 ft. 6 in. in dinmcter x 2 ft. in width. '.:'he cl"ncret'e is ap11rr ximatel:v 2t inches'thick. The Tt"IlJ t?r i,s mao.e_ in tW('l halves and b,..ltec1 trgetr"er. An ir('ln bpr -pases thr('lugh the centre {'no PTf'ltrudes abl"ut 1 ft. 3 in. f'ln Pilch sioe rof the rr'lller, and tr_is is used tl" fix the' r('ller tf' the grf'und when the rbstacle is in olace. It is rept"rte(I th[lt th(~ c"ncrcte was made 'tli th shf'lre gravE-l and cement. ana that it we.s reinfnrced, with wire netting.
5. uBSTACLE GUARDING BRIDGE EXITS
-Illustrcted at ..... late 16 is a c"ncrete ann timber tvpp "f rf'lac~ blf'ck which. tt is stated,. may be ff'lund Dt bridge exits, The fixed r}f'rtirn is bu1_1t up "f vertical vibrnteo c"'ncrete "Tn beams nf Fpnrl"x. X 7* Y 2 ip. Orr-ss sectirn. These be~ms ~re 8 ft. 2 in. If'lng ana pre buried 3 ft. 3 in. intr the grr'luno, They are placeo in pairs apprt'ximntely 2 ft. apFrt and 3,ft. 3 in, bet1JTeen pa1.rs .. Similr r itT" beams are laid ht"ri zt"lntolly between the vertical 'beams and all int (rstioos filled up with c~ncrete.
The bl"ck is cl"sed by means ("If 16 in. seu[-re timber :~aulks sliding intf'l reinf"'rcec c"ncretc anr p~~ts. In these end pt"lsts the sides ('If the slides r:re r;,dniti"nf'lllv reinff'rcec. by vortice.l steel jrists:
The timber baulks fire estimated tt' weigh 900 Ib's t"r m"re. Timber bnulks -f this size pre always [: clu.."1s;T article tr'l handie, ann" in this instr,nce, much :unre difficult t" tFlke "ut t~ttn tt" 'Put in !)f'lsiti"n.
- 3 -
• fO ,f
U
All. '0 b/S98
Oct 43 IWW
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Ti!lmped dry-mix cone-rete. • 6101bs. if Ct2m~nt p~r cubic yo rd of fini.shed concrete -.
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,/;" t/J b.,.s. 13:'~· long -4 off Pt/,. metre run
ENEMY
QURNTITY PER METRE RUN OF WRLL
CONCRETE MI)( -7-' m? REINFORCE.MENT-32Ktj~
SeRLE. ~25
[
GERMRN RNTI- TRNK WflLL
~ D ~ m N
.-~-~.-------------------------,
PLATe -3.
FIG. I.
FIG.2.
GERMAN USE Of Gl RDER5 TO CLOSE GAPS IN WALLS
I , l
~I/
~ < ....
Rood .1 '*-4f /III.,
FIG. I.
FIG.2..
Road Block
TYPES OF GERMAN ROAD BLOCKS
~~~I~·~~"-------------------~
PLATE 6.
I~ .. 764
9 l:J2.
~ ~ , ~~ I , ()t \
I 1-0 I / .... 2. I -... ... - ., .. .3 -10 ~ .~ I "
, If , ., , 'f ,
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GERMAN RAILW,qy .sLEEPER
''0
~ .....
f-. 6' - '0' _I
• ~D , ,0
Tomped dry:"mi"x concrete
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DIRECTION OF I1TTnCK
I~ If)
. ~ til /I"? -. /"'#,. .. Dft!f'th of #t!..Xc~vdtton drzpC2ndrmt ,.'
on ground wdter lev~l tJ lJf'(I of~'oll ,.1 , .. ~
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tV I. 10.b/tJ97 Oct. 4j IJtJW.
I - I
GERMf:JN (lNTJ- Tf:lNK DITCH WITH CONCRETE WIILL
1) r D -i rn --.J .
PL.ATE 6.
I I I. 6"7Q
.. f I I : t I I 1 I I I , J I I j
I I ! I - - - -------~
FIG.I.
F1G.2. F1G.3.
GERMAN REiNFORCED CONCRETE WALL5
~ V)
~ li:
PL..QTE '0.
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ALL L /<7/7/' 7 '\ 5Iee/.J0/sls
Concrele IA/'Q// -
--- ----" 1£_- _____ _
GERtv1t:lN METHOD OF OB5TRUCTl NG DYKE RAMP3
'U r D ~ III
PLATE I~.
FIG. I.
FlG.'2.
GERMAN DRAGON5' TEETH OBSTACLE 5
('(1.t .107..8 9481 PE.F. Dec.'43
PLATE I~.
FiG. I.
FIG.'2.
GERfYJAN DRAGON5' TEETH OBSTACLE ~
PLATE I~.
FIG. I.
FIG.2. FIG.3.
GERtY/RN MOVABLE AIRFIELD OBSTACLE (CONCRETE ROLLER)
r-----------------------~--·~-·-··~--
/ PL.ATE 16.
l Of RI()GE.
UNREIN FORCE,() _===~~~ CONCRET'E
CiROI/NO LE.VSL
SE.C TION R ...,.8
... ... . , ;.
REINFORCE.{) CONCRE TE.
NJI. 10 b/887 (Jt'!-. 4J IJIti
CONCRETE rJ- Tk.. ROllO 8LOCK.
1 . m ClI!UTET .
DEttl ,m ,f. -ASS/FlEiJ
!.t . is re'Dl'lrt~d that d.u ring a reoent tri al in Franc e . a TI"ad bl('ck O'''nst ati ng. au ' ,arently . ... fI a Tnw ... f l ':l ements C flu,d in -C" nerete WBe kn"'cked dl"WTl 'e~s:U~r by ~ t ank • . Alth"'ugh t.he e.T.I)ressil"n ukn"cked dl"WIl' easilyll 1e 'Pr"'1:>ably in8ceura ~ e it mav ... e1 1 be an InC11c{'til"n that the I"bstacle liIf: S de_feated 11) s"me -.mv .
Tn a n,.thpr :pArt ('If Trance 1 t 1,s l"ep,.rted that l""ad e running thrrugh g8'D S in A. tk. d'itche s e r e bl l"cke(l a t night by !:lement s C. These c"'uld . r f crurse, a ls'" pe used t,. blf'Ck the -!'I"ad in emergenoy .
T'late 17 ~h"\fs de C" intet " bntacl es US9Q in c"njunetlf'n wi th steel hed geh"gs {"1' t V'eking the st>r,rr-8c:he s t,. a r ailway level cl"" 3sing . A f eatun rf the I"b s t ac l e l11ustrDt'pd 1s th(!t a st~' E'l o" s t eo" ut 3 ft .• 3 · i n. high is u s ed a s a piv .... t , ao"ut ..... hich the ... h s.tnc le e Rn b6 swung f .... r fl p cni n& " r cIf"sing th e gal) . Th p. de C"ln"t et. t" b~tll'cIJ'B in this case arc .• aid t ... bE"! c"nstructl'!n ro t 8 mm. ~"'\ " '.:- anglo 8f'cti"ne .
The tetrahedra °erect ed' at the sid €, ' "r thn r"ac in the. "'~stac lt; iUus":' tratt"d at 'i'1 ~tc 17 a r e said t'" be cr-nstructed f rrot1 5 mm , ·thiek channel s p.ctlr>ns, weldprl tf" g(> t l).e r. and sunk int'" tbe grrund "'r int-'"' c"ncrr t e t;" the dB'p th rof ab"'ut 10 in • . The gl r dc- r:; r r(' ElI ,· r~x).lIlntcly 3 ft. 3 · in . If'ng, Sf' thE't thp -pyramin has a v crtic a l .. hpigh t fl"'"Iil th(' gr"und' "f B'Pt".r"x!.matcly '2 fto
Plate> l~ sh,.. .... s an -'"':b atacle ..... h ich c "'nslsts ,..f a cr nthmo"ns line -'"'f s teel t(>trr:hf'crfl sited "n t~p t"'p. "'f n 13en wall . The ho s es ,.. f tho t ctrchf'd r a a rc j -'"' lnrd t "' g("t hC'r by st pol chennds " thus i nCrE'Dsing thE' efficacy .. f the "bstAcl~o
3 . HEDGEHvGS
P .• tk hp.c!g(\h~@!?-' rp. 11 beach in (luern s<'y ~ rc add t,. be heavy . requiring r'ur !!len t,.. m"v 'c them. " The Crl"lIi3 membC'rs ere made -'"'f engl e i r "ns·E\llc· the f ef' t ... r thp "' 'bstaele fi re j"ined .tl~gethnr by stefll ehennf;l E"mbcilced in c-'"'ncreta.
4 . RvLLED STEF--L J u!STS.
:. t is r e'P"' r tcd thpt the maln re frmen Ar a T"wn in Nl" r thern France c"'n-s1 st ,.,f a series ... f C: "ubl~ S:t ccl ,1"1 st s fixl'd in the g rl"' und enil s l<"pi ng t('l .... werCs the cn~my I"t an angle -'"' f 601
' . • (J"'la t f> 19 ) • . Tw .... thrc.f!. " r -r"ur such j l"h "" c ere us'" acc-'"'ril.ing t~ thC'! wi dth ""r thE' atrC'ct . Tr['.n BVera~ rails are fi t tPd in the sl"ts mar,o by th C' pai r s rf j,.i s ts , t hus strcngthcm1 ng th e barri er.
='l l! t es 20 and 2;1.. sh ........ strcf! t ... bst~~ll2s c!"ns i stlng ,.f incl1npd r ails . Plat e 21 shr ..... s an "'bst ecl e w1~h R gcp t~ alI~ r p.s trict ed tri~ ffic and in t he backgr"uh~ ce..n be S8C~ s ' de. Cdnt'ct ... bstacle r eads V cl~. f' the gap i n emor gency,' The. gal> · r.h"' "W!l. ~n th ~. ,~t.hp~ -ph!'t r ir, c-'"'mr'll ,..,tciv cl"' !"t'c'I .• by.inoli ned R. S. J, ,.
