V/\MI Pill Boxes in the Axe Valley
The Devonshire Association 2005-2008 INTRODUCTION
For the people of Britain the day wa¡ broke out was 3rd September I 939. The disasrous defeat of the
British Expeditionary Force and its evacuation from Dunkerque in May 1940 gave rise to a real fear
that once the German army had consolidated iæ position in northern France and Belgium they would
invade southern England . To combat this threat a Home Defence Executive was set up under General
Kirke, C. in C. Home Forces, to produce a defence plan for the U. Kr. The basis of this plan was the
nStop creation of fortified Lines" across sFategic parts of the country to delay any enemy advance until
strong allied forces could be concentrated in the contested area. General Kirke was replaced at the end
of May 1940 by General Sir Edmund lronside. On his retirement in July 1940 it was modiflred by his
successor, General Brooke (later Lord Alanbrooke).
. The major stop line in S.W. England was known as the Taunton line which ran across the peninsula
from Pawlett Hill to Seaton, following the natural features of rivers and steams'and the Taunton canal2
. With a total length of approximately 40 miles, it wris to have 293 pillboxes and t5 gun emplacements,
many of which are still in existence. Construction was overseen by the Royal Engineers who set up an
ofhce at Taunton. They divided the line into north, middle and south sections and produced drawings
which modified or amplified those received from the Home Defence Executive.
Since the end of WWII interest in these defences has been gradually increasing and a major survey has
been carried out by the Council for British Archaeolory resulting in the publication of "Twentieth
Century Fortificæions in England", volume II of which covers anti-invasion defences of WW[.3
In 2005 the Recorders decided that the detailed recording of selected defences between Colyford and
the sea would be a suitable projecÇ particularly since although much had been written about the
Taunton stopline, there appeared to be no other study which had produced measu¡ed drawings of any
pillboxes as they existed postwar.a This section of the line was chosen because of the varied selection of types and ease of access, although it must be emphasised that they are all on private land and cannot be visited without permission. Seven structures have been measured in deøil and a further seventeen examined and photographed Others are covered by dense undergrowth and cannot be seen. The recording team have measured examples of types 22,24 thick walled and the Vickers machine gun emplacement. The latter is described here as Type 27, following the 1940 progress reports (WO 199/1803).5 The team have also measured two anti-tank gun emplacements, S A/T 60 I &603.
THE BUILDINGS
Pillbox S?8 at NGR SY 2615 9270was built beside the 43052 whicb has since been re-aligned.It is constructed in accordance with the army's Southern Command standard drawing CESC2574 lype22 except for the gun ports which have been widened internally. The walls are of l5inch (375mm)
reinforced in-situ concrete with a 4inch( l00mm) breeze block outer skin, the blocks ¿ìre now in poor
condition and crumbling badly. lnside is a 4.5inch(l l2mm) brick skin, both skins appear to have been
built first as permanent shuttering to the concrete.The internal baffle wall is the only one of those
surveyed which has been built exactly to the drawing; it would have restricted movement of the
gunners at three of the five ports, possibly this was the hrst in the section to be built and all later baffle
walls were modified. The progress reports for29 October 1940(WO 199/1803) says the walls are
3ft.6inches thick, but this is not so; to use the pillbox jargon, it is a type22 thin-wall.6
pillbox S8l at NGR SY 2ó04 9240 is aql{,e24 when built it was some distance from the river Axe but
a subsequent meander has undermined it and the river now flows beneath one corner. The progress
report for 29 October says it is aype22,this is an error. Workmanship is generally poor although this
has not affected its durability. The concrete quality is va¡iable, in many places there is no fine
aggregate and in others grout has leaked away through the formwork. The roof concrete was poured
onto corrugated steel sheeting which was not supported properly and sagged badly before the concrete
was set. The formwork ùo the gun ports seems to have given considerable trouble - all the openings
have been extensively patched with cement mortar and in some cases timber formwork is still in
position which would probably have restricted the guns, this suggests that they were never used, if the
formwork actually did obstruct the guns, it woutd surely have been ¡emoved. The wall thickness is
42inches of reinforced concrete with no inner or outer brickwork; the internal baffle wall has been
modified, giving more space for the gunneni.
pillbox S82 at NGR SY 2589 9200 is another type24 (not type 22 asthe 29 October 1940 report says).
