14 October 1943 Part 5

14 October 1943 Steinbruch naval battery inspection

Editorial note: Extract from the report dated 17 October 1943 on the Commander-in-Chief’s tour of 13–16 October (Roll 1558 scan 1068, Operations No. 5213/43 secret). Placed here under the inspection date. Imported from the supplied English translation; its uncertain readings are retained.

4. Steinbruch, “Quarry”, Battery. Lieutenant Commander von Kalckreuth, commander of Naval Artillery Battalion 604, and Lieutenant Mertens, battery commander, reported.

A completed permanent 15 cm SK C/28 battery. Six 2 cm antiaircraft guns and two 3.7 cm armoured turrets for infantry defence. Personnel shelters are connected to gun emplacements by trenches. A very well-built two-storey main fire-control post with all modern sea-target fire-control equipment, also providing very good and spacious personnel accommodation. Guns connected through an electrical fire-control system. A fully effective modern sea-target battery with a range of 24 km and ten-second salvo interval; one gun designated for illumination. The remaining auxiliary fire-control post will shortly be demolished.

The battery has already carried out several shoots against towed targets. The Commander-in-Chief described its position as favourable and expressed particular appreciation to the battery commander.

T-312 Roll 1558, scans 1072. Extract from T-312_Roll_1558_Master_English_Translation.docx.