An-'"'thC'r anti-t ank I'bstncle cf"vering s rl' ed 1e rC'';')t' rt ('c as being Ct'IOPl"Sed I"f twr> l"f'WS rof s.tc(l.l r e.lIs the r"':01"5 bC'1ng 3pp rl"x lmetcly 3 ft. ap E' rt and tht:' distanc e betweC'D r ei l s 1 ft . 6 in, £lnn 2 ft. The r n1!s a r e fi xf'c1 in t he p av C'm ('>nt and r em-'"'v rabl e in the c a :rriage way. F"'r c~JI!l)a r1s-'"'n. sne :'la t p. 32
of n"tcs on Gormen obstaclos fi{tlASSlflEO
PART IV ~ DITOHES .(
1 Wi ., ~'~A~ RWl~iQS.~""· ,:: ;:~.'.\'-' lW;"
:J ~~i~.ti;~;.2~·\~i:\~;~11:t~1 anti-tank ditch in c"utse "f c"nstrueUI'n. The revetnent in this 'case a'fir;ea~s' t('l" be fit e('lnc'rete. :Plate 23 shl"lWs anf'thel" ditch tIl: which the :stdes ao~ea.r t'K be ·revetted wi th wattles t"r brushwl"lt"d l The ·pnf'\t"grar;h ~~~ws tf'f', thet -the sll\pe f'f the sides ~f this d1 teh are prnbably less than'SO 'which l'ends ol"lll"lur tf'" repflrts that it 'had been orflssed during tests while the ditch was dry. The depth 1"1£ water in the diteh has been given as 9 ft. 9 in. ane the ~dth ~f the water surfaoe 45 ft.
0thet- water-filled. dttches f'lf this type have been repl"lrted as having the f~ll t"wing dl:mensit'ns1-"
Width (T,..p) Wid.~h (Bf'ttf\Dl) Depth Depth rtf water
•
50 .... 80 ft. 33 ft.
10 ft. - 11 ft. Sin. 6 ft. 6 in. - 8 ft~
An anti-tank ditch o~vers a defile between tw~ hills in~e S~uih ~f France. The a1toh dt'les n~t ct'ver the whflle defile a gap tn f"\ne sid,s being blneked by ennerete pillars ea.~h 4 ft.. 11 in, thick.
2 , TANl TRAPS
~late,24 fig. 1 sh~ws onnstruetinnal details flf a type ~f anti-tank ttap which has been rept'lrted as onvering the t'I~enings in· between sand dunes nn the cnast f\f Eurnpe, The trap is o~nstrueted in brick in such a way that, altht'ugh it wf'ulCl allow light traffic tt'l pass, it wf'ulc1 cf'llapse under a heavy l('\ad. Ant"ther t'rpe nf trt\P. built nn a beach and sited in frf'nt. f\! a sea wall. is illustrated at ~late 24, t1g~ 2,
Twf' e(\ver~d anti-tank ditches aTe illustrated at Plates 25 and 26. Nt'! oetails are at nresent available flf the Duality flf C'(\nerete specified fnr the retaining walls. nf\r t'lf the a~~unt flf reinft'lrcementt nf'r of the type ('\£ material used ft'r the thin vaulting. Ht'lwever. a rept'lrt states that the vaulting is ~ne briok thiok and that it will sU~l)t'lrt a l~ad of appr('\x1mately 660 Ibs.
3, IRRI~ATIQN CANALS~
It sh~ulo be renenbered tha~ in the Lnw C(\untries in adfit1~n to the ditches dug by the Germans, the irrigati~n eanals form in themselves maj~r tank ~bstaeles. In Sf'me cases t~e Germans have repaired the banks and deepened the canals.
4. "OHIOANE" DITCHES
An(lther type ,.,f I1chieanetl ~bstacle is illustrated at plat e 27, It c~neists t'lf tWf't ditches aprr~ximately 20 ft! Inng and 10 ft. ~eept built nn np"pl"lsi te aides t'f the %'f'Iad, the, secf'nd ditch being .. st'me 30 ft. further dl'Wrl
the road tr(lffi the first, The ditches are c(lvered by planks and it is repnrted that therp hav6 already been accidents tn traffle~
~------------~I -- -- -- -- -- __
------~l - - - -- -- -- -1-1 ---------_____ __
De Co/'lfef DhsIZu:ltfl.3
w , , • .3~d'/ ~C1;hed w,~
Conr:;rele .:surFace with SO /i!!t;.,/hedra
""3'.1 sie:S1 pos~
16 leli-oh~dro
""-,,L ~ x x,. x x
Road
De Co/nlir!r ah.s/QCk3
GERMAN METHOD OF OBSTRUCT' NG LEVEL CR05S( NG5
Ir: ... ..-.. ......,.;:'6. ....... .." I
"tl r D -( III
-J •
PLATE .. 19 ..
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d} ~ 0 IJ
~
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. J iii
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lU -1 dJ :J 0 a
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r. cr ~ ~ lU 19
--~----------------~~-------------------------
.5ea II( ~------T-+--'I!:'" 8'~--------~
~
, ~ 11)
F
Sand
Sea Wall
FIG.2.
GERMAN ANTI-TANK TRAP.5
1:
Ii
~
~ .1
~
~
~ . , .....
PLATE 'Z,5.
I'" ~'-4"
$~ ' .• ~
• cr,) .. I ....
\
SE.CTION IJ-IJ \ .seRLE ~o
EQUJ:lL SUPPORTS
1111
1.J
I
I'
~ I
I, , I,
'I 1/ I,
II
II I
I,
'I II I,
~ II
~'I 'I
UIJ II II
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/ /
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1\ II 1\ IJ II II
A
+ I I I I I I I I ; I I :0
;,~~ ,I
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:1
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.. • til 0 , .
~ """ ... .. ~ . ~ : ' ..
. • Q .. .t.' , ' .
-. ..; ....
PLRN SeRLE. ~700
GERMRN COVERED ~NTI- T~NK DITCJ.I
"
...1
PLATE ~6.
, -I--
: .'.1./. ..~ , ~---~~'~_~/,/~_~--~------~~~--~~-4~~~--~--~~ '--~-
, .. • ~~<:J ,
-r Ii S'- II"
SECTION R-/=I
seRLE ~I.~o
UNE.QURL SUPPORTS
o A ~ t
I
~t
Irr II 'I II
~ ru II
"
. , ~ , ~
" II I' ,I II II
" I' , I' V,
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VII 'Oar (It
I, .-W
1 4 '-11' I : ...
I II 14 II
t;&=~ l..r 'I 'I I, I,
" I, Ii 'I II II II I, I,
'I
" I, II
" I, II 'I It I .. --- - -II II
I' I 'I II II II II I, II
" . ; I, o ;.. f1+l+; :~
, '1
if I " I, II
I'-d" ,: I ' ';)!.. ,," I ' 6" : /8 - __
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t
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ExpanSion loin/:.
PLflN
SCRLE. -;'00
GERM liN COVERE::O RNTI- TRNK DITCH
Pard_ 25
PLATE 27.
A--t,..-;.--~
SECTION AB
GERMAN "CHICANE" DtTCHES
Thp pviclence avvilable I"n the ft'l]l"Iwing is such thvt thes~ ,.,tstElcl~s sh"u1(, "'nl:r 'be cl"nsiclered as nnr,,'bables".
1'1 mIDERWATER WIRE
Uneerwater wire I"bstacles hDve been re~l"Irted ~t twl" places "'n the ]elgian CF'ltst. The first. in frl"lnt i"f n strF'lngpl"\int, crnsists' 1"1£ three bf:roec.. wire fences. "'ne [It ll"w woter, i"ne at hnlf t1r.e anf! I"ne just ~'r'(lVe high wvter. W",.,den pickets have been userl fl"r 011 three fences. Anf'ther "brr":,en wire fence in tl different, ll"crlity is 'repf'rt as beinf-' sl"me 50 yarc~s fr('lm the nrf'lmennde. Parts 1"\£ this fence f're uncLor we.ter nt high tiff:,
2. OONCiETE OBS~ACLES
A ~evice tf'l re~lace bnrbed wire entnnglements rencered ineffective oy drifting sRnd has been repf'lrted frl"lD the S"uth rf Fr~nce. ~t is stnter thnt S"P.le tine flgf' the {J.T. were arrnnging ft"r cl"ncrete bl('cks suppl"rt irf'ln rnils ti" be pInced F"In beaches just belf'lw high-wnter !'lnrk. These w(\ulCl n,.,t I"\nly fnro ~n I"Ibstacle t~ trri"ps in the event ~f D landing further d~wn the 'beach y but w(\ulc alsr' dnl1D~e lElnt:'ling craft if they atterrpted landings EJt
hi~h tide.
An"ther re'P"rt states thDt cl"ncrete piles have been driven intf" the sea bee pbl"ut 100 yds l belt"w high \v8,ter !!w.rk in a l(\oali tv in N"rth France. The niles Fre spir tf' f"rm a belt sl"oe 20 YCTC.B "l1c.c 'wi th 3 ft. intervrls 'Je .... tween them.
l").lffiT VI - MISOELL@EvtTS
1. CtJlf.;'luUND vBSThCLES
While the m.aj I" ri ty f"f r.bstacles ct"nsist f'r a oain ~lJstructit"nt 6upn"rted perilP'P s 1,y f"ne 1"1' tWf" subsicHaries, (\ne re1.1(\rt illustl'ptes the cr.nstructif'ln ("'If seve-rrI rr.ws !"If alE1"'st cauE,Ilv iT.1u'rt8.nt Dflrriers. This f'bstacle Cf'lIr.prisee, in successive r"wa. a baropd'wire fence. severfll r(\ws (\f crncrete cr.sts, a I~itoh, an anti-tank wall an(~ finally, anflthpr barbecl wire fence and is illustrated at ;'lrte 28. It will be nf'ted that the whl"lle r.1)stacle is Dnr'e P.lf"re fl"\rmic.:Jable by b~ing siteo. "n a ff'rwarC' slf\pe.
2, SWING BARRIERS~
Plate 29 sh"ws en irr.n "'Jar1'i or which i s swun[~ acr(\ ss the rt'src (,D(' If'lckec. tf' anf'ther rst "n the I"IpnC"site side f"f the rf'ad. The cr("ss l)ar C('Ii.n rises a heavy irf'n pflle with a sharp tf"rthed serrati"n al"ng its t"rJ edge.
3. ANTI-AIECRAFT L~~JDING 0BSTACLES
~t has been rcp(\rter. that all flat surfaces near D. rrench P(,:r"t (exclucing areas "f' water) are cflvered with anti-aircraft len~ing n~stacles. These Cf'm: rise n c"ntinuC"us netw("rk I"\f steel c[D1es sunn"rt~d. fin 10 in. tieD. steel tu1)es at a height ('\f abf'ut 20-25 ft. The ca1Jles are attHcher- tl" wI"'f'lc,en sun~('Irting blf'lcks which fit intfl the steel tubes.