The walls are of 3ft 6inch reinforced concrete with 4.5inch brick skins externally and intemally' The
workmanship is very good, suggesting a different conEactor from the S8l builders. The gun ports have
been modified, but in a much simpler form than the troublesome design of S8l, the intemal baffle wall
is the modified desigr as used in S8l. None of the pillboxes suweyed have the hinged flaps shown on
2 the original drawing but some bolts remain to show their position. Both designs were intended for Bren
(LMG) guns, fìtted with a tripod instead of the usual bipod. Normalarmament consisted of 5LMGs and one rifle for a type 22 and 5LMGs and rwo rifles for atype24. The intention was to move guns into any area under threat, not to continually arm the whole line.
On higher ground, close to the road from Boshill Cross to Axmouth are two Vickers machine gun emplacemenrs - SVl3 and SVl4 at NGR SY 2610 9225.5V14 is buried to a depth of 4ft. and partly filled with water, this may be a result of road realigrment. It seems odd that rwo identical machine gun posts should be so close to each other but posts SV I to l6 alloccur in pairs. The walls are of 3ft 6inch reinforced concrete with no outer or inner brickwork. The entrance is on the southwest side, protected by a blast wall, also of 3ft 6inch reinforced concrete. The progress reports for 30 October 1940
(Vickers MC emplacements) states "All emplacements from drawing FW3l27 ", but the CBA survey
(lrg. 0 page 84) shows a different design as Typ€ 27. DrawingFW3lz7 has not yet been found therefore this anomaly has not been resolved. The Vickers .303 was a water+ooled, recoil operated gun with an effective range of 400 yards (365m) at a maximum fÌring rate of 600 rounds per minute.T
(Davis 1990) The distance to the river Axe is approximately 350 yards (320m). The Vickers was the basic weapon of the British machine gun battalion; it was mounted on a substantial fipod which required a concrete table as shown on the suney drawings. These tables and the complicated gun ports appear to have been precast; the Creat Western railway had a concrete yard at Taunton station which was requisitioned by the government and this may have been the source of these itemss. Use of precast components would have made site work quicker and easier.
A 6-pounder anti-tank gun emplacement SA/T 603 was sited to cover the approach to the bridge (since replaced) carrying the 43052 across the river Axe at Colyford. It is basically a circular desigrr op€n at the front, of reinforced concrete with 4.5inch brick outer and inner skins and a reinforced concrete roof'
Inside are wall recesses, possibly for ammunition, and a possible gun mounting' now buried beneath
rubble.
The 6-pdr guns Ìvere either Nordenfelt or Hotchkiss (examples of both can be seen in the Liverpool
Maritime Museum). Although the two t)?es \ryere similar, the ammunition was not interchangeable;
both were inúoduced in 1885 and generally obsolete by l9t9.e lt is not known which guns were
supplied but the three emptacements on the southern section of the line (SA/T 601,602 and 603) had all
received their guns by 29 October 1940 (see WO 199/ I 803 Progress reports). Probably ammunition was
3 in short supply since Appendix A to Southern Command Operation Instruction No.4 dated l9 June
1940 says "Maximum range for opening fire ó00 yards [First shot must be a hit]". SA/T 603 is sited approximately 650 yards from the pub and railway crossing at Colyford which are at the eastern end of the village. The posirion of the emplacement prevents the gun being brought to bear on the bridge itself which had already been prepared for demolition by buried explosives, The progress report of l9
September 1940 says that Drawing T[,45 was used but the 29 October report quotes Drawing TL55 which is more likely. These drawings were prepared by the stopline ofÏice in Taunton and have not been traced. There were fwo other 6-pdr gun emplacements on the southern section of the line.
SA/T601 is at Bow Bridge, Axminster Although the progress report of 29 October says both 601 and
and ó03 a¡e built to drawing TL55 in fact the two are different; 603 is circular, 20 feet (6m) diameter
faced with brickwork whereas 601 is octagonal, 20 feet (6m) across and faced with concrete
blockwork, perhaps the designs were modiñed to take account of the skill of the builden. The roof of
601, which is of 15.5 inch (390mm) thick reinforced concrete, was unsuPported for almost half its area
was also and the open front has since had a concrete column constructed to prevent collapse' SA/T 602
at Axminster, at NGR SY 2S95 9765, between the main railway line and the branch to Lyme Regis
(now dismantled). The 29 October report describes it as "concrete platform only, temporary site". This
has not been found.
the We should remember that although many pillboxes are now on open ground and visible from afar,
older large scale maps and aerial photographs show that they were usually built beside hedges or under
have been 6.ees which have since been removed. With the addition of simple camouflage they would
invisible f¡om the western side of the river Axe, and indeed where hedges have been retained, some are
now enveloped in undergrowth and difficult to see even at close quarters.
