22nd August 2008, 01:55 PM
"As to the nature of this WWII sea defence, if you examine the hinterland you will soon discover that rather than being an isloated structure, this is actually a strategically placed and extensive first line defence against a landing force attacking Ford airfield (now Ford Prison), covering a stretch of the coast that is mainly farmland inbetween, Littlehampton and Middleton on Sea."
Steve, probably the majority of defence works are parts of wider defensive schemes. The defences of Britain were based on a coastal "crust" (worked well for Hitler with the Atlantic Wall!) and a series of "stop lines" which often followed rivers or canals. There were also strong points at strategic locations, sometimes on a large scale - Bridgewater in Somerset, for example, was at the junction of two stop lines and has a selection of pillboxes covering the railways (and bridge demolition points) with dragons teeth associated and loopholed walls overlooking the dock bridges and there is another little knot of assorted pillboxes around one of the big railway junctions in the same county.
Airfield defences look in both directions - you can find defence works to protect the airfield and there are often a few pillboxes on the perimeter which actually face on to the airfield to act as the core of defences against airlanding assaults.
Happoy recording.
Peter
Steve, probably the majority of defence works are parts of wider defensive schemes. The defences of Britain were based on a coastal "crust" (worked well for Hitler with the Atlantic Wall!) and a series of "stop lines" which often followed rivers or canals. There were also strong points at strategic locations, sometimes on a large scale - Bridgewater in Somerset, for example, was at the junction of two stop lines and has a selection of pillboxes covering the railways (and bridge demolition points) with dragons teeth associated and loopholed walls overlooking the dock bridges and there is another little knot of assorted pillboxes around one of the big railway junctions in the same county.
Airfield defences look in both directions - you can find defence works to protect the airfield and there are often a few pillboxes on the perimeter which actually face on to the airfield to act as the core of defences against airlanding assaults.
Happoy recording.
Peter