The Guns of Longues Sur Mer

[Gil Boyd]

I think Normandy and the French coast is so littered with German debris, that the French Government and local Mayories have decided to leave everything in situ, in the hope it will fade away...........not in their lifetime!!

[Flying10uk]

I seem to remember hearing somewhere that the Germans put "something else" into the mix of aggregates that had the effect of making their concrete especially strong and long lasting. It wasn't the iron reinforcing bars, but something that went into the mix of aggregates and cement but at the time the Germans may not have been fully aware of the affect of adding this extra ingredient into the concrete mix.

[Gil Boyd]

Their mix was 1 to 5 in relation to cement to sand thats why it was strong

[30Three]

When you look a the Mulberry harbour parts that are still in the water at Arrowmanche; it's fair to say that the British concrete is fairly robust as well.
The German submarine pen's however are incredible; they'll probably be standing long after us humans have made ourselves extinct!

[Patrick Chadwick]

Sorry to be picky, but in the interest of anyone trying to find the location on a map, it is "Arromanches".

- I agree about the submarine pens! Similarly resilient relics are the old flak towers in Vienna (look them up!). The explosive force needed to destroy them would flatten a large portion of the surrounding suburbs, for which reason they have long been reluctantly accepted as part of the scenery.

[Gil Boyd]

Patrick,
Here you go mate:

Arromanches - Mulberry artificial harbour, D-day landing beaches - D-day museums, 360 Cinema - Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold, Sword - Bayeux, Caen - Normandy Tourism, France

[Flying10uk]

The German submarine pen's however are incredible; they'll probably be standing long after us humans have made ourselves extinct!

My understanding was that they put something else in with the concrete mix, other than the normal cement and gravel. I was hoping of confirmation and of what.

[bigduke6]

I think there is a detailed spec in, Hitlers Atlantic wall By Anthony Saunders, regarding the mix etc. The Aggregates are the mainstay of any concrete depending on the size and how course etc, I've a picture of part of a bunker that has broke away, which has a layer of rocks or large ballast between the rebar, they made best use of the re bar too.

There was several categories regarding the fortifications, also they had standards for the types of concrete and steel defence. I'm reading at present, The Atlantic Wall, History and Guide by J.E Kaufmann, H.W Kaufmann, A. Jankovic-potocnik and Vladimir Tonic.................... gives some details of the construction stages etc, casemates and U Boat pens.

On the Subject of U Boats, When I was an Apprentice in the Shipyard one of the Floating dry Docks was an ex WW2 German one.

[Gil Boyd]

Geoff,
Not surprised....Germans tended to make stuff to last and still do. Who won two wars again??

[bigduke6]

Must admit I got my first BMW last year, although had a VW previous for a few years and before this lots of Vauxhalls, the beamer wins hands down...... you only have to look at the MG42, what a design, the GPMG has a straight copy of the trigger mech and the bipod....... The M60 has some features but cant remember what ones?

I handled a live one last year although stamped as a MG 3 or 53 it had a 1943 date.......