CONCLUSIONS
More research needs to be done before firm conclusions can be reached, but the impression given by
people had study of the records is of work being done quickly and under considerable pressure' by who
not had time to form themselves into an effrcient team. Construction began in July 1940 and was
complete by the end of Octoberr0 Mistakes were inevitable and records are not always accurate.
Although in the main only about six standa¡d types were built on the Taunton line, there is a
considerable degree of confusion as to t)?e numbers and it would be immensely helpfrrl to future
resea¡chers if this could be resolved. This confusion has existed since the buildings were erected, for
4 instance drawing CESC2574 entitled Strong Posts and Pillboxes which was issued to the Taunton office on 20 June 1940 contains designs for types 22-26 and although many type 24 were built, the
1940 progress reports fieat them all as type 22, possibly the Type 24 was seen as a modification and the distinction was considered unimportant although the Type 24 did require an extra rifleman. Similarly, the CBA Vol.2 Page 84 shows plans for 9 types (those numbered22-26 are as drg.CESC2574) but the lype 27 is described in the 1940 progress reports as a Vickers machine gun emplacement. The Taunton office produced their olvn mnge of drawings, we have the numbers TL 44,45,55,62, but so far the drawings themselves have not been found
It would also be interesting to research deployment and training of men, the sourcing and allocation of anti-tank guns - whether Nordenfelt or Hotchkiss were used and whether the problems of interchangeability of ammunition had been solved by modification of the breech mechanism although these matters do not come within the province of the Buildings Section. Large quantities of orders and correspondence are held at the National Archives and closer study would possibly uncover construction drawings and orders to the contractors for individual pillboxes issued by the Taunton office which would resolve some of these problems. The CBA report (Vol. 2 pl02 ) states that the 'organising conFactorJ was Brand Ltd.(of 6,Fore Street, Taunton) subcontracting to Mowlem, Stansell, and a number of smaller firms.rr We do not know who built what, although examination of consfruction deøils and materials do suggest that perhaps the brick-faced 582-85 were by one contractor and the breeze and concrete block faced 575-78 by another. It is doubtful if the builders of individualpillboxes will ever be identified.
Although not on a par with the castles of Edward I or the Palrnerston forts, the rtl/WII stop lines are an important defence relic; the elements of the system are small and easily overlooked but as time goes by their significance will become clearer in the historical context. Moreover, the structures embody not just the clinical, practical planning of civil defence, but also the spirit of defÌance and resistance that characterised the walime generation. They should be preserved as part of our military history, and more recording should be carried out to relate the buildings of the Taunton stop line to similar defences in other pars of the country. It is hoped that this small study will encourage other recorders to visit more of these buildings and examine them more closely than previously, and that the problems of classification which have emerged will be resolved.
5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Mr. E. Cay of Drakes Farm for permission to visit and measure the buildings; also
Bill Horner of Devon County Council for help and encouragement.
The survey team consisted of John Cann, Brian Rolf, and Alan Lumb.
Deøils of WW2 defences a¡e entered on the Historic Envi¡onment Record, kept at County Hall, Exeter
References
I Lowry,B 1996 Twentieth Century Defences in Britain - An Inlroductory Guide. Handbook of the
Defence of Britain Project (Council for British Archaeology, London).
2 Wills, H. I 985. Pillboxes: A Stuþ of UK Defences, 1940 (Loe Cooper, Secker and Warburg).
3 Dobinson, C.S. 1996 Twentieth Century Fortificalions in England, vol. 2 and Supporting paper
Al/S/3 (Council for British Archaeology, London).
4 Hellis, I. 1992 The Taunton Stop Line. Fortress, 14,3947
5 National Archives [NA] WO 199/1803
6 ibid
7 Davis, B.L. 1990 The British Army in lïorld ll/ar Two: A Handbook on the Organisalion,
Equ ipment, Ranlcs, U n iþrms etc. (Lional Læventhal Ltd)
I Encyclopaedia of the GWR, 1993. (Patrick Stephens Ltd)
9 Museum of Naval Fire Power Gosport Also Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich,
London l0 NA, WO 199/1803 Progressreport,5 November, 1940.
