WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

I have already posted on the remains of the concrete bases for huts for this HAA battery. However following my last visit to TNA I have found some additional information on the site. It formed part of the Diver Strip, but was not a standard HAA site but known as a 'Welter Site'. The 'TA' series of Welter sites had two 3.7" HAA guns and 11 Bofors 40mm LAA guns.  Above: Location of Welter Site TA2 For Diver sites, radar could sweep an area with an arc of 30-110 deg. and had a range of up to 30,000 yards. The range that HAA sites could engage targets was 5,000 yards, for Welter sites it was 3,500 yards. Targets picked up on radar would be selected if they were likely to pass through the circle which would put them in range of the guns. Although I am aware that the layout of most  Diver HAA sites was with the four guns arranged in a straight line, I have not yet found any details on the layout of Welter sites (if anyone has any details I would love to hear from yo...

Spent a pleasant Monday last week mapping the anti-landing trenches at Westleton Walks. These trenches are unusual compared to those I've mapped to date. Although laid out in the grid pattern, they have been dug in two forms: the usual form I've seen, with spoil in heaps a little back from the trench the spoil placed as a 'lip' to the trench Above: Google sketchup representations of anti-landing ditches. Top is typical with soil in heaps set back from the trench. Bottom shows the spoil placed in 'lips' - the first time I've come across this. In one stretch of  trench, it changes from spoil in heaps to a lip mid way. In another stretch, the lip is only one one side for part of the trench, with a much shallower depth of  trench along this section. Above: GPS map of anti-landing trenches, Westleton Walks I have an aerial photo of these trenches taken in 1946 (not sure of copyright so cannot post it) and it clearly shows t...

For this post, reference is again needed to the above barrage trace.  I have added the anti-tank ditch to the trace which I recorded by GPS on the site visit. Note that there are a number of breaks in the ditch – could these be the remains of crossings created by this demonstration? With reference to the barrage map the line AA marks where the ditch was crossed by fascine, line BB a crossing was created by an explosive charge, line CC crossing was by a scissors bridge and line DD, EE and FF crossing was by digging ramps by hand. On the lines DD, EE and FF the second minefield was crossed with the aid of ‘snakes’. Lanes were to be made through the second belt of wire with Bangalore Torpedoes. The third part of this blog looked at the first phase of the demonstration (barrage and creating lanes through first minefield and belt of wire). The second phase of the demonstration was the crossing of the ditch and second bet of wire and minefield. At zero hour two squadrons of ...

The above image shows the barrage trace for the exercise. The fire plan was for 25 pdrs and 6” Howitzers to open fire at zero on the opening line for 2 minutes. Is was then to lift at 200 yards per minute. A 'trace' would be issued to the various artillery units taking part and would have simply been placed over a map. The above shows an example of a trace with two 'lanes' for batteries. Smoke cover was to be provided by 3” mortars. Although this exercise was not about artillery training it does provide an example of how barrages were orgainized. Barrages were of two types: ·          The wheel method – this ensures that infantry or tanks  are brought onto the objective by the barrage. The disadvantage is that troops/tanks have to move at different paces. In the illustration below,  lifts are at 100 yards per minute along the greatest distance (line BF), the lift will be less than 100 yards on line AE ·    ...

This post will look at the scenario of the demonstration and the site as it exists today. The War Diaries note that the site for the demonstration was chosen in order to provide a good view point for spectators of the demonstration rather than ground which would be suitable from a tactical point if it was for real. The scenario for the attack was that enemy forces had been driven off 'Grandstand Ridge' and had fallen back to prepared positions on 'Forest Ridge' where they were holding defended localities. 163rd Brigade had forward posts established on 'Grandstand Ridge' and for the purpose of the demonstration, 198th Infantry Brigade was to attack through 163rd Brigade and capture 'Forest Ridge' with a view to driving the enemy out of Tunstall Forest. The demonstration was to take the form of: Royal Engineers to prepare crossings over drainage ditch and marking and clearing lanes through the first minefield. Royal Engineers to prepare crossings over a...

Although the individual War Diaries of Home Forces contain frequent reference to training exercises and demonstrations, it's rare that a full record exists. Mostly it's just the aims of the exercise. The records of one exercise that I've already mentioned (Exercise Kruschen) contain aims of the exercise as well as a detailed summary of findings but sadly the maps are missing. The records that remain of the exercise which is the subject of this blog contain aims and a good map (including the 'echelon' barrage trace - more on this on a later blog). The area on which the demonstration took place has changed little from 1942 (a bit more forest cover) and is  freely accessible so it makes a good study. I think that this exercise should be viewed in conjunction with Kruschen (and later exercises held by 79th Armoured Division - the beginning of planning for 'D' Day and dealing with German defences which troops would have to face). The aim of the demonstration was ...