For the needs of the fortress fortification, turrets from the development version of Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.G, or VK 901, whose development program was discontinued in 1942, were also used. The turrets along with the armament were original, unmodified. For the 2 cm Kw.K. 38 gun the ammunition supply was 2,800 rounds, for the MG 34 machine gun of 7.92 mm calibre it was 24,000 rounds. The turret was 30 mm thick at the front, 14.5 mm thick at the sides and rear, and 12 mm thick at the ceiling. The height of the tower itself was 580 mm, the concrete base was 190 mm high. A total of 27 towers were made. 17 towers were made by M.A.N. from Nuremberg (with binocular sight T.Z.F.10) and the remaining 10 were made by Art.Werkstatt d.Kdtr.Hill (with monocular sight T.Z.F.4). In the turret status report of 26.3.1945, 16 turrets were in Denmark and 10 turrets were in the Atlantic and West Vale.
It is certain that two pieces were used in bunkers protecting the west coast of the Danish island of Fanø. These objects figured in the Festung-Pioner-Stab plans of 31 December 1944. Interestingly, in two pieces of this fortress modification the original Kw.K. 38 guns of 2 cm calibre were replaced by guns of 3.7 cm calibre (according to the Festung-Pioner-Stab report of 31.12.1944). A reinforced concrete bunker designated Bauform 239 was designed for this turret.
Type of tower
Bauform No.
Drawing No.
Kennblatt No. (leaf marker)
Manual
Pz.Kpfw.-Turm II (VK 901) (Normalserie)
239
234
1232
D 1603
Thomas L.Jentz, Hilary Louise Doyle - Staende mit Pz.Kpfw.Tuermen (Panzer Turrets on Concrete and Wood Stands) Pz.Kpfw.-I to F.Pz.D.T.4814, Panzer Tracts No.21-1, year of publication 2004, ISBN: 0-9744862-6-4 Janusz Ledwoch - Panzer II, published by Militaria, Warsaw 1994, ISBN 83-86209-04-6 https://vn-parabellum.com/fort/ringstand-1.htm forum.axishistory.com
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Pz-Kpfw-Turm-II-VK-901-Normalserie-t59268#213696
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