Raversyde - Aachen Battery

Battery Aachen Battery

In August 1914 the German Army swept through Belgium occupying most of the country. To consolidate their gains, they began to construct coastal defences. The Battery Aachen was built to protect the port of Ostend, it was one of a number of batteries on the Belgian Coast. It was manned by the 2^nd Matrosen-Artillerie-Regiment.

Principal Batteries Belgian Coast

Construction of observation bunkers, four artillery emplacements, ammunition magazines and barracks  commenced in January 1915.

Aachen Battery
Construction 1915 installation of Gun
 

The Battery would consist of four 15 cm SK L/40 Naval Gun which had a range of 13.7 km (8.5 miles)

15 cm SK L/40 Naval Gun

SK L/40 Naval Gus

The mounting of guns on rotating turrets gave the battery the capability of 6,400 mills shooting. As a consequence the guns could engage targets out to sea and shoot inland,  to shell the front along the River Yser.

Aachen Battery
Inland Arc of Fire

 The Battery was supplied by ammunition by a narrow gauge double rail track that ran to the rear of the guns.

Aachen Battery
image: Visual Dimension bvba

Aachen Battery
Artillery Barracks

Aachen Battery

Aachen Battery
Gun Emplacement

Aachen Battery

Aachen Battery
Spring 1915

Aachen Battery
Spring1915

Aachen Battery
Gun reconstruction March 2019

Aachen Battery
Gun reconstruction March 2019