Calais beach(W) WW2 gun emplacements

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[Stuart2007]

So, after many years of seeing these WW2 relics on the beach, I decided to fight my way through the Calais one-way system and ended up on Bleriot Plage.

These bunkers/ gun emplacements are really quite interesting- especially if you are stupid enough to climb right inside them. But I can't quite make sense of how the middle casemate was positioned.

Has anyone seen these up close or know of any online pictures of them when they were in service? The middle casemate is at a right funny angle- possibly a good shot by a RN warship...

Any ideas appreciated.

[Mad_Fred]

Heya Stu,

I happen to have a mate that goes 'bunker watching' and visiting other WWII relics, about twice a month, all over Europe. Together with some other blokes, they spend their weekends climbing and crawling into all kinds of old WWII structures.

I'm probably gonna be talking to him lateron today, I'll ask him if he was ever there, and if he knows what's what. I do know he's been on many sites in France.


Fred.


Edit: here's a youtube clip, is that the spot?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwhYUoRNBYU

There is one of them kinda tilted over at a funny angle.. looks to me as if it got knocked over by a heavy shell that landed right beside it, or something. Just a guess though.

[Stuart2007]

Hi Fred

Thanks. I'd appreciate any info. I just can't quite work out the layout when built. That one at a funny angle- yes, a RN shell, I suspect  I assume it was shell storage or something as it has no gun port, unlike the one at the Western end. That said, there are relics from the 1800s wars as well.

For your amusement, I injured myself quite nicely when climbing down from the gun bunker at the end... It's quite funny to think that nearly 70 years after being built it is finally doing its job.... injuring British 'invaders'   

Cheers Fred

[Mad_Fred]

No problem, Stu. 

Hehe..  injuring the invaders. 

Not saying you injuring yourself is amusing though. Hope it wasn't too bad! 


Fred

[Stuart2007]

It was my own fault. I'm not as young as I was (stating the blisteringly obvious).

I'm not sure what did the most harm- the fall from the casemate or the long walk along Bleriot Plage to the pub for a cold Kronenburg...

Speaking of beer- I SWEAR that when I ordered a large beer I didn't know the French assume you mean a 4 litre jug to share...