Quote:
Originally Posted by Raellus
*Panzerstellung featuring obsolete tank turrets armed with MGs and light canon (Tobruks, I think they were called) were constructed and employed earlier in the war (like in some of the Atlantic Wall defenses). I know that in some parts of the Soviet Union and Switzerland, of all places, obsolescent tank turrets were emplaced in fixed fortifications defending strategic passes and such. -
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Source is War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Forces.
Tobruk started out as an Italian fortification. In its most basic configuration, it was an open, circular pit lined with reinforced concrete with a neck-like opening at ground level. They vary in size, depending on the weapon mounted, but the diameter of the neck is kept as small as possible to reduce the risk of direct hits. Of intrest are the instructions to not build a concrete roof, as this will reveal the position to the enemy. A board of irregular shape, used as a lid, camouflages the circular opening and keeps out the rain.
There were three versions of the Tobruk:
The Type 58C (Ringstand) is the most common. It is a rectangular box measuring 12'2" long by 7'8" wide and 8'2" high. It consists of a lower ammunition magazine with an open entrance. The upper chamber has a metal ring mount for a MG34/MG42 machinegun that provides a 360 degree arc of fire.
The Type 61A was a mortar emplacement (for the 50mm light mortar). It had a larger open mount due to a concrete post in the middle (to mount the mortar). In this version, the ammo magazine was offset to one side.
The final version is the Panzerstellung. This was modified to mount the turret from a French Renault 35 tank.
Of interest when you look over the larger German fortifications, you will often note one or two Type 58C Tobruks that provide an observation/mg post to cover the top or entrance of the emplacement.