The Site
Here is the story of a site still unknown to the general public but just as incredible. This site, forgotten at the end of the war, has not finished delivering all these secrets.
Daimler Water Tower Battery - Wn 12
The Ouistreham- Water Castle battery, also known under the codification Wn 12, prevents any passage by ships of the Orne estuary and the Caen canal. The site is nicknamed “Daimler Battery” by the Allies.
Construction and composition of the Daimler battery
Initially a horse-drawn battery, the strong point Wn 12 was finally equipped from the year 1943 with four caissons with adjoining bunkers, then four Regelbau H669 type casemates with different shelters, a minefield coded Mf 96, two bunkers type H607. The buildings are linked together by a network of trenches.
The main armament consists of four aging French howitzers of 155 mm (dating from the First World War) manufactured by Schneider (155 mm FH414) and requisitioned by the Germans.
Due to the advanced age of the weapons, the gunners voluntarily reduced their maximum range from seven kilometers, from eighteen to eleven kilometers.
The battery has two 20mm anti-aircraft guns (Flak 30), one 50mm mortar, one MG 42 machine gun and five MG 34 machine guns to protect its site.
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter:
Command of the 716th Infantry Division.
The Ouistreham battery during the Normandy landings
At the time of the Normandy landings, only two H669 casemates were operational, the construction of the other two having not yet started.
The battery is operated by the 4th Battalion, 1716th Artillery Regiment of the 716th Infantry Division.