DEC LASSI FI ED
PL..AT~ ZO
Barbed wilYl knn/l
'./ .0."'" • (I : ~ • .,' .0 Rnti- Tonk wall ',. ~." _/
" ~ IJ '\ "'.& D,
t • ., .'. . ,"" II
8orbl?d wire> fence
\
GERMAN COMPOUN D OB:>TACLE
I i
~~~~------------------------------------------------~
GERMAN SWJ NG BRRRI ER OB5TOCLE
COpy l\fO~ 1EClASSIFI.~ ./
U1\mERWATER OBSTACLES
1. Evidence concerning underwater obstacles on the coasts of France, Belg:iu.rn and Holland is slight. Althou~h it is likely that the Germans have experimented with certain types of underwater obstacle, there is no reason to believe that any of these has been adopted and laio. down extensively; confirmed. instances of underwater obstacles in posit i.on to date are few and. in themselves relatively unimportant.
The chief reason for NOT using underwater obstacles on the coast of Western Europe is the difficulty of ~aintaining them 'over a long period, especially in the winter months. This difficulty proved overwhelming on our own CI:WHrEL coast in 1940, 1941: some steel obstacles remained effective in SUJnIneT but even the se were quickly" destroyed by the first winter -storms. On these grounds it is likely that the Germans would delay laying clown any obstacle they might select as long as possible.
2. The following is a resume of the most iITlporta,nt' reports so far received .•
(a) Wire
Underwater wire has been reported on several areas. In some cases it is certain that these reuorts'were incorrect. Only one instance has been verified b~r air photographs. This is at COXYDE in Belgium, where in summer 1943' an oblique sortie showe"d several irreguJ.ar stretches of low ~ire entanglement or fence on the beach well below high water mark. The obstacle was NOT continuous; the sections 'seen on the photographs appeared to be generally parrallel to the' line of the coast. Such wire in water between knee and waist deep might form a serious obstacle to invading infantry~
There have been one or two reports of waterproof mines laid on beaches in Holland below high water mark. These re~orts are ent unconfiTmed, and no great imnortance is attached to them. There is, on the contrary, some negative reason for believing that at least U'i) to summer 1943.the use of these in the West was not envisaged.
(c) Concrete bloc~s or pillars
Indications of these are very few and vague. Their presence wuulQ certainly have been revealed by air photographs.
(d) Steel Obstacles
A number of reports on underwater obstacles concern various types of steel obstacle,
(i) At QUIJEVILLE. on the East Coast of' the COT:SlTTE,T trials \'.rit~h~ObstaCles were repor-ted in the of 1943. 0 ~ of more recent date mentions p,
tetrahedro j t, . ~'l,llm. ined with fixed flame throwers. Oblique 'Photog' . (~ ~. Hay and July reveal.
(a) a single ~i ',9! ~ . trahedra on th~ b8~C~1 ~n front of an infantr.. ~. i~~part of till.S IJ.ne lS
several yards below hig 't~' Jr;. It is an arJ.ti·~.!ank obstacle, 1Jt.1,( ,
(if,;"
- I -
i~hile it is possible that. as claimed in the above-ment ioned rep9rt, . fixed. ~lame throwers are installed in. this obstacle ~. this Gan NOT be confirmBd. from photogra!--,hs.
(b) I in front of Q,TJ:r11EVILLE village, a few sections of German curved eteel rail obstacle, at various levels on the beach. The longest stretch 'consists only of about six.1l!lit.s p It is .possible that these units were placed on the beach in the underwater obstacle tests mentiolled above. None of the grou~s on the photographs is, in its state at the time of photographing, extensive enough to form a serious obstacle; and if curved- rail had heen adopted as an underwater obstacle in ~his area, more reoent sorties would certainly have revealed its presence. As an argument against the QUHmVIL1E curved rails being intended as an underwater obstacle, it should be noteci that continuous' lines of curved rail are commonly us~c1 at the back of beaches in this' area, above high water mark, a~ an anti-tank obstacle.
(ii) A report emanating from a reliable source, but so far unconfirmed, states that staggered lines of Elements C·about 40 yards apart have been set up on the beach at the BAlE DE KEPBIC t near PLOUESCAT in North Brittany. At high tide they are said to emerge 2 - 3 feet above water. These would of course form an obstacle to landing craft. At the srune time it may be noted that various types of steel obstacle anr1 in acldition scrapped motor vehicles have been reported on the LIEUE DE GP,-"EVE. also' in North B:.qITT~t\.J.'IT, 'as an obstacle to aircraft landing on the flat beaches in this area.
This is the only serious indication of ~lemetits C being used as an underwat'er obstacle ,a.nywhere in the '~est.
(iii) Vertical steel rails have occasionally been' mentioned as en under\\Fater obstacle, for examule at ST. 1l.1AIJO " ani the.1:,e 'is some indecisive evidence that such an obstacle was encountered but easily overcome by lan~_ing craft at DIEPPE. on the basis of present information. little weight can be placed on these report s.
In general, it may be said that, although the Germans may have tested. V"arious types o:f steel obstacles' below high water mark, they have NOT laid them c.own extensively anywhere except perhaps on a few B?ETON beaches. On the CHANNEL and NORTH SEA coasts the presence of such obstacles would almost certainly be known either from ground sources or air photographs '.
(e) NaV"al Mines
There is no evidence that the use of naval mines in shallow water has been tested or is envisaged.
3. On ·the possibility of the Germans laying unde.rwater obstacles in the period immediately preceding an invasion there is no concrete evidence. No such intention has so far been reported. In general, it would be possible to lay wire or mines at short notice; very little preparation would be needed, and enemy intentions in this matter might well remain unknown up to the last moment. The use of steel. obstacles and concrete. obstacles would require extensive prepara.tions and the accumulation of stocks; preparations would probably be reported by ground sources, and air uhotographs woulQ certainly
- 2 -
reveal the actual construction of the obstacles or th~ dumping of materials on· the beaches. The use of naval 'mines would involve the accumulation of stocks and the presence of·mine-laying craft in ports near the b.eaches affected; while the mines might be lai~ at short notice, it is probable that the preparations would be repoited by 'ground sources.
I'Jf >:.(, ~ - ~j. ,.~ ,
(i) '~'f' • .!, ;/1 ;.~; ·m ~J
The laying of the following"'types'~ of obstacles under watel~ wou.1Cl be practical from a technical point of view .''CJ.. ,fl' ;/Jf
(a) ~ The standard type of thick wire entang~emen~s (i.e. a combination of double apron and. triple concertina) is NOT likely to be met with since it has been found that in this f~rm comparatively light surf and wave action will uproot it and carry it up the beach or cover it with sand. The easiest types of Wire to maintain within tidal and surf range are pig wire fences framed. on a square pattern with external aprons; alternatively single rows of double apron fence erected at an acute angle to the normal direction of the Wave front.
Personal trials carried out by Combined Operations Experime.ntal Establ ishment indicrate the hopelessness of trying to wade v:aist high through even light wire obstacles which are out of sight under water. Wire thus becomes a. serious obstacle when resting in depths of between 5 it and I ft 6 ins. If deeper than this, L.C.A. can run over it; if shallower, it can be dealt with by disembark~d infantry.
(b) Teller mines could be laid anywhere wi thin tid.al range. Owing to the increased risks Of sympathetic detonation under water they are not likely to be spaced closer than.IO ft between mines (T.42) or 30 ft (T.35). The mines would not of course affect infantry but might cause a high percentage of casualties amongst the first flight of vehicles landed, Experiments at Combined Operations Experimental Establishment appear to indicate that the risk of dam~ge to landing craft grounding on mines is small ana, can be accepted.
(c) Naval Mine~ Magnetic or acoustic mines which can rest on the bottom could be laid in the low water stretches. Their effect on landing craft which have not been degaussed, wiped. or fitted with S.A. gear may be a subject for consi'deration.
(d) Element C Could be place below H.W. mark and could be entangled with wire.
(e) Tetrahedra curved rails or scaff~g framework couldalso be so placed: '
(ii) Preparation necessary for the enemy to give effect to such measures would be as follows:
(a)
(b)
Wire Very little preparation needed. Could be erecteQ at s1t>"rt ,1<TlO,tJce at the rate of say 1000 yds in 3 hours provia.ed t:~~~t ~c~:'~s~rJ personnel and simple engineer stores required ~ere:~' .. r~~p.i1y ,ii:~aJlap.le.
~ . .Jr. J ~,. ~, .~~ .~'" Mines Very ·'li ti.le p-rsparat ion ,,'Q.peder. Could be laid at short notice at thtSra.te Of.:.'~'S. ':' ' .. ccc yds in 3 hoUrs provjc~ed the nece s sary p ers onnel a:ht¥~f' ., . B were avai labl e (of mining of beaches at·SALE~~O). Mines woul~ only be likely to be laid under water at the'last possible moment t since they do not remain watertight indefintely and would soon shift lmder surf action.
"Z u -
(c) Naval Mines Magnetic or acoustic mines would be laid at short notice provided that the craft anr mines were available ..
. ~ ~ ~ ~ .~~~.l .~,.:, ~-:-t,-;t~"t, ~ ~; ':. t It" b bl h h' uld bId . \!. .". ~':, ',i' ,; ,~·.~~~1 ~'1-~> . ~ IS ImprO a e t at t IS wo e :p ace In ,~ '-l ~ :,' .... .r. .'~ ":. ''''. ..,.' 4 ~... '~""" ( t ~}'f;l~ \ t~:~,}~ '1~~Sl.~~~,,~; t the last moment •. It is heavy approx tons l}~, ~ ,,~,"'t, • , -. 10 ft) 'and would be difficult (though not impossible) to move
over a sandy beach. Its existence could be ascertained by aerial photographs prior to any operation.
(e) Tetrahedra, curved steel rails or scaffoldin~ framework The same applies to these as to Element C. It is possible that concrete blocks could be unloaded from barges at reasonably short notice but such a project should become known prior to any ousration.
(iii) The evidence, positive or negative, of such preparatory measures having been taken by the .enemy is 8.S follows:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Wire l~o large dumps are kn,own to exist near beaches but there are normal engineer dUmps inland. For any given landing beach the quantities required are relatively small.
Mines No large-dumps are known to exist near beaches but stocks are known to be held at the ammunition depots inland. For any given la.nding beach the quantities required are relatively small.
The Channel ports are known to be used by enemy mine sweepers and stocks of mines therefore exist.
Element C Uo stocks are known to exist either near beaches or els~where. It is on the whole unlikely that if they dia, exist We should not have any information to that effect. Its use as an underwater obstacles is therefore unlikely,.
(c) Tetrahedra, cur'Vec'. steel rails or scaffoldin,e: framewQrk The same applies to these as to Element c.
1. A.P. D • C • , W.l.
Ut~ClASSIFIED
- 4 -
0160/2409 (Me 1.10)
G E R MAN' FIE L D W 0 R 1': S
NOTES NO.1.
Contents:-
M.I.1C. The ~'Tar Cffice, December, 1942
Distribution List !tBt!
