Ouvrage Coume Annexe Sud
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| Ouvrage Coume Annexe Sud | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line | |
| Northeast France | |
 Block 3 with 81mm mortar embrasures on lower level | |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | France |
| Location | |
  Ouvrage Coume Annexe Sud | |
| Coordinates | 49°10′22″N 6°35′23″E / 49.17278°N 6.58972°E |
| Site history | |
| In use | Abandoned |
| Materials | Concrete, steel, deep excavation |
| Battles/wars | Battle of France |
| Ouvrage Coume Annexe Sud | |
|---|---|
| Type of work: | Small artillery work (Petit ouvrage) |
| sector └─sub-sector | Fortified Sector of Boulay └─Narbéfontaine |
| Work number: | A32 |
| Regiment: | 160th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF) |
| Strength: | 5 officers, 194 men |
Ouvrage Coume Annexe Sud is a lesser work (petit ouvrage) of the Maginot Line. Located in the Fortified Sector of Boulay, the ouvrage consists of two infantry blocks, one artillery block and one observation block, and is located between petits ouvrages Coume and Mottemberg, facing Germany.
The site was surveyed by CORF (Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency; Coume was approved for construction in May 1931. It was completed at a cost of 13 million francs.[1] The petit ouvrage[nb 1] was to receive a separate entry block in a second phase, never carried out.[4]
Description
Coume Annexe Sud comprises four infantry blocks, connected by underground galleries, with a small underground utility area and barracks.[4] The galleries are excavated at an average depth of up to 30 metres (98 ft). [5]
- Block 1: Infantry block with one automatic rifle cloche (GFM) and one twin machine gun cloche (JM).[6]
- Block 2: Infantry block with one GFM cloche, one grenade launcher cloche (LG) and one twin machine gun cloche (JM).[7]
- Block 3: Entry/infantry block with two GFM cloches, one twin machine gun embrasure, one JM/AC47 embrasure and two 81mm mortar embrasures.[8]
- Block 4: Infantry/observation block with one GFM cloche, one JM cloche and one observation cloche (VDP).[9]
Casemates and shelters
In addition to the connected combat blocks, a series of detached casemates and infantry shelters surround Coume Annexe Sud, including
- Casemate du Bisterberg Nord I: SIngle armored block with two mortar cloches and one GFM cloche.
- Casemate du Bisterberg Nord II: SIngle block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche.
- Casemate du Bisterberg Sud III: SIngle block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche.
- Casemate du Bisterberg Sud IIII: SIngle block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche.[4]
Manning
The 1940 manning of the ouvrage under the command of Captain Faucoulanche comprised 194 men and 5 officers of the 160th Fortress Infantry Regiment.[4] The units were under the umbrella of the 3rd Army, Army Group 2.[10] The Casernement de Ban Saint-Jean provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Coume Annexe Sudand other positions in the area.[4][11]
History
- See Fortified Sector of Boulay for a broader discussion of the Boulay sector of the Maginot Line.
Coume Annexe Sud played no significant role in either the Battle of France in 1940 or the Lorraine Campaign of 1944.