Ouvrage Molvange
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| Ouvrage Molvange | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line | |
| Northeast France | |
 Ammunition entry, Gros Ouvrage Molvange, March 2004 |
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| Built | |
| Construction materials |
Concrete, steel |
| In use | |
| Controlled by | France |
| Battles/wars | Battle of France |
| Type of work: | Large artillery work (Grand ouvrage) |
|---|---|
| sector └─sub-sector |
Fortified Sector of Thionville └─Sub-sector of Oeutrange |
| Work number: | A8 |
| Constructed: | 1933 |
| Regiment: | 169th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF) + 151st Position Artillery Regiment (RAP) |
| Number of blocks: | 11 |
| Strength: | 725 |
| Localisation | |
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Ouvrage Molvange is located in the Secteur fortifié de Thionville in the Moselle département. It is unique in that its entire main armament is in cloches or turrets. The complex is located on the heights of Oeutrange, at an altitude of about 400m. Molvange is flanked by Gros Ouvrage Rochonvillers and petit ouvrage Immerhof, facing Luxembourg.
Contents |
[edit] Description
The ouvrage includes two entries and nine combat blocks:
- Ammunition entry: an incline, two automatic rifle cloches (GFM), one machine gun/47mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC47).
- Personnel entry: a shaft, one GFM cloche, 1 JM/AC47 embrasure
- Block 1: Observation block with one GFM cloche, one periscope cloche (VDP) and one machine gun cloche (JM).
- Block 2: Infantry block with machine gun turret and two GFM cloches.
- Block 3: Artillery block with one 81mm mortar turret, one GFM cloche and one grenade launcher cloche.
- Block 4: Artillery block with one 135mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
- Block 5: Artillery block with one 75mm gun turret.
- Block 6: Infantry block with one machine gun turret, one GFM cloche and one JM cloche.
- Block 7: Infantry block with one GFM cloche and one VDP cloche.
- Block 8: Artillery block with 75mm gun turret and two GFM cloches.
- Block 10: Artillery block with one 75mm gun turret, one GFM cloche and one grenade launcher cloche (LG).
[edit] Manning
The manning of the ouvrage comprised 725 men and 24 officers of the 169th Fortress Infantry Regiment and the 151stPosition Artillery Regiment.
[edit] History
Like the majority of the ouvrages in the Thionville sector, Molvange was never subjected to a serious attack. After World War II the French Army made modifications to the interior, with Block 7 converted to a command center int he 1980's. The property is still used by the 40th Communications Regiment, based in Thionville. In June 2006 the Army removed a 75mm turret from Block 5 for the museum at the Ouvrage Fermont.
[edit] References
- Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
- Kauffmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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