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Pointe du Grand Gouin

Pointe du Grand Gouin: “

Neddyseagoon: [[WP:AES|←]]Created page with ‘The ”’pointe du Grand Gouin”’ is a rocky promontory with vertical cliffs to the west of the inlet of [[Camaret-sur-Mer]]. It protects a port which, in [[Vauban]]…’


The ”’pointe du Grand Gouin”’ is a rocky promontory with vertical cliffs to the west of the inlet of [[Camaret-sur-Mer]]. It protects a port which, in [[Vauban]]’s era, was vulnerable to possible landings. It is divided into the Grand Gouin (the top of the cliff) and the Petit Gouin (mid-cliff).

== Grand Gouin ==
In 1693, Vauban began to organise the defences of Brest with batteries and fortifications all along the Cameret bay, from the pointe du Gouin to the [[Quélern]] lines ([[Louis XIV of France]] had been warned of an Anglo-Dutch attack in the area, but did not know its precise landing point). In 1695 a [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]] battery was set up on the Grand Gouin, though its location is now unknown<ref name=mil>{{DionBrest}}</ref>. These mortar batteries could be directed towards the Cameret inlet and crossed their field of fire with those at [[Tremet]], as well as covering the [[goulet de Brest]] to harry an approaching enemy.<ref name=mil/>

The Germans built a platform for four 220mm ”Schneider” guns on a new site here between 1942 and 1943, known as Camaret battery and manned by the 1/1274 HKAA (”Heeres-Küsten-Artillerie-Abteilung”). This had a range of 22km and formed the most important coastal defence for the [[Crozon]] peninsula. It was made up of four batteries (one gun each), each accompanied by four bunkers, as well as a fire-direction point and many anti-aircraft guns.<ref name=mil/>

== Petit Gouin ==
A battery was built here in 1813, and reorganised in 1859 (during the reinforcement of coastal defence begun in 1841) as a model-redoubt (1846 type, number two)<ref name=mil/>. In 1941 the Germans added 2 barrack-casemates on a platform, both armed with nearby 105mm guns. There is also an underground magazine on the site.

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons cat}}
* [http://www.fortiff.be/iff/index.php?p=244 batteries du Petit Gouin] (photos)
”’Inventaire général des monuments et des richesses artistiques de la France”’
* [http://www4.culture.fr/patrimoines/patrimoine_architectural_et_mobilier/sribzh/main.xsp?execute=show_document&id=MERIMEEIA29001318&q=sdx_q0&n=2 pointe du Grand Gouin]

* [http://www4.culture.fr/patrimoines/patrimoine_architectural_et_mobilier/sribzh/main.xsp?execute=show_document&id=MERIMEEIA29001319&q=sdx_q0 pointe du Petit Gouin]

[[fr:Pointe du Grand Gouin]]

[[Category:Fortifications of Brest]]

(Via Wikipedia – New pages [en].)

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