V1 Launch site in Huit-Rues forest – Le Nieppe, France
The V1 launch location was set up in the Bois des Huit-Rues (Eng. Huit-Rues forest) just north of the hamlet Le Nieppe in France. The Germans set up numerous launch ramps with supporting buildings in northern France and in Belgium to bombard Britain with many V1 flying bombs. They added V2 rocket launch sites and one experimental V3 launch site.
Over 100 V1 sites were built and planned from Belgium up to Cherbourg, France. Construction of these V1 Launch bases started in 1943 up to 1945. The British learned of them and set up a military operation to counter this threat. With Operation Crossbow they intended to bomb and destroy Hitler’s Vengeance weapons.
Ski Site – a Standard V1 base
A V1 base in northern France was set up with German standards, like the bunkers in the Atlantic Wall with the Regelbau numbers. These launch bases were standardized in layout. The allies called them Ski Sites for the large missile storage bunker, about 80 meters long, roughly resembling a snow Ski seen from the air. To deflect air pressure and damage when a bomb exploded near, the bunkers had a curve built into them. A typical setup was drawn by an American Airmen back in the days.
V1 Launch sites were divided into 9 areas, four areas in northern France had their launch ramps aligned on London, the others in Cherbourg toward Brighton, Manchester, Southampton, Bristol, Plymouth, Hastings, Dover and Newhaven. After the D-Day Landings the Germans started to relocate the V1 launch ramps, Cherbourg first. They were moved to the Netherlands and released their first flying bombs on the Belgium city of Antwerp, this bombardment started on 3 March 1945. The allied intelligence agencies already discovered 72 V-1 launch sites by November 1943 and Operation Crossbow started on 5 December 1943. Due to the effectiveness of Operation Crossbow many V1 launch sites did not see action, they were damaged and delayed for operational use or the Allied ground forces came near or took over the launch site.
The V1 flying missiles at Bois des Huit-Rues
After leaving the trucks the V1 flying bombs were transported to the Assembly Building. The V1 missiles were completed in this workshop except for their wings and detonators. After assembly they were transported to the Ski shaped storage bunkers. From here they were further completed, wings and detonators were added.
The V-1 was prepared for launch by filling up its fuel tank, installing a battery, and charging up the compressed air tanks for the gyroscopes. It was then trollied to a demagnetized area to check the missile’s magnetic compass and set up the guidance system in accordance with the planned target coordinates before it was transported to the 48 meters long launch ramp. After the launch the catapult steam boiler was cleaned in the workshop for rinsing the steam generator.
The V1 Launching ramp
The V1 cruise missiles launching ramp was protected by two 48 meters long and 80 cm thick stone walls, one on each side of the metal launch ramp. The metal ramp was inclined at 6 degrees. The V1 was assembled and fired with a steam powered piston. This piston (German Damferzeuger) pushed the V1 over the whole length of the Launch ramp and fell to the ground after the V1 left the ramp, from here the V1’s pulse-jet engine took over until it was above Britain and just stopped, sending the Buzz Bomb down.
Today the opening between the walls is filled up with earth but back in the war it was an open space filled with a metal V1 launch ramp. The walls protected the ramp from bomb blasts.
A small half-buried launch or command bunker with only one room, 6 by 3 meters and a viewing opening was constructed next to the V1 launch ramp. The opening could be closed with a sliding Plexiglass pane. It was located somewhat behind and left of the launch site.
The V1 launch site at Huit-Rues forest, referred to as ‘‘V1 Feuerstellung Nr. 59 (I. Abt) Le Nieppe’’, never came into action. It was bombed and damaged during Operation Crossbow and the allied forces closed in before it was functional.
Visit
The bunkers are in the woods and the walkways are open all year. Information signs show the location and layout of the site and give information on the structure or its purpose.
