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In the atlantikwall armoured turrets were often used for gun-emplacements and observation posts. The turrets used as gun-emplecement werede divided in turrets for machine-gun(s), turrets for grenade-launcher (M 19) and turrets for Howitzer. There were three kinds of turrets for machine-gun: turrets with respectively one, three or six loop-holes (Scharten). The turret with one loop-hole was called Einschartentürm, the one with three loop-holes Dreischartenturm and the one with six loop-holes Sechsschartenturm. There were also many different designs of the M 19- and Howitzer turrets. The M 19 was to be build in connection with a machine-gun casemate (preferably a 6-Schartenturm) to enable horizontal as well as vertical fire, so that a (for protection against vertical fire) dug-in enemy could effectively be attacked with horizontal fire. The 10,5cm Howitzer (Leichte Haubitze in Turm) was only build four times (twice in the Festung Boulogne and also twice in the Festung Brest). It's striking that this weapon and it's bunker (Regelbau 664) was always build as a pair, the fire-direction post was housed in an observation turret elswhere There were many types of observation turrets (Beobachtungstürme) and the main division is the purpose which they served: There were infantry-observation turrets (Infanterie Beobachtungstürme) and artillery observation turrets (Artillerie-Beobachtungstürme). Almost all designs were equipped with a periscope and Pz.Beob.Winkelfernrohren (optics), but some of the older designs were equipped with observation-slots. |
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