Covered Concrete Em~lacements. O~en Emr:>lacements. Emplacements in caves. Brickwork Emplacements. Concrete Shelters and Command ?osts. German ~est Wall, 1939.
Copy No 736
, ...... , "".... ...
,~
DECLASSIFIED
There have been many're~orts of the use of steel reinforcement in the construction of concrete em'Olacements in ?ranoe, ~elgium and Holland, particularly in concrete areas. . .
Unfortunately in the absence of reliable re:)orts on weight and s:oacing of the steel and the T)roT)o·rtio·ns of aggregate, sand and cement used, the quality of the finished concrete is unknown.
(a) :B'igs 1 and 2 are sketches of a type of M.G. em:1lacement, a nwnber of \\Thich have been built on the dunes in the WAASEN,AA3. district of Hollan'd. They are said to be built about 50 metres apart.
(b) The half-size pillbox (Blockhaus 6 : Bh6) 101' one N.C.O. and 5 men with one M.G. takes 203 cubic metres of concrete. The full-size design \'Thich ··)rovides for 10 to 14 men, normally 12 with 2 M.Gs., takes 250 cubic metres of concrete. Plans of these are unfortunately not available.
(c) At Fig. 3 is a sketch IJlan of an em:'llacement re~)orted from the area Horth-,\'lest of BREST. The siting of these is said to be on cliffs and headlands at intervals of 2~ 3 miles where they can cover most of the bays and creeks. The gun, presumably A.A., may be mounted on the roof of thu ammuni tion s tore ~ This gun :position has not be~ll confirmed. and' it is ~~ossible that the gun has a separate emplacement nearby.
Camouflage is in the form of garnished nets, turf and seaweed.
(d) A type of reinforced'concrete em~l)lacement, ·)robably designed :to accommodate an A.Tk. gun in addition to L.M.G. or small arms, is shown at Fige. 4 and 5. 'Note the wide field of fire and the ends of the concrete a:Jron viall bonded into the cliff face. Along the a?Jron the roughly coiled barbed wi re .appears ·to
l
be a Ii t ~le thin i.n :9laces.
(e) Fig. 6 is a sketch j)lan show~ng the :?robable lay-out of a heavy German gun em:!lacement. Figs. 7 and g are 0xternal views of the finished construction. Interesttng external features are the elaborate ventilation funnel and duct which may be either in concrete or steel and the vertical steel shield which covers the onening around t he gun' tur.ret. Thi s s~i.eld is J
~T?arently, sup-uorted by the steel columns and joists 11hich form the frame of tho structure. This shield is not always fitted.
(f) The use of old tanks and tank turrets in combination with concrete for om~lacements is widespread in the coastal districts of France and Bolgium. These e1n:1Iaeements are chiefly of the following ty:pes.
(i) Tanks with M.G. and A.Tk. guns ,rotected'by concrete walls. (1i) Tanks buried in the sand and camouflage ~.Jainted.
(iii) Tank turrets embedded on concrete foundations on harbour moles (Fig. 9).
(iv) Tank gun mountings in concretu pillboxes. (y) Tank turrets or cu:polas on roofs of concreto .!)illboxes.
(g) Private houses in coastal districts have been cOl1vI.rted into emplacements v/ithout altering the external ap?1eara,nco ,of the building. Reports have beun received that somo of these ~ositions aI'S connected tog~ther by underground tunnels. Although no technical details are availabl'e it is ~)robabl0 that a good deal of this work has be~n done 'in concrete ..
~ ~p ~)' .;' 'fl:( . ~'I : t\ (h) Small em"nlacemronts.bave boeri: sited: i~ (§!JB- w:al~s~ and flring :Jositions have also bee~ constructed by buf,}.ding d,n~,iti6 thl; f9.cO of sea walls. Figs. 10 and 11 are some o·l~_·tlfn6 illustratio~s·." '
/A - 1 -
A type' of lVI.G. em-f)lacement is shown at Fig. 12. It has a curved front wall wi th loopholes and accommodation is -'Jrovtded for the crew.
The s.ketches giv8' Gstimat'0d internal IDeasur8mcnt\.'~W';~l~e~lc°ftc~~2~\ [i~-~firn. is from 80 cm" (2 ft. Tin.) to 1 metre (3 ft. 3 !ji~~~~(t~ll~k'h~: "!::'." '>,'" ~·,t'l li)
~' 1.'i 'ii ~ ,; ~ ~~~J; ~~ \; . ,'\; ~~ t~ ~ ~~ An external earth covering of 1 metre vias notG'd.~ Fu'rthcr accom-' .
modatiori fo~ men was 'constructed 5 metres' from thG gun position.
O?:~lT EMPLACEMENTS.
O~)en gun :?osi tions have been con~.;tructed as follo\"ls:- Semi-circular 'valls 20 cm. (8 in.). thick built on a circular concrete slab. The outside face of the wall r' tains a bank of earth or s nd. Blast and splinter-~roof \'lalls of ,s~ndbags are also used on a large scale.
Accordi,ng to ~oh6tographic intE,r:pretat~on the follol"ving are the a1)"f)rox-, imato dimensions of o~en emylacoments:-
(i) 7.5 em. guns - 20 ft. diameter. (ii) 10.5 cm. guns - 25 - 35 ft. diamete~.
(iii) 15 cm. guns - 35 - 45 ft. diameter (older 'ositions are s~aller, about 30 - 35 ft. diameter).
(iv) Heavier guns - 50 ft. diameter and over. (v) Railway guns - 75 and.95 ft. diameter.
EMPLACEl1EJTIlS IN CAVES.
The Germans have converted caves and hollovlS in th~ cliffs in various :'?arts of the French coast into gun emplacements. There are no details of the engineer work involved in these conversions although it may be assumed that a:tr)rcciable quantities of concr(3te have been used in the work. There is ~hotographic evidence that entrances to caves are walled-up, apparently \'1i th concrete.
BRICK1'10RK EMPLACEMENTS.
M.G. IJosts constructed in. brickwork haVG been r e:'ort,od in the MIDDLLKERKE-\mSTEl'JDE area of Belgium. They are o:!on 0m~llacements buil t on a circular concrete foundation. A brick wall 4 - 5 ft. high rt"tains the soil and steps are constructed to -form the entrance. A sketch of this is shmrln at Fig. 13.
Brickwork is used mostly inland for the construction of small shelters and M.G. posts t the thickness of brickwork seldom oxceQding 12 in.
CONCRETE SHELTERS AND COM¥~D POSTS.
T,he construction of shelters for He~rdquarters, O.:::·s., ammunition and ~'::>ersonnel has in most cases been in concrete. Tho :9crcentage reinforcement is not known though the use of steel is believed to bo standardised for tho iM)ortant ~ositions.
"lherever :oossible the construction is, s~k in the ground to roof level. In many cases comuletely undorground construction has'-bepn undertaken.
(a) The following dimensions are re~resentative of cne area:-
!Thickness - 2 -
Tl~·ickness of walls If tl roof
Do~th of soil on roof
3-5ft. m~~ ~ ft.. ~j . 6k ft. C - 3 ,0
Ammn.
3 ft. 3 ft.
- 4 ft.
(b) A ty-')e of German concrete shol t I-r which has beon erected along the Channol coast is shown in Figs. 14 - 16. It is btJli0v.;0. that this d\..zign has boon adonted as one form of st~ndard construction.
Tho overall thickness of concrete, exce~t thd small retaining wall to tho emergency Gxit, is 3 ft. 3. in., and the total amOl1_nt of concrete is 125 cubic metres.
(c) .A tY:'~)e of combined artillory observation and command :nost is shown at Figs. 17 and 18. The int ernal lay-out of accolflmod.a t ion is apnroxima t only and may have to be f.09dificd when further information is racei vea ..
There have been reliable reports of thf: siting of 0mnlacements dan"oro1J.sly near the edge of cliffs.. Shou.ld this rovo to be the case, gunfiro directed between tho forward edge of the cliff and the em~lacement might 1u1dermine the foundations suffioiently to neutralise the ~ositjon.
It is im!Jrobable, however, th8.t there are many instances of this for obvious engineering reasons. The sit tng 0 f em::>lacemcnts with re spect to the cliff face will vary according to the type of grOUl'ld.. The line of the cliff face in Fig. 18 should not be taken Ii tora~.ly.
(d) Cue; exaur.91e of a camouflaged :,)osition, whicj1 a:1:',lears to be an artillery position oombined with either a command post or crews quarters is shown at Fig. 19. Note the method of building a "dummy du.no" tc conceal the posi tiol1 in dune country.
GERMAN WEST WALL, 1939.
STBEl~GTEEHING Oi!' EARLIER WORKS.
Some of the original o~·?lacemen ts were s trvngthenod by the provis ion of sch-tirzcn, which consisted of ste~l sheet ~)iling outside the\ line of thG existing walls, the earth being excavated and th.:..; s=:lace filled wi th unre-inforced concrete.
Above this work a wall of reinforced concreto (Vo~)anzer) was constructed against the existing front wall.
n The :')robable "')ur:.oose of the Schurzen was to -')rotect the foundations"
against erosion as wC'll'as ,?rojectile-s. It- shoul~_ be noted that the SchurzG'I): a~?:'Jear !?rincipally on the Gm:placements bull t on the banks of tho Rhine.
These nrotective works were nrobablw- found nocessary because of the rushed carl-if:. r construction and the insufficient tnickness of concrete in tho walls.
The thickness of the added reinforced concrotu \'lal1s is said to be from 3 ft. 4 in. to 5 ft. 0 in. I while the thic1::noss of the front anron is 3 ft. 4 in. (Figs. 20 - 22).
ff
1~ORKS He 1939 (Kalll!'fraume). f1 t'l' ,," , . (a) Roinforced concreteU f. b-I if ~~ >'1 ".
In the first half of 1939 it!'tJi(\'t~~lIt\o' ~f ,{hf'hickness of the concrete was increased and the following details hav,-! 0G(.n noted:
il ;~
/ (i,'
- 3 -
noted:-
( i )\'""'~~1J- s ~ anti ,. rQ o'fs (ii)"~rrno~r "'J!ates in loo"iholf;s
(iii) ~hetconstituents of one cubl metre of mixed concrete:Gravel or broken stone 1.5/8 In. to 3/8 in. Fin~ gravel ~ in. to i in Sand u:') to 1/ g in. Cement
1938
5 ft 3. 7/~ in.
1939
6 ft. 3 in. 7.1/8 in ..
The: grade of cement USL!d was quick setting C1!1cl Irooably corres",?ondcd to tho British grade of "Ferrocrete!l. There is :0 reliable data of t,he uator c6111ent r.atic adopted on these works anet all tiJat can 'be said. rogardin~ this is that the concrete "'las re~l..1orted to ha,vo beon a sloppy' mix. One: isolated report mentioned that the minimum cruslrLl[,' resistance was laici dOvID as 3,550 Ibs/sq.in. (250 kg/cm2).
