The Arsenal (Cherbourg Naval Port)
cont.2
They were housed in casemates of the H671 & M176 designs and had a Fire Control
Post of the M162A type. Although a standard design, some were strangely double
story the M176 built on top of a H622 casemate..
The regiment stationed here was the 4/MAA 260
Just outside the old walls of the port, near Bastion II the Germans installed
four large railway guns on turntables.
The site is now partly covered by the dual carrigeway that has been built in
recent years.
The Railway Guns were of 240mm caliber and were of French manufacture built by
St Chamond and were of the K558 type. They had a range of 35kms.
They were protected by a large anti aircraft position, the bases of which can
still be seen at the western end of the Arsenal.
Along the outer walls of the harbour, the Germans installed many anti aircraft
posts and flak positions.
Many of the additions to the old French works can still be seen.
They also built Fire Control Posts on the outer wall.
The old French 100 mm guns dating from 1889 were also kept and used. One can
still be seen on the Eastern Fort from the vantage point of a ferry arriving or
leaving Cherbourg.
This fort was one of the last to surrender to the Americans and the damage that
you can see today was caused by both shelling from the troops in Cherbourg and
also from Allied ships giving support from the seaward side.
