Relive the Siege of the Belgian Fortress of Aubin-Neufchateau

Relive day by day the siege of the Belgian fortress of Aubin-Neufchateau as recorded in the commander’s log.

BI = B1 or Bloc 1. Armed with a twin 75mm gun turret and two machine gun cupolas.
BII = B2 or Bloc 2. Armed with a twin 75mm gun turret and two machine gun cupolas.
BIII = B3 or Bloc 3. Peacetime entrance. Armed with 3 machine gun cupolas and a machine gun in casemate.
BO = Bloc O. Air intake and observation bloc.
BM = Mortar Bloc. Armed with three 81mm mortars and an observation cupola.
BP = Bloc P. Wartime entrance and auxiliary air intake. Two observation cupolas and a machine gun casemate.
CI = C1 or Coffer 1. Protects the moat. Armed with a 47mm AT gun and a machine gun.
CII = C2 or Coffer 2. Protects the moat. Armed with two 47mm AT guns and two machine guns.
CIII = C3, Coffer 3 or Anti-Tank Bloc. Armed with two 47mm AT guns in cupolas.

Day 6: Wednesday the 15th of May 1940

00.30 Message to HQ: “Received multiple coded telegrams. Key not working”.

BP signals red flare seen in direction N-W, headlights seen near Warsage.

00.47 Both gun turrets ordered to fire grapeshots in a 360 degrees arc. Both flanking coffers requested to fire 47mm shrapnel shells over the massif (roof) by bouncing the shells (ricochets) against the outer walls.

01.30 Mortar bloc ordered to fire 25 rounds per tube (3 tubes in total) on all three sides of the glacis (outer perimeter). Coded telegram received. Impossible to decipher it.

Engagements with German Forces

04.35 Bloc O sights a convoy on the three pines road. B2 opens fire with 20 rounds. Convoy scatters.

05.10 Another coded telegram that is impossible to decipher is received. BO detects another convoy with infantry escort. 20 rounds of 75mm are fired in its direction.

05.40 BO spots a large convoy on the Mouland-Fouron road composed of horse drawn carriages and trucks. Gun turrets ordered to engage with 40 rounds. The column is hit and scatters. The Germans leave dead and wounded horses behind.

06.35 Another convoy spotted! 40 rounds fired upon it.

Constant Communication with HQ

06.55 Contacts HQ regarding coded telegrams that are impossible to decipher.

08.12 Convoy spotted again on the Mouland-Fouron road. B2 ordered to fire 50 rounds at maximum rate of fire. Several lorries are hit and block the road.

10.24 B1 opens fire on German infantry spotted near the Regnoul castle.

12.50 German cavalry spotted near Mouland. B1 engages the objective with 25 rounds of 75mm.

Defensive Actions and Artillery Strikes

14.04 A German convoy tries again to force its way through the Mouland road. Engaged with 25 rounds.

15.15 German sappers spotted repairing the Berneau bridge. 40 HE rounds of 75mm fired on the position and bridge. Target neutralised.

16.15 German convoy still trying to cross the Mouland-Fouron road. 25 rounds of 75mm fired on the road.

16.40 BO spots a German artillery battery being set up near the Berneau railway crossing. Order to immediately engage it with 50 rounds of 75mm sent to gun turrets. Order is also sent to both BI and BII to destroy the Goffart farm with 50 rounds of 75mm.

Evening Actions and Repairs

18.02 BO spots horses and German infantry near a farm in Warsage. It looks like orderlies tending to officer’s horses. 10 rounds are fired on the farm which catches fire. Call to Battice fortress to warn them than a military column is heading their way from Thiernagant.

19.10 One of the 47mm cannons that had been damaged in CIII is repaired. Both engineers (Idon and Goffard) are cited for having worked tirelessly to keep the fort’s machinery and armament running in good order, even when working under enemy fire.

20.00 German troops spotted near the ruins of Weykmans Farm. 10 rounds of 81mm mortar bombs and 10 rounds of 75mm shells fired on the objective.

20.40 50 rounds of 75mm fired on Fouron crossroad upon spotting troops trying to cross it.

Late Night Reports and Actions

23.10 Both Bloc O and Bloc P report German machine guns being set up in the ruins of the peacetime barracks and on the road leading to the cemetery. BM ordered to fire 10 rounds on each target.

Same time tomorrow for Day 7!
– RBM.