Removal ef thE! shuttering was usually 5 to. 6 days aft~r :leuring.
Hhere aprons WfT0 docided u~o n they w-: re cast in one: with the feund:J,·tion and walls.
(iv) The reinforcement was uniformly distributGd by means of horizontal and vertical 'mats J through the entire thic!{ness of the concroto.
Diarn. ef bars
Spacing "
t 1'1'- t' int nrvals (horizental er v3rtical)
5/8 in. to 1/2 in.
6 in.
18 in.
(v) Additional rcinforcem(;nt was fixed as fello~';s:-
Reof:
R. S •. j s. s i z e 3 tG 10 iD, do~th
" s'oacing 1 ft. to. 1 ft. 6 in.
Le',11er flanges ef R.S.Js. sup~)ort(~,d 7/32 in. ste(;l plates to ferm permanently fixod shutte;ring tc: th-.; un,l,-~:tsi9-e. '
(b) Do_C?rs. The euter deers were made eut of l-~: in. st3(1 J11ates 4 ft. x 2 ft. 7 in wide. In oxcel)tienal cas,'-s the ontrance deers were made of timber 1.1/ g in. thic'\~ faced on bo th side? \'1:i. t:J 1/ S in. ste~l :pla tc s. Theso doers measure 6 ft. 3 in, x 2 ft. 7 in.
Seme large em~Jlacem8nts have been re'i)ortod as h:"1ving 4 ft. 7 in. er 5 ft. 3 in~ x 6 ft. 7 in. wide steel felding deors having two leaves.
(0) Lighting. Aleng tho R>ino the emplacements arc lit by acetylene or' :)araffin. In some cases electric lighting has bC0n rq1ert ed.
(d) Tole:!)hcne. Large scale fitting of te18phonos has been re-'-'ort8d. The terminals arc fixed in an e~ening eutside the werk somewhere near the ontranco.
- 4 -
APPENDIX t
~_s __ "
;-~--------",.----vvv,---""_ -
a
1m. \ CAMOUfLAGE 1 \NtTt~ -
I I ~~--------- 4m. -------------.~
fRONT ELEVATION
EMPLACEMENT
SECTION THROUGH DUNES
AMN.
STORE
J Sm.
I TRANSIT MAGAZ1NE
\ \,
'---J\j
FIG .. 3
SKETCH OF GERMAN EMPLACEMENT
IN REiN FORCED
CONCRETE..
SHEtTER fOR CREW 0' .. Armoured air vents, and. in ~ n some ca.ses an IrOIl Ladder Li-------------_
J to 9uI) platform on t00
GROUND PLAN
ALL DIMENSIONS IN METRES
APPENDIX Flq.4
=. - -_- -~ ~ - : e. o --=--
f1G.5 ',~ ~'.
\ ,'\ Or \ ..
...-, '.
RECONSTRUCTED FROM PHOTOQRAPHS
NOV·
a =- p/Yot
b -- M()~Id J1?9_
c "- PrDbable ~hell Recess ~Track for Sheil. &. Cartr;d9~
Steel Shield Filled over, O~nin¥
FRONT VIEW
APPENDIX
PLAN NOT T~CALE
Probable -----y-aEion
FIG.6
FIe.. 7
RECONSTRUCTION FROM A PHOTOGRAPH
APPENDIX
FIG,S
VI
REAR VIEW
.. "
(I ell
tI (I
It (I .. 0
e 0
STEEL BASE TO TURRET
CEMENT FILLET
RECONSTRUCTED FROM PHOTOg RAPHS
-----------------------------------------------~-~ APPEN DIX
Flc;.IO -
SECTION
l~ ~;
~~,"v;-.a: .. ~z,:~.;... ,~ ... '!.;. S .... r... ", ,,~ '0' ~ • "6 ~ . LOOPHOLE It I' :.. r-.. B .. ~ '1~ r.:c:-~ .. o D ..
\!J '0 , .. °b IO-"~"":.~·"o ... ~t>
~'''''' ... t:P., .... ~ -;0 tlJc ~ .. ~ ..
~(j .. ~ II.
I'· ., ~t: t MA~t:tOLt ~ O·
10 P lH 00 VI
,,~: """"-~r- PROMENADE .... . . .." •• ~.l::I?\I:>\.., ~'
PLAN NOT TO SCALE.
'-.., ••. IO.c:!./4 ,.., ov ~:.l A 6""'.
APPENDIX
FIG, II
I I
I
SECTION
SEA WALL
LOOPHOLES
'c." b ..,
I Dt: ~_-=------=---r--::-~..L-....:L~I......-.l... v ~ ~c"z...","\.d' (~:. "t;-~ z::;>.,1? a(Q
PLAN NOT TO SCALE
MANHOLE ...l.lL
PROMENADE
APPENDIX
LPOPHOLES ltL
THIS WALL
• • t-It----- 19 8 ----~
FJ Ci. 12
T 9'''0- (~m.)
E.NTRANCE
THICKNESS OF ROOF 31
4" (I MET RE)
SKETCH PLAN
CONCRETE FOUNDATION
APPENDIX
SECTION NOT TO SCALE
PLAN SKeTCH OF GERMAN M~g. POST
FIG. 13
G.L.
I I.
1 ... -43-I
1
A--
_1_ '----..&.----I
TOTAL AMOUNT OF CONCRETE 48B~_ CUB1C YARDS.
I 3'31
I
I
91
0" I 1
I
I
31
3" I
, J
r-
Ie -r
I l I
--3 7·....f-...~ 3~ I
0.... ::..l
I f-·-B
17' ,"
__ 25' 3M
_ _ I t I /1 .L 10 ----~
PLAN ~
» '1J -0 fTJ Z o x
.!.=LL l 0 t3 J "! 1 '2 I ..!.:!..-O '¥ '4.3:. ~ ,..,., ---------------------------------------------------~
-. .& (f)
-...,
APPENDIX
~--=
! at')
-0)
-...-...
&I)
---
FIG. IS
~ z 0 r-U w (/)
-0 rz _~~~_~~" __________________________ ....J-L....,J
At gil j.....-.-"'t -
APPENDIX FIe;. 16
at u -T--- 1--- A' 9·' .,...J .... --""1' --...,
I : I ~---.--------J- - - -1- - - - -.
I I
If I o -- - -- ..... /-0.
SECTION C D
I I 4'9'"
I I
-i
---------T I II
30 & -T'~8" I I
1- ·---·~·I~{~i 1 , , , ,~ ------- 1
I~ _____ - +_ I I
,.... 4& 7u -I'" 19' 8
11------1
r fJ
A- ---- --'- ---- ---
PLAN COMBINED
ARTr LLERY & COM MAND POST
:!! () I
.........
» -u -u rn Z o x
L f +
~ ~ j ~ t
106
4' II"
SECTION A-8 COMBINED
ARTILLERY & COMMAND POST
--r 7
1
3"
~=-~_~A "S"
CLIFF FACE
DRAIN PIPE
"'T1
D
CD
» -0 -U rn Z o X
DEClASSIflEll
G.$ R MAN FIE L D W Q ~ K S
NOTES NO, 2.
CONTENTS
1" Genera.l,
2. Magazines.
3. Shelters (personnel and equipment.)
4. O.Fs. with shelter.
5. Emplacements with shelter.
6. Underground pillboxes.
7. Above ground pillboxes.
8. Miscellaneous.
(Iv!. 1,10) The War Office. 0160/2409 (H.I .1<:'. June 1943
Distribution: List nEn (as revisecl to June 134:3)
CCFY :To. 2;;
DECLIA~SIFI£O I" GENEF..At •
1. Standard construction methods. 2. Materials used in concrete. 3. Strength of defences.
2. MAGAZ INES .
1. Type la. 2. II 2a. 3. II L 407
3. SHELTE-qS (PERSONNEL & EQ.uIpr~NT) •
1. Type - 12 men 2. It 117 3. tr 140 4, ft 250 5. f! L 405 6. ft 608 7. II 621 8. n 629
4. O.Ps. WITH SHELTER
1. Type 143 2. 11 11 :s e its t ancl If 3. " 502
5. EHPLACE~iENTS WITH SH~LTER
1. Type L :±Ol ·2 .. If L 402 3, If L 406
6. mIDERGRr:UND PILLBOXES.
1. 'rype If Tobruk-standU 58d 2, If -ditto- By .. MG. 3. II If Ringstandll 4. II tlpanzerste11ung tl
5. Tank turrets
7. ABOVE GP.OUND PILLBOXES.
1. MG. or Lt. Gun type
8. MISCELLANEOUS
1. Loophole in p~rsonnel shelter
INDEX TO PHOTOG~APHS.
Tobruk-stand for Heavy MG. Above ground pillboxes Leitstand Single ~~orey o.P. or Pillbox Heavy 0 .J~in:2~aCement
. tt:tJ1SSlf1EO
~. 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9
10·
11
12
13 14 15
16
17 18
19
Plate Plates Plate Plates Plates
1 2 & 3
4 5, 6 & 7 8 & 9
O£f.lLtflt; In a~dition to providing the latest inf~rm~~~
and prachce in. Europe thes" notes bring up-to-dat<dfl~ German Fieldworks, ~Jotes No.1.
German concrete design information given in
Photographs of an O.F/Pillbox, which is shown at figs. 4 & 5 of Hotes No.1, are given in Plates 5, 6 and 7 at the back of this uublication. The photographs in Plates 8 & 9 are of a heavy gun emplacement", sketches of which 'N,;re given in figs. 6, 7 and 8 of Note s No.1.
1. STM~ARD CONSTRUCTION l~THODS .
.An official GE'rman manual (Stell1mgsbau D 585)- recently captured in North Africa gives details of the methods to be employed in the construction of fortifications in concrete. The manual is dated 1941.
In small pillboxes 9 ft. 2 in, x 6 ft. 7 in. int"rnal measurement the concreie is to be I metre (3 ft. 3 in.) thick. The rear wall is to be 2 ft. thick with an exit 1 metre (3 ft. 0 3 in.) high.
Unclerground personnel shel ters in concrete shall have walls and roof 3 ft. 3 in. thick. The inside of the shelter is to be lagged with 3 in. tirrtber ancl. the retaining wall onposite the shelter is to be 1 ft. 8 in. thick.
Details are given of the method for stren~thening existing cellars. Concrete walls 3 ft. 3 in. thick are to be constructed to the exterior face of the existing walls with suitable emergency exits where necessary. The existing cellar ceiling is to 'be su-pported "dth: tirrlber anet ~.S.Js. and a concr8te roof 3 ft. 3 in. thick is provided for.