1 I Dobinson, op. cit., Vol. 2, p. 102
6 N
e, L lrL Glastonbury I a o Bridgwater
a rt ,t
a' Taunton c' o ão¡ ¡ R. Yeo o Wellington t F a ÞÉ t Ê ¡ IIminster Yeovil .l o ta o: Ia a o Crewkerne Chard g,r.
Honiton o A,xminster STT.TDY AREA g Bridport Seaton Sidmouth
The Taunton Stop Llne ran from coast to coast across SW England
7 +
t a a? t. aa.
8 This 1947 RAF aerial photograph shows that the pill boxes were placed within natural features in the countryside whích helped to camouflage them.
I il A ht Mg Pill Box ¡r|a s78 f,LB A L cÐ
ã t CTTâg? ú '4.Drc ItJ^ a Anti Tank Emplacement A/T 603 t' .f T¡Nfi3NDffi ^
rlH Light Mg Pill Box s81 @ o Heavy Mg Pill Box @ SV 13
Map Couftesy Devon HÍstoric Environment Records,
NOTE. Allthese Pill Boxes are on private land. They can be seen from the footpath or the highway
10 TABLE 1 FACING NOTES W.O. REF Elevon N.G.R. Grid Ref. W.O.Drg.No. Taunton Reinf.Conc' Total No. Thickness Thickness lN OUT [1s401 H.E.R. From 119401 CESC 2574 Drg. No. HER. TYPE NO. S SY 42', BLK. BLK. MSD A/T 601 50870 29m9815 724194 T.L.55 38' s BASE ONLY-NOT FOUND A/T 602 28959765 723190 S 51" BRK. BRK. Measured' A/T 603 39355 æ00y260 695138 T.1.55 4? BLK. s76 39357 26059294 694142 21 BRK BLK s77 393s9 26059279 6941¡11 24 ¡14 24' BRK. BLK. Measured- s78 æ362 Æ159270 6951¡10 22 T.L. 15' NONE NONE Buried in undergrorrlft s80 72121 26269248 697138 21 42', NONE NONE Measured. s81 39358 26039240 695137 21 12' 51' BRK. BRK. Measured' s82 æ3tf 2s759200 691133 24 17 BRK.? BRK.? Demolished bY Roadtrorks s 8r¡t 39352 25809154 691127 ? 47 51" BRK. BRK. s84 39353 25939180 692131 24 51" BRK BRK Part Measured s85 1%21 25679135 690125 21 1? BRK. s86 39351 25579101 68E123 ? 21 BLK. Buried ln hedge s87 39Ít50 25529072 688122. 24 s88 5æ00 2il29m2 687117 ? 24 NOT FOUND s89 7242, 25549043 689117 ? 21 s90 47889 25409019 688115 ? 24 BRK s91 393/t9 25419005 688f13 ? 24 f NOT FOUNÞ s92 72426 25¡1989S5 688112 ? 24 Probably demolished s93 72425 25488990 688111 ? 21 4T 1T Vlckers H.M-G. Measured. S V13 39356 2610921ô 694't35 27 42 SV14 52898 26139218 ô94135 27 12', SV15 550¡19 25459041 688117 27 SV16 5f)50 2547gn{o 688117 27 BRK=Bdck BLK=Block
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Surveyed by J.Conn Pl(tbox at Boshltt Cross Devonshlre Assoclotion Cotyford e005 f,if.5ll NGR eúr5 9¿70 CAD Droú¡ng ¡00306
-¡, N) Type 22 Thtn wal¡ as built at Boshill Cross. Colyford V..¿. J¡T r $f. a- 1
+ - --'t'
3
Type 22small pill box Almost lost in growth
The rear of the typeD pill box showing the poor quality outer skin of breeze blocks s78
13 ? r Ir ¡3 lrÉ ¡ ¡ l¡ôrr lrlrrltrl 'lt ¡ l, Itrr,9 ct ¡rrt tâ l1 301r lrtllt
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Copy of originalWar Office Drawing from The National Archives at Kew
Type 22 14 U, I
