This is my scratch-built, 1/35th scale model of a type M-272 coastal defense bunker. This style of bunker was one of the most modern built in Normandy. There are several slight differences between this example and other bunkers of this type. Armed with a 150mm TbtsK torpedo boat cannon, 4 bunkers of this type were situated near the village of Longues, overlooking the Bay of Seine. At least 5 Allied cruisers dueled with this 4 gun battery from daybreak to dark on D-Day. Fortunately for the Allies, the sophisticated fire-direction gear was not yet operational. Had it been, the effect of the shelling could have been devastating. Because the fire-command bunker was not operational, directions were communicated visually to the guns by use of placards. One of the bunkers was silenced by naval gunfire direct hits, two were damaged and the fourth was still operational when the garrison surrendered on the morning of June 7th.
The bunker was built from 2 pieces of urethane foam cut and sanded to shape. The foam was then covered with spackle paste and basswood strips were pressed into the wet spackle to produce the texture of the wooden forms used to make the original. The square impressions in the roof and sides are not battle damage, but wooden blocks attached to the forms before the concrete was poured, to form an irregular surface to help camouflage the structure. The turret is made from 40 and 20 thou. styrene, brass tubing, part of a fishing rod and the spare parts box. The diorama itself is rather boring, I know. If it were in action, everybody would be inside! I might put some more figures in to have them adjusting the camo nets, cleaning the gun or something else. After spending considerable effort to built this from scratch, Verlinden now makes a kit!