Tirpitz Museum, Kriegsmarine Coastal Battery Vogelnest – Oksby, Blåvand Denmark


Marine Seeziel Batterie Vogelnest, Denmark - photo 2019
Marine Seeziel Batterie Vogelnest, Denmark – photo 2019

History

In the Blåvand area the German Kriegsmarine was building huge gun turret bunkers, construction of this coastal battery started in 1944. The bunkers were built as defensive position of the Danish city of Esbjerg and its harbor in. Together with a coastal defense line and anti-air positions on the Fano peninsula and multiple strongpoints around the city this bunker would protect the city, the harbor and airfield in this area.

M.S.B. 4./518 Vogelnest – photo 2019
Regelbau S 561 – courtesy atlantikwall.dk

1. Cartridge transporting equipment
2. Fixed loading table
3. Roller path for projectiles
4. Overhead trolley grab
5. Overhead trolley grab

M.S.B. 4./518 Vogelnest – photo 2019
A view on the gun emplacement, M.S.B. Vogelnest, Denmark - photo 2019
A view on the gun emplacement, M.S.B. Vogelnest, Denmark – photo 2019
Marine Seeziel Batterie Vogelnest, Denmark - photo 2019
Marine Seeziel Batterie Vogelnest, Denmark – photo 2019
M.S.B. 4.518 Vogelnest – photo 2019

38 cm SK C/34 Naval guns

Two bunkers were constructed to hold huge 38 cm naval guns. These 38 cm SK C/34 Naval guns had two barrels each in one turret, both barrels a length of almost 20 meters. These guns were used in the Bismarck Class ships (Bismarck and Tirpitz) and could reach an effective range of 36.5 km. Due to the mechanical systems inside the turret and bunker they could fire a shell each 2.5 minutes. The turrets had an frontal armor of 36 cm.

M.S.B. 4./518 Vogelnest – photo 2019
M.S.B. 4./518 Vogelnest – photo 2019
Regelbau S 561 – courtesy zapisnik.fortif

The Vogelnest Battery

The German designation for the two main bunker types was: “S 561 Geschützstand für 38 cm SK C/34 in Zwillingspanzerdrehturm”. The bunkers are regelbau types S 561, a multiple layered bunker designed to hold the gun, storages and equipment. The battery was officially named M.S.B. 4./518 Vogelnest by the German Kriegsmarine. M.S.B. is short for Marine Seeziel Batterie or Marine Sea Target Battery. The switch from M.K.B., the Marine Kusten Batterie or Coastal battery to, M.S.B. came in 1944.
The S 561 Regelbau bunkers were never completely finished. The German surrender stopped their construction, therefore they were never used and neither were outfitted with the 38 cm Naval guns.

Baufortschrittsplan - Construction progress plan of the Blavand region in Denmark - photo 2019
Baufortschrittsplan – Construction progress plan of the Blavand region in Denmark – photo 2019
German soldiers having fun in Denmark - Tripitz Museum Danmark - photo 2019
German soldiers having fun in Denmark – Tripitz Museum Danmark – photo 2019
German Soldier having rest and recreation - Tirpitz Museum Denmark - photo 2019
German Soldier having rest and recreation – Tirpitz Museum Denmark – photo 2019
German mines used as defence on beaches and near strongpoint - photo 2019
German mines used as defence on beaches and near strongpoint – photo 2019

Visit

The museum has a collections of items from WW2 next to Viking Age and pre historic age displays. There are images of how the fully operational bunker should have looked like if completed. The museum Is called the Tirpitz museum and can be found near the Danish town of Oksby in the Blavand area north of Esbjerg. Check out the museum website for opening hours.



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