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S MRSAÍ '603 (¡J Drawing of anti tank gun superimposed Pillbox Anti Tank at Boshill Cross
Interior showing ammunition racks at the back sAÆ603 16 r\ Þ¡ 3 l :Y r ) ãt'Y :l:E iño r ^rG o.r?b.ro1z ¿s \1N re s !:ìJ !ut s çoca l.¡ rì¿Y -y y \nY--'-- ( ra/''¡ xo=rìr d ]f^ lool | : lz ^\ ? 'r N¡r=r¡< vì d !.}rfl=r_lltl <" s ^ ¿r0 s'==?v qts rl IÞJ5-F=FE¡ 5 <Ère¿rô fî-t fÌ-il
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'}{ot!l\è!tÈã) -Ã--tl €-lr-ù5 ¡)rh\ l?7hs f'ì¡r'¡!ô) Hõ !tv:' 4ã51 C*'ì?4^¡3 ìZtu,t Fr !ry) Fìy\ ¿ì iHttìS À-Ëy^ 9;-rlS :ñ!t:.Ft q!:Àì:rxo) ,-o¿ iô2 -!3^rì ?xv {¿ l.->>zcxn aFr-.g ar ) ?q,s ,¡'ììvrìz t*, -"t"*-¡'i-"^ '?tY.;ì )Èt> i;!'/.Þ{ SãL¡=>:ôlÈ.ty ryq .S.u.?r txrr):vJ ?qor q:rÀ @ =.!:)lÞo) ^!r5.¡t rìy U) This is the rear of the Type 24 Ptl Box by the river. The river has undermined this emplacement
The gun poft from inside s81
18 I
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PILL3OX TTPE ÀL S82 È (oLl GUN POR'TS Ðrwoxll{r\( AfJo ¡ ]3' a ù cr L I 3 I rN 9, ì I I ^ I Þ I I t!,, I a l I t I À A ¡ I, À I 5 o ¡ i I _I i I t s! bi I 5Éc I o N ^ i I G t¡" r' ô¡lqri' PL A N P'LLÊòx -rypE-24 Sgl poF.--TS f cÀñ{ á\ S,P-r.LF Gutl r¿vo'l:Érr-É r¡rr, r l¡'r(s: lFo6l F^! z¿.ß^1\¡. Type 24 Pill Box gun port variations 19 Â.LL rN.srf u c,ôNcß__E_lÉ_ É(cqtf c-uFt 90Èf s- pt¿.¿Àsf . w^LLs l\¿N¡ER_n_¡ tNf¡AKNÀLLy ( ß\c,Àß- li LÉVAf I o'tl CL FRoñf ELEVTT'rtor{ fAÈ LÊ. 1 PLAN è f¡-À\, N Àf = I Foo.f t. CAFÉ/ À.L9.1ô, ß,^a!f, AtÀr\ Zo95 5úrÈ R¿f N. l!l s.\. l! \/ \r/fl. PILLÈOI (-rr,ne iqt) NÉÈ S' )-ltO g¿tL ,D¿voñsú rAú- to{ ^3to(lAr Heavy MG pill box for Vickers MG SV 13 20 Type 27 Heavy MG pill Box lnterior showing gun port and concrete bench for Vickers MG SV1 3 21 c{ C\t o ¿-l alvìs ' -!c-cJ I Nv-l d' SÅì:lO¿ NnÐ el (xnÐ :rrv:ìrl,.t.srr)>r^) Xogl-ltd II:rn/\ ^S { Þ<¡t .L>? S ìv)r¡.æ^ c f h 1 ì1 ì ErV J- E å NI I t x Þ J ,rzl 9?'r a ñ I Þ I a { ç ?Cl 7-: .J' ¿l oL ! 4 o { L o ¿¡ f o o- Ino IC lrlr LL cf) l-oo a a a @ a, cv lt J \x/w - G) d' PtU¡.go)(- Vrc¡ ---; r . â 3t2_ il our T a I t t vc.Rf. sEctt oN ¿D I +. t ¡ INSIDE ÈLE}J'AT.¡O N' N) G) c\s rlr-r v T Y-Y NOtrlES I I xrlS I I s ( rN7^'Vrc.ì Y )rêtl..'^z'tìá ly?t t....Ët B. ! r C\ il æ Ø CI' æ l\l F tr B &¿AR. ELEvÀTtÞl{ À I ¡tr.v¿xt c. B SKtrl e sEcTtoñ A-A -¡-E A CÞ{C. L'úL tnl' E z rliS' æ srÈÉs 5t>És ot¿ ,\& E- + l--¡--_J -b t-Þ ,Lta4 - lroof a. R-o Lf F4¡-e^Ê-I 2ooL s&n LÈs. S a2 NeR- sY 2s8ll10Þ VV II P I LLSOX f/. È :,L fts ¡ C( VALLÉÞ DÉVOF{SHr*¡:- ÀÉf octAft ol{ sN) Ø It (,æ J :11 IL rH¡t ?t¡¿È€{ r¡ <'.'ltLÉÎ3LI ¿nvp_LltlÐ ¡t f r¡r3 ItcU¡rßRoÈcsf È: Ir v^¡ tor ?ctttËrlt f D Efr!-È: ÈÉAe- gLgvATrot{ soì¡3lart cfrqH Q D¡f^t\g srltrLAR-fo s8L. g Ð l¡C¡( l¡¡r¡a B è{* r{rL' ¡lxô f. €tS L3rg e{ LY, f¡f,¡ ry-a.t é¡¡e' rr{fÈRta^L v^Lt: xof s!