MKB 4/515 Batterie Dietl

One of the most spectacular coastal fortresses we have in Norway is located on Engelöya in Steigen, just south of Lofoten and the Vestfjorden.

MKB 4/515 (MarineKüstenBatterie) was operative in 1943, ready to protect the coast, and the Vestfjord which is an inlet to Narvik. The batterie consisted of 3 massive 406 mm guns, originally intended for H-class battleships. These had a range up to 56000 meter! The casemates were of the S-384 type connected to the rest of the complex with tunnels and trenches.

Other types of bunkers include a Regelbau 608, S-100 KommandoBunker, FuMo-214 radar facility and a range of other smaller bunkers for close defence, Flak, shelter, ammo and living quarters. In connection to Dietl were POW camps with aprx. 2000 Soviet prisoners, or slaves will be the more fitting term I think.

The batterie never saw combat, but it is told that during test-firing all windows in the area shattered. In 1956 the cannons were dismanteled and melted. Today it is a small museum in the complex, and the area is well worth a visit.

Here are photos from less than 1/3 of the fortress, you`ll need a whole day here :)

Note the grooves in the concrete of the regelbau, when the concrete was still wet they put in rolled up newspapers or paper bags, which were removed after, this make a distruptive, shadowy camoflage which makes it harder to see and identify the bunker from a distance.

Gun emplacement facing the Vestfjord.

Tons of barbed wire litters the area.

Camo netting.

Searchlight.

Spectacular views.

Wires that made up the camo netting.

One of the entrances to the underground facilities,i.e ammo storages,living quarter,field hospital,connecting tunnels etc..

Looking across to Lofoten.