A design for an improvised pillbox is also given in the manual. It cons ist s of a timber const ruct ion 7 ft. ° in. x 4 ft. 6 in. ins ide moaSuTOffit;nt using 4 x 4 in. and_ 2 in. timber. A steel lo'ophole plate is bolted across the width of the structure and the position is designed for 2 men with an lOG. The earth covering on the roof is given as 12 in.
2. MAT:~RI.ALS USEr' IN COHC3ETE.
There is no information availabl~ on the typo and quality of s~nd, stone or gravGl used in German fieldworks. The materials will cert8inly vary in different areas.
One sample of cement has been received from a sourCE- and it is belL.,v,,'; that this Was obtained from the CHERBot~G PENINSULA. This sample had bucn stored for a time in a cardboard box and might, ther8fore, be aerated. or carbonated. The results of the analysis are as follows:-
(1) Chemical Analysis (in pl-'rctJntagl's)
CaO 48.10 Ti02 0.33
MgO 3.71 • o Hn203 0.3D
K20 0.85
!-Ta20 0.31
SC 3 1,63
S other than S03 ·0.82
(ii) Density
, /) 1,..9.1 "gm. per cc.
UrI" ... t,.,l ,if (an ~·J7t}J/~
J·lto
(iii)
(iv)
Sieve an*gt~1"
!te sid ue \) n .B ! S • ., , 72 mesh sieve 11 II II 170 II II
Passing the " 170 II II
Finenoss
Spocific surface ~ 2,950 em. 2jgm. permeability method.
O.5~ 6.3%
93.7qb
~c~~~~~~\t\) (v) l'Jiiscroscope
The material appearo0 to be a mixture of Portland cemont \'lith a considerable amount (probably over 50%) of glassy material. The coarse fraction (72 - 170 mesh matprial) was almost entirely mado uu of the glassy subst8nce, wpich w~s similar to a dense, well granulated blast-furna.ce slag_
(vi) Small scale crushin~.
Sample
Normal Portland (B.C.37)
Rapid Hardening Portland (F.365)
Sample undor t,,;st
Tests were made on * in. cubes. Comparative tests wero ·mado with the normal ane. rapid hardening Portlanc. cement samplds.
Crushing strength small scale tosts, 1
mortars. wlc 0.50 Ib/sq. in.
1 3 7 28
3
day (Jays days days
516 1360 1948
848 1848 2544
136 380 616
1
1 day
764
942
---------
Crushing strength 2 : 4 concrete 4 in. cub0s,
w/c. 0.60. Ib./sq.in.
3 days
2020
2310
7 days
3C40
3460
28 days
4990
bUUb
( 200 ) ( 5('{ ) ( 85C)?:
* The figures in brackets are estimatea values derived from a graph of the relation between small anc1. large scale for two known cements.
(vii) Conclusion.
N0arly the data are consistent with the SAmple being a Portland blast-furnace cement. The ratio of Portland cement to granu18ted slag appears to be a: mixture of between 25 - 50% Portl.:-'nd cement with 75 - 50% grRnulatecl slag. There is a f~~ir probability th·'t the lime content of the is low for a slag which is to be used in cement. ~he dtrength and rate of str8ngth
d.cvclopment is v8ry low. This may be due to CEtrbona_tio,n,~.u ~~lrn results are consistent w~th what might be \JXPectec~~ 1t'~. . It.\J
- 2 - ,,\\10.' .1" ' . U,\· ~~ ...
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"-- ~k r .. '1 , '-I f' percentage slag which - is '-roW'i ir1r~t~) ~nr, therefore, not very a"'.tive. It may 'be estimated. that a cement 0: \hi.'s ··'trP.G is not likely to give strengths equivalent to normal Portland cemGnts until ag~ut 12 months old.
3. ST?~NGTH OF DEFENCES.
Following is a summary of the main differences between strongly 9,n.:". loss strongly held areas.' In less strongly held area:-
(i) Strong point s of all kind.s will be further apart, say 3CCC yar·is on an average instead of ICC ('\ yards. This is, however, oft3n J.ue to the difficult nature of the coast; and the strong paints will, of course t not be re~ularly spaced., but to sui t the ground. Strong points will be more elongated. and. less adapted for all-round defence.
(ii) Concrete will protably be 3 ft. 3 in. thick instead of 6 ft. 6 in. thi ck. Pill bOX8 swill tend t 0 bc.~ relat i ve ly common" r in compari so n with shelters although the latter will still rr~dominatc.
(iii) Positions siteo. back from the coast will have little or no construction in contrete.
- 3 -
1. TY'j8 la.
I •
A (I.rawing of this is given at append.ix 1 .. ~':The principal dimension.s a.r.e as follows:_
Length. (axel. passage) ~victth
Thickn~ss of walls n If roof
Total concr2t,,;;
2. TJ'0G 2a.
A clrawing of this is giv~'n at a'P~lendix 2. as fol1ows:-
LvilgtL. (excl. ~assage) Wic~th
Thickn~ss of walls II II roof
Total concrt:t,l Roinforc·:.;mcnt
!
25 ft, 3 in. 19 ft .. 7 in.
3 ft. 3 in. .. 3 ft. 3 in. 300 cu, yd. no information
Th~ principal di~0nsio~s arc
37 ft. 9 in. 47 ft. 6 in.
6 ft. 7 in. max. 6 ft. 7 in._. flax.
lOCO cu. yd .• auprox. no infOJ"rr:fltion.
Th~rr.; is sorno doubt wheth:;r the: thickn"'ss Qf concrJt. in the wa.lls ani roof is in eV:3ry instance 6 ft. 7 in. thick. It is -possible thAt mEl.ny of this typo arc about, 1. 5C m. (4 ft. 11 in.) thick.
3~ Tyn~ L 4C7.
A drawing of the 8.8 ~m. or 10.5 ~m. A.A. Gun Ammunition Sheltor is given at app ')no.ix 3.
Ho oth.)r dotails ar') avai1ab10 except as tabulatGd b,-low:-
L,'ngth 42 ft. 7 in. i'iici_th 41 ft. 7 in. Height 16 ft. 7 in. :5.oof level above ground 3 ft. 3 in. Thicknclss of walls 3 ft. 3 in.
n II roof 3 ft. 3 in. Excavation leOO cu. yd. appro:x:. Total concreto ~CO cu, yd. II
Woight of re inforc;:;rr.-.:'nt 35 tons. "
.... 4: -
I" ._-, ,-,
.' • f!" . '~::.~':~:.
APPENDiX 1
I
6 PLA'"
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If:-C.I'ON B-&
MAGAZINE- - TYPE: 1(]
kp-E.ndix 2
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TYPE- 2.0
APPENDIX 3
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PLAN
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8-8cm. OR 10-5cm. A.A. AMMU~ITIOH ~"E:LTf:.R
TYPE: LA-OJ
3.
1. Type - 12 men.
A (l.rawing of B personnel shelter for 12 ;;:en is given fit al"1')enr..ix 4. There are t,-,'o st8nrard tj-nes t the one illustrated anc.l one for 6 men t and these are tyryicC'J !)~ the ty-oe to be foun~ on the ~TO:O)f:A1::r:nY ~{'ast.. The type of shel ter for 6 reen has a ·floor s-pace of 12 ft. x 8 ft. The thickness cf con0ret.e i.s only 3 it. 3. ~n. as· o~pose(l to 6 ft. 6 in. in other areas encl. 're inforcement arY')ears to be very J.ight. There are only 3 rows of vertical rars -~ - 3/4 .:r:. dia.meter anl5 horiz;)ntal reinforcement is not :ne·ctione:'. .
The principal a.imens ions are as follow8!-
Length of shelter 21 ft, 4 in. Wic:.th 11 " 22 ft. 11 in • . Shel ter space 16 ft. L ill. (s1,uare) ~vicLtr; of shelter over "bunkers u 34 ft. 0 in.. ~~i:i c;th of ent ranee pas sage D ft, 9 in. Thickness. of walls 3 ft. 3 in.
II n roof :3 ft. 3 in. Earth cover (probable minimum) 1 ft.. 6 in,
Points of inter~st are as follows:-
.~ i) The two arnmuni t ion recesses ("bunkers H) on each s i0.e of the entrance.
(1i.) The unarmoured steel door about 2 in. thiok. The (loor can only oe closed on the inside.
(iii) There are no loopholes in the walls or in the entrance,
(iY) No,ern~rgenCY,exits.
(v) There is a stove for heating Bne electric light is installed.; "'out no water is laid on.
2. TYFe 117.
A:-j enctix 5 shows a type of shelter which is user for headquarters. The princioal d.imens i,ells are as follows:-
Length. 65 ft. 7 in. \1io.th 42 ft. a in. 1':'idth over 'P ill box [,C ft. 8 in. Thickness of roof 6 ft. 6 'in.
n It walls 6 ft. 6 in. ff " internal walls 3 ft. 3 in. or less
Concrete in roof 720 cu. yd. approx.
" If externAl walls 40C cu. yd. II
If· " floor 22C cu. II
II II internal walls 100 cu. II . .. P..e.inf 0 rcerr.en t :'tet-ails not available but
kr.o11\'n to be reinforced throughout full thickness of walls and roof.
It appears'thet this type rr:a.y be subject to a nw:.ber of modificatiors dep(3n(~ing on the wishes Of~, e CO,IT.rran:ier an:i the purnose f?r Whi?h it is to be used. It Tr.cy also be used,' ely as a wiT or teleyhone lTIstallattan and
provision has been ma:ie tc/ . .' ~illbOX if cansio.ered ~=y.
:,(1"1/ r~
This Distributing or Switching Chp-mber is the s:naller of two types .a....'1!3 is ~hown at ap'Oen,iix 6. The principal dimens ions are as follows:
··Length 'i,rid.th Height of concrete above ground. Eeight of roof ri Thickness of walls
1t "roof ":)einforcement
i:utmlASS1Ft£D 16 ft. C in. (approx)
4 ft. 11 in. 4 ft. 11 in. no cletails
This chamber or shelter is foun~. in ]~(}IT.rJ)', one being found. at each ~oint where fortress cable leading to individual strongpoints leaves the ~ain long-Cl.istance cable o These chambers are the points fro;.', which the routing is controlled. ana. are numbered. consecutively from ]last to West. Normally, there will b8 no signals personnel locateo permanently 'at the chamber.
The asoestos sheet roof is an interesting piece of camouflage.
A variant .of this type of structure is rerorted from BRII'-:::Al'TY. ~IJhereas tlie type 14C is above ground. the BRIT'::,Al\TY tYJ)e is entirely undergrouno. and has thin walls. The interior dimensions appear to be 10 ft, x 10 ft. x 8 ft. and steps lead down to the entrance. A very small pitchoc. roof is constructeo. along the side next to the steps and has a small fanlight in the gablo.
