Les Couplets N49 39.060 W001 39.822 & N49 39.309 W00139.787 Map 1210E
Situated on high ground to the west of Cherbourg, the
old French fort of Les Couplets together with Fort Roule was the eyes for the
fortress city of Cherbourg. The fort had been build two hundred year before by
the French for exactly the same reason that the Germans found it so useful in
1940. Keeping watch for any British attack.
The fort also had an annex further down the hill and it was there the Germans
installed their captured guns.
At one time they had eight 155mm French built guns, made by St Chamond in 1916
installed there.
Four were originally housed in H679 Casemates. Two of these were later placed on
open platforms as the traverse of the gun was restricted by the Casemate.
The site was also well equipped with anti aircraft guns as well as Tobruks for
the defence of the site.
At Les Couplets there are several Fire Control Posts which undoubtedly gave
instructions to the railway guns which were sited below on the coast, and also
to the gun emplacements immediately on the coast.
The site today is surrounded by housing, but much of the site remains in tact
although landscaped.
Les Couplets was taken on June 25th by the 47th Infantry without much
resistance.
This was possibly due to the fact that in the previous two days they had been
attacked by P-47s which dive bombed the site and also being shelled by artillery
just a few miles to the south.
The main site on the top on the hill is used as a sports complex, although one
Casemate is retained by the National Marines, but does not look as if it has
been used for many years.
Unusually most of the metal doors are in situ as are some of the metal fittings.
