Batterie Dollemard L'havre
This is an old French fort that was taken over by the Germans and the guns that were in situ were retained. These were 138 mm guns sited on open placements and protected with a naval type steel cover. When other batteries in the region were completed in 1943 this batterie was decommissioned and the guns moved to the mole in the petrol harbour.
The old French fort was first built in the late 19th century to defend the port from the British who were still seen as a threat. The fort is undergoing restoration and will be opened as a museum in the near future. If the guardian is on site she is quite happy to let you wander round the underground tunnels where the ammunition was once stored. You can still see the hoists that once took shells up to the guns. Unfortunately the gun emplacements have more than their share of graffiti, but at least are still intact.