-¿{ (¡o ^ar¡r) ,\ _rL t lc^ r-7'- ¿..t¡L- F,."j=+EJ (J 1..- 1,.1"-¡ olZ,ZLl srD¿ ¿ (d-!ciÐ f rÞ5- D ,rrr tr.rr) ¡1 t!È¡rF-. l\) DÈ \tl{ Àt o a'f L ¡. (¡ .flllcÍ- s&r¡À RÉF sa5 N6R sI ¿s6?ìr.3s TJIÊ ¿l¡ vfALL€Ð Þe.v o lrsr{¡RÉ ÀssocrÀT I ot( Type 24 \ype 24 Outside of gun port s85 26 qsee Constructed of concrele Olock ond reenforced concrele 18'-4' The roof overhang at the o front is now supported hy a '(oI block of concrete ?o The sleel mounl for lhe gun is still insitu OctagonalAnti Tank emplacement at Bow Bridge Axminster It had been inaccurately set out, This was a quick survey as the gun mount was still in situ. I The antitank gun was fitted to the circular steel column S A/T 601 27 NORDENFELT and HOTCHKISS 6 Pdr. Quick fire guns. The gun detaits foltowing were taken from British Military Weapons and Ammunition l9l4-1918 by I V Hogg and L F Thurston, (1972 London), SBN 71 l0 0381 5' pg36-39 Gun Details Official nomenclature: Ordnance QF [quick fire] 6 pdr Nordenfelt Mk 1,2 or 3 *' on caniage QF recoil 6pdr Nordenfelt Mk I or I Calibre: 2.244inches Date of introduction [Mark 1]: June l0'h 1885 Weight inc. breech assembly: 5 cwt 2 qr 22 lbs Length total: l04.4in Length of bore: 95in Rifling system: Polygroove plain section Rifling length: 8l.9lin Rifl ing twist: Increasing Breech mechanism: Vertical sliding block with locking wedge Firin g mechanism : Percussion Carriage/mounting: Pedestal with shoulder piece. Free traverse. [Almost identical to the 6 pdr Hotchkiss pedestal mount Mark l, the width between the trunnion bearings being the only difference. The following mounting details are those for the Hotchkiss mounting] Weight mounting: I ton 2 cwt 2 qr 14 lbs Maximum elevation: 20 degrees Maximum depression: - 20 degrees Max. traverse each side of centre line: 360 degrees Recoil mechanism: Hydro-spring constant Recoil length:4 in Total weight of gun an carriage: [l ton 8 cwt I qr 0lbs] Ammunition typefNordenfelt]: Fixed QF [charge and projectile joined] Standa¡d projectile and weight: Common pointed, 6 lb Charge weight: 7.75 oz Cordite Mk I Cartridge description: Brass, bottlenecked Case length: 12.087 in Diameter of base: 3.013 in Performance maximum range: 7500 yards Muzzle velocity : 17 7 3 fl sec Detachment size: 6 men lnformation couftesy of Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower' 28 t+ )t^.b-¡<-rt ?2.a1 )^-.--¿^7- ,n ìt..G//--.r..../ y.-.- l-- 7..-;t. The Nordenfelt Quick Fire shown was a 6 Pdr, with a bore of 2.244in l-r- .'.r F I Nordenfelt insefted on emplacement drawing The Hotchkiss guns used were almost identical. Note. There was very little space within the structure for the gun crew 29 Bren light machine gun ,303in calibre On type of mount possibly used in pill boxes Vickers machine gun, .303in calibre, water cooled, 30