4, me 250.
A d.rawing of this t the larger type, is shown at appendix 7, sheet s 1 and 2. The principal dimenslons are as follows:-
Length 21 ft. 11 in. Wio_th 18 ft. C in. Thickness of walls 4 ft. 11 in.
n " roof 4 ft, 11 in. Reinforcement no details.
It is l)ossible that this tyne is the "Grossschaltstelle tt whieh aDpears at the more corr:plex cable junction points. At one of these Ie circuit cabl::1s enter the chamber" and from it radiate two 5 circuit ano. one 10 cireui t cables, each leaoing to a strongnOint on the coast. A chamber in Which thare ar~ f·";lwer distribution frames woul6 be an ord.insry tlSr.11altstelle lf of 140 t~r:,?8.
A s~1eltor for Flak R.D.F. Equi-:->ment and Detachment is shown at a:T'1cndix 8 • .A;:?:?raximat e details are as follows:-
I.J8ngth 'tlTidth Height Roof level above ground Thickness of walls
IT It roof Excavation Total concrete Reinforcement
_'t 6 _
41 ft. 3 in. 33 ft. 0 16 ft. 6
3 ft. 3 in. 6 ft. 7 in. 6 ft. 7 in.
800 cu. yd. 80n cu.. yd.
35 tons
an"'1rox. 11
/6. Type
tt "., 49 ft. 0 in. 'Length (shelter) " (incl. C.P.)
~':idth (shelter) n (incl. nillbox)
T~lickness, externHl walls n roof '
Concrete in roof If " external \'Ialls
Total conorHte R ;inforc8ment
58. ft. 0 in. 45 ft. 9 in.
, 54ft ~ r i·l • . :,. 6 ft. 7 in.
6 ft. 7 in. 57r ' cu.. yd. a"n'Y'lr()x. 350 cu. yd. "
, 1300 cu. yd. (3/4 in. diam. bars.
.. (1/2 in. " II
S:'l'ltors of this t~,e ha,v.] b: on ldl~ntifiGd at v::c"'5.os ",laoes in ]~LGITJM and '''orth FRA2'-CE. The rein;forcement in the roof CO:1S:i.Sts of J;. in. diameter c3..rs s:)ot-1Tolded tr; form mats (similar to 'B.R.C,) i~l 7 ill. squares. Th;' rr.a.ts arc 7 i~. ~?art. The reinforcement in the walls consists of 3/4 in. dia~~t0r bars at 10 in. centres, ::;>rosUInably both horlzontall~T and v,:rtic::llly. The C.lu..:?,~lti ty of bars is unknown.
A sm::.ll :·)illbox is arranged in the wing of the Etructurt:' and the loo-:1hc 10 covers ;)cth ontranc€:s. Tho entrances to the shclt:".r J,re ' rovidod \vith gas~rocf doors or screens.
r:::~0 ~obru}:-tYl)e em:olacement is rGferred to as t:1C "0:, '11 observeI'll and is o~.l.l'.i-:rH:!d \';ith s}?oaking-tubo, tele'-jhone and '"Jireloss set. The post probablY hLl s _ ,i.l Ii;. G •
It is laid down th:, t one tolo:!h~ne-recess and t' . .'O \11r,'16ss recesses must be built ~_.Llto all shelters of this ty110, including those situated in rear 9 . .rt: s. Tho' ireless recesses may, however, be omitted, ff tho Fortress Signals St~ff concoraod gives authority.
It i8:-=:.1so laid down that all lead-in tubes for Sil~11~'\1s C!able ILUSt be (;xte:adod from 10 to 15 metres (33 - 50 It.) beyond t:'10 '.ralls, in 'Jrder to avoid damage to the cables.
7 • r:::~~!o 621.
Some dotails of this ty-oe are available and it h..11l,(l tbc samo general eha""") a:lld sizo of TY-OE:: 629. The external dimensions arc ro~!ortod to be 34 ft. 9 in. x 32 ft. and the walls 6 ft. 7 in. thick. The sholter ~!)cars to be for :?orsc~"t:lcl o:"11y and !->rovidcd with t1.,1/0 entrances. E3.C11 entrance may be oovf:r8d by a loo:'lhole simil8.r to TJ-::oo 629. The shplter contains 7 beds and it is rC2,sonablo to su:'''no so thR t it is intended to :orovido ac.ccn:modation ft'r a section of 10 - 12 men.
~hj_ S tv.,e of shel t r:~r 'Provides aocommoda t ion for t dutRchffient and an A.Tk. g;un. "?lans and sections are given at ap;Jondi:{ 10., S~l..Jl ts 1 and 2. Pril1ci:.Jal dimensions are as follows:-
Longth (excluding O.Ps.) If (including 0 .Ps. )
Uidth ,~, Height' {"J' r~"
n ;~, ;}apove'~' ground level ~r_ickn~8 ,of walls
It '.'~ ': :;ro ':'Jr.1
/<"
Q,uan tit Y 0 f ~o..nf~~~b. .'''''' n " exc.e;vYl,o n ,;
i'loight of re1nforcoIJJf'i:~I4.S;d,>"~ 1FJf it-J)
36 ft. 9 in. 55 ft. 9 L.l. 36 ft. 2 Ll. 16 ft, 9 in.
3 ft. 3 hl. 6 ft. 1 in. 6 ft. 7 in. 880 cu. yd. !).")1')rox.
1(100 '31..1 •• ird, " 33 t,)"lS "
Sheltors of this design aro believed to h8.vO b00l1 aC1.o~-)tcd, towards the i..~nd. of 1942. The dosign urovides for steEl reinforcom-:nt ·out the dr:.tg,ils are not klo'·:n. . ftlrlrlp
H~ In"~ ~ '\: ~I~\'~" ! ~·~C shelter is si ted for~'Tard of the gu.n cm~)lac()m, ~.'" t~e~, ~'i>~~ ~~"'I \,
of t~1C enomy and the "ccrridorlt to the emnlaccIDeD.t i " . :1;',' I ~ • ''"'~' in ccncruto. The entrance to the crews t quarters.:', is str>.f..;C';ared and a lC0:nhole is . rGvidod so th?t it may be covered by small arms fLee. Fote the nrovision for sea~ing the chambAr against gas •
. :-_D. int~resting feature is the construction of t1:TO lITOBRUY" ty:')e O,?s., ona i~1 oc:tc':l 'l,lJing of tho building. These 1')ositions 'arc cC:·'.u8cted by telo:?hono and s)Jcaking tube to the crows t qua.rt ~rs.. Pr,~sUlnably one or ooth 0: tho O.Fs. has a machine gun.
It vill be seen that only a light earth covering on tho roof is intended and a k,~rb is :Jrovided to master tho 'edge f'f tho ftll:tn9.:.' !t i8 probar-:1e that stool 'o~.rs 1"vi11 be found to :Jrotrude through tho cellcret,), in. pr near this kor-;'') Eti.l(1 it is thcught tha~ these are for sus~,!ending camouflage netting across tho entrance and passage.
~-'is s~"lClter is provided with a periscope and it lilct~T also be usod by Si{;~l_-,":"S since ~?rovision has boen made in the design fer uireless masts and cai:'lo ducts.
UNClASSlfl£.P
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CON<:'RE:.Tf?
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APP~I'4DIX 4
JYfTAININ6 WALL .4(
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A
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Appendix b
ELAN
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SCALE '150
RECESf._FOR. Ql!lJIDE PLUG
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I ,I, 411
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APPENDIX 8
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OR.. EQUIVALENT ug =--JVPf: 608
.. ENEMY
APP~NDIX 10 ~"E:ET_1_
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jU~LI~1t ~~ A·l~· GUN ~_ DlIACUMt;AlT -=-TYP~ 629 1M 1.10,1::'770 ..... , ~ MAY .4~ A.FIN t
APPE~DlX 10 S~~&T.~
.jLf;FE: OF FILLlhlJl 1 IN 10
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S~CTION A-B
I<£/(B /(E./AININu 1~/?oeA8Lt; CAMCltlFLAG€
________ --, __ , ___ . _____ ~AR.1H ~ ___ ~Frr --- " "" . ::----..-
----
SbCI'ON C-D
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This is o.n artillery ('.P. and shelter and a nlan is sho\V'n at b'rJ:;endi:: 11. The :1rinci:nal dimensions arc as fo Ilbws:-
Length ·,'Tidth Thickness of walls
44 ft. 0 in. 29 ft. 2 in. G ft. 7 in.
A sectional drawing of this structur(~ is unfortu.aat~/ly not availablE 9.nd the reinforcemont. if any, is not known,
Details of the observation turret are not knO\'ll1 but it is possi'tlo that it is similar to that used in TY,9G 502 (!)aragra"-)h 3).
Tho loc'lholo in the :.1arty wall which covers th" ...:utrallce to the shel t ·r is, ~ !arcntly, built on th0 sk, w, This may not b~ carri~d out in practic~ oulag to the extra work req,uired in splay-cutting the shuttering.
::oto the :?rovision for wirl:.-less and tolephone.
2. Ty: '0 IILei tstand lt •
::lato 4 shows the front view of a Battery Obs'.Jrv tioIl and Command Post ("Loitsta:ld"). This design is, a':)parently, a standard, ty 10 and has been dosignated 'L' by tho Germans. An attempt has b vn mado t r
• disguise the strt1,cturo as a "Cafe Francais"; this a!>:t:')ears rathor in, fi'uctivE:: on phctogra'~)hs but is -,)rooably quite decoptive to th~ eye.
Tho structure is built in reinforced concrete and thu ,,,aIls and roof are !lrobably 6 ft. 7 in. thick. The height aT)nears tr:; be abcut 25 ft.
It is ')robably designE.d for low dune country such as that in BELGIlJ1yl and its height will give an imnrcved field of vieu. j?lc-tes 5, 6 and 7 show a single st~rey structure of similar design which may bi used as a :pillbox or an o.? This latter tY-r")c; is known in areas such as L-, 'HAVRE wht:'re high cliffs -)rovide good observation 1Joints.
This C.~. and personnel shelter is a heavily r, infcrced concrete structure. A ',11an and sections are given at a1-,pendix 12, shc..::ts 1, 2 and 3. The ~rinciT)al dimensions are as follows:-
Length 45 ft. 11 in. ~jidth 31 ft. 2 in. Hoight 15 ft. 9 in. Thickness of walls 6 ft. 7 in.
ff If roof 6 ft. 7 in.
Total concrete 730 cu. yd. a- nro:::.
Reinforcement 36 tons. t!
