Marine FLAK Batterie Olmen, Widerstandsnest 82
South of Seezielbatterie Heerenduin is the Marine FLAK Batterie Olmen. This Kriegsmarine anti aircraft battery protected the coastal battery, the Schnellboot bunker, the industry of IJmuiden with its blast furnace and other key points in Festung IJmuiden. In Fortress IJmuiden the German Kriegsmarine had no less than five heavy FLAK Batteries at their disposal.
Layout of Kriegsmarine FLAK Batterie Olmen
Anti Aircraft Battery Olmen had seven heavy Anti Aircraft guns. Four modern 10,5 cm SK/C 32 stood in Regelbau bunkers from the FL 243 of FL 249 types, these are the same bunkers only mirrored. The other three stood in open gun emplacements. The four 10,5 cm SK/C 32 could fire 10 rounds a minute and with their dome like plate they sealed of the top of the circular gun position. A fan sucked out the fumes in the back of the gun emplacement after firing the gun. The reach of this gun was about 15,5 kilometres and it was used both as anti aircraft and boat targeting gun.
Fire Control and Optics
South of these FLAK guns was the fire control bunker. It is the Regelbau FL244 type molded together with a FL311 type. The distance measurement gear was placed in the FL311 part and the other needed controls were placed in the FL244 section. They used a E-Messer in the Fire Control, 4 metres wide and protected by a steel dome. Today the optics are long gone. For power supply a generator bunker was constructed close to the Fire Control Post. Type 183 housed all machinery needed for the electricity. Three generators mustered 75 kilowatt of energy.
Ammunition and Troop bunkers
Two ammunition bunkers (Regelbau FL246) lie behind the gun battery with a German constructed road for heavy transport in the dunes. Troop shelters, a skittle alley and a sports court completed FLAK Battery Olmen.
Defense
Smaller defensive positions were added to the battery, like Tobruks, Trenches, Machin gun postst, minefields, Barbed wired defenses and such.
Visit
Marine FLAK Batterie Olmen is free to visit. It lies in the sand dunes south of the huge coastal Battery Heerenduin. Please remember you are in the dunes, there are ticks here.