The reinfo rcem6nt, consisting of 3/4 in. diameter b .. rs, is buil t-Ui) in the form of a grillage, bars running in thr~e directions, and forming cubes of 10 in. side (Sheet 2). One re--,ort suggested that tho reinforcGment VIaS builtu; 0:1 t:1U site and fixed bodily in sections. The ado:.,tir;n cf this frothod is s~meuhat unlikely because of weight t difficulty of t~(ii1L~ in wi th otht.-r bars and fixing the distributing bars. The more conv\.;nti ncd, m0thod of 6recting tho stoL:l bar by bar is the most likely used. The mii1ii.;um concrete cever over
reinforcement is in.
Tho underside of the rc'of is reinf~rced witl;. R.S.Js. having their lowor flush with the finished coneret'e. The sizes arc % in. deep across,
the entrE.nce 1)& ssages and 9~ in. deep acri"'ss the :?orsonnel quar'ters. Th( R.S.Js., are bolted togethe~ in threes (sheet 3) and are about 12 in. centre to centre. Steel distance tubes are fitted on the ti0-bolts to fiy. spacing botv8Gn tho R.S.Js. It is probable that steel ~latGs in narrow widths arc laid on tho bottom flan~es of the R.S.Js. to serve as shuttering t,' thE undersido of the ceiling.
Steel doors, operated frr:;m the inside, are a \~")arontly a standard fitting in this ty)e. Each door closes on to a channel section embf:dded in the concrete. The thickness of the doors is not kno\\Tn.
An armoured turret L~ :)rovided as shown on sh,~ .. t 1. The turret h3.s visor slits and the observer stands on the platforlll to \·,hich is fixed the access ladder. Details of this turr~t are not availablu.
- 10 -
I-----~----------------------------I
APPEftJDlX 11
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o.P. Torret wi th v,'Sor '51 its
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O.B t;. P'R.~O"'AI~L St.t~L TE:R TVP& 502 ~T"'=L O.TAU_~
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1 • Ty : c L 40 I •
A dra\"ing of this B.B cm. or 10.5 cm. A.A. Gun Em-,?lacGment with Shelt 'T for D8tac~8nt is given at ap~endix 13.
A: 1: roxima t e detai Is are as f.o llows:-
Length 44 ft. 4 in. \'!idth 36 ft. 1 in. Height 22 ft. 1 in. Height above ground 7 ft. 0 in. Thickness of walls 6 ft. 7 in.
II IT roof 6 ft. 7 in. Excavation 90r , cu. yd. a~ ··~'Jrox.
Total concrete 860 cu. yo._ n
Height of reinforcement 33 tons. 11
2. TY-~)8 L 402. -------T~lis is a 2 cm. A.A. Gun Em~[.llacement wi th ShtJltcr fer Detachment and a
drt:.'t'ling is given at appendix 14. Approximate details are; as fellows:--
Length v'lidth Height Max. height above ground Thickness of walls
II "roof Excavation Total concrete ~'T8ight of reinforcemont
31 ft. 11 in. 31 ft. 11 in. 20 ft. 5 in.
7 ft. 0 in. 6 ft. 7 in. 6 ft. 7 in. 530 'Cu. yd. 560 cu, yd, 25 tons.
If
II
A drat:; ing of this Heavy A._A.. Batt ery Command ?ost is shown at arynendix 15. ~! .ro~imat(; dEtails are as fol1ows:-
Length 62 ft. 4 in. "Tidth (excluding annexe) 48 ft. 4 in. Max. width 63 ft. 6 i11. lliax. height above ground level 7 ft. g in. Roof level abov8 ground 3 ft. 3 in. (a: ; rox) Thickness of walls 6 ft. 7 in.
" " roof 6 ft. 7 in. Excavaticn 2200 cu. yd. a: I: )l"' C x. Total concrete 210(1 cu. yd. II
Height of reinforcement 75 tons. Ir
: ", .. : •.....
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APPE:ND1X 1:5
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APPl;J\JDtx 14
PLA~ R.OOF PLAH
5&:c..TION A-A
2,cm. A.A. EMPLAC~M[;NI WIT" S~E.LT~R - TYPE. L402
R..QCF PLAIi
A
SCAL!: '12.50
APPENDIX 15
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~T'OH.A-A
UEAVY, A. A. ~TV. COMMAND PO~T-=-1>YPE, L 400
6. - !:LLBO:CDS. ---...--..------
1. Tobruk-stand 58d.
A dra\'Ting of this is given at a:opendix 16.
Length ':Tidth Cvera11 height Concrete Reinforcemt;nt
'Earth over roof
12 ft. 1 in. 9 ft. 11 in. 9 ft. In in.
15 cu. yd .• aJ'r0':. 3/ g in. or -l in. diamet,er bars at
8 in. s:)acing a",):rrox. 1 ft. 0 in. E:t: '-)rox.
~~1C oun,nti ty and d:i.sT)osi tion O'~~ the reinforcemont is not known. This ~illbox is designed for ~n A.A./M.G. the biuod of ~hich is provided with rollers tc traverse in the channel shown at det':dl 'e' on the drawing.
T~is tY 1e, is a heavier and larger v~rsion of that described abovb. It hc,s been SE'8n built intc sea walls and is usually about 12 f0et in front of the ~?erscnncl shelter. In one instance the com:nunic', tiCl trench was revetted in timber. Plate 1 shows one of these :pillboxes 1.1 a coastal area.
In cO!rrl>arison wi th ty:')e 5Bd (a))~oendix 16) thls :nl1J.ho~'c has the fo 110'l'li!12 di:nensions:-
Least diameter of circular ~)erture 3 ft. 6 i :;.1 .•
Iieight, fleor to tt II 4 .rt. 11 in • Thickness of concrete (r8"":)o rt ed) 1 ft. S In.
.. ight, rear comJ?artment ( 'I) 3 ft. 'Z; "'"
FilII details of this type are not available. RI.!)ort:-: state that an ordinary mild st\3el door is ~)rovided frem th~; communioatiOrl trench and 9.8
raij.1. enters through the weapon eperture all ammuni tiC::l h 8 to be stacked on duckboards. This latter disadvantage will a:'Jply also to '!'obruk-stand 5Bd.
3. "Rings~and"
Ti:is tY.ge is very similar to the Tobruk-stand 58d. ',et is most commonl;! to be found in the ISIGNY area. A drawing of this ty')O is gi Yen at a~:nendix 17. It 'V1i}1 be noted that it differs very Ii ttle from 'e 5Bd; the main differences being:-
(i)
(i1)
There is no guid.e rail in the aperture to t:-t1::e the of the bi":Jod mounting.
The M.G. mounting is a wooden }J"11e a'bout 3 ft. 3 in. fixed centrally to the floor. On tou of the 'l)ole thu~'le is a small ':100den nlatform \'ihich can be turned through 360"'. The bi:'1od mounting of the lvI.G. is set on this :glatfcr:n.
information available of the M.G~ mounting is insufficient to determine
whether tbe gun can engage all grl'und targets; it is'l'che,ble that the ··)il.lbox W1S designed l1rimarily fer an A.A. re 1a. . ;; 'l ~ I' . ' ..
Rciniol'cement. if any. is eX:Jected to be light. UI~i.LASSlf'[n" J I -l,
One S011rce indicates that this pillbox can be modified to take a small turret having M.G. and A.Tk. gWlS coaxially mOWlted. lJ:here is no reason to di .-bel.iove this story since a number of turrGts from lh'onch tanks are being used, narticularly in coastal areas t for this ~u~,ose.
4. ~-'an~ers~ellung
Sketchos of this tYT"e are given at a~endix IV. The dimensions shown on the dra\'ling are alJproximate only. This is s()mewh~."!.t similar to the IIR=-_ngstancl ll previou.sly described, with tank turret. T'lis pillbox may be fitted '-lith a Renault 35 tank turret.
T~'lG tank turrets, which are armed with an A.Tk. t,'1J.n u,nci. 1\~.G.
mo~-nted, are of a small type. The base of the turret is bolted to a circulg,r metal ::>late '.lhioh is traversed by hand by means of a \<lh081 O?:l. a rail buil t tnto the circumference 0 f the circular a:nerture. The a::c of fire is ")600 •
The oart:l covering over the roof a:'):pears to be about 3 ft. thick.
5. Tam:: Turret s
A number of+ pillboxes have been r'::l"Iorted fitted 'l;lith turrets. These turrets are mo;~tl~' of French origin and a recent gr("unct :)hotograJ)h shows'a Renault 35 tank turret fitted in the reof of -9,n underGround ~illbox, The turret is the only ~)ortion of the structure which :')rcj ects above ground levol and, not be tng of dimensions, may be iJ~ccl1s::,'icnous to the c.:tsual observer.
- 13 -
------------------------------------.--~------------APP&I4DIX "
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UNDeRGROUND PILLBOX FOR AA/MG.
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APPt.NDIX 17
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UND(;RGROU~D P'LLBOX FOR TAK'N~ " ~
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APP~XDIX 18
PlA~
7. ABOVE GR01T::JD PIL:·:BOXJJS
1. m~; 1'1
~\1}'o -:)hotogra~'lhs of a large pillbox wi t·lIJ. '!l~-.o 1.::, les arE; t arrparently, designed for and it is O)rob:--ble that this ::Jarticu.lar pillbox is of n'l:JOer of this type t.xist and it is noteworthy thn,t into sr::8.-"!,'nlls bear a general resemblance to these.
Constructional details are not available, the give the 'earance of very solid constru.ction.
and. 3,
.A nstruct!::,d
8. SC~LL~~mouS
1. ~o o,?ho ~~_§h01t-'!! • . :i;\ h:l (i~: . [::, ~::'~ ~::. i~?· U It l,'lil1 be noted that th(~ Germans Tlr6vide IDc:1)holos 'Gt~~}tI€'$~nd~h~'~I~.~~~ .. i~ ~!.,.~
J:' -- '>~ '# ~"~ :':I',.;iJIr , ... ''f? ,~". .. " . ' .
entrancos of shelters by small arms fire. A-p:,)roximate det:tils of a ty~Jlca1. I00:}hole are sho\'/n at appendix· 19.
It is jrobab1e th~t these loo~holes can be closed by a sliding plate because }l"'ovision aynears to be Inado for metal guides OJ]. the internal face. The dr~,: .. ;ing should be taken as indicative rather than accnrate. The thickness of the loophole plate may be 1 - in., this dimension is, houever, very uncertain.
- 15 -
APPEI\IOlX 19
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I~- ___________________ J
Nt ,. 10 b/72:S J'unQ.4~M"
E:XIERNAL VU;W
GE.RMAN TYPICAL lOOP~O~E
(APPROXIMA1F; DE:TAIL~ ONLY)
4 1
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UNCLASSIFIED
