Saumur Tunnel

There is a working Tiger 1 at Bovington Tank museum Peter.

Yes, I’ve seen it, but the difference between a Tiger 1 and a King Tiger is like comparing a Chieftan to a Challenger.

Das Boot was filmed in La Rochelle.

There is a working Tiger 1 at Bovington Tank museum Peter.

It’s a few years since I was in the area, but I think you will find that the railway and tunnel are still extant, the tank museum at Saumur is really good if a little cramped, though if you are lucky, they will be holding their military tattoo in the town which is amazing, they bring out some of the tanks from the museum and run them up, including the only working King Tiger, which is awesome.
St Nazaire U-boat pens are fantastic, they have a sub moored in the exit lock that you can visit, plus the dock that the Campletown blew up, complete with shrapnel marks all over the place, have fun.
Was it at St Nazaire that they filmed some of ‘Das Boot’.
Incidentally, during the 50th anniversary of D-Day, we stayed at the holiday cottage of some friends in the middle of nowhere just outside of Falaise.
While taking a very early morning walk, my late, great old man beckoned me over to this barn in the field next door where he had discovered that the infill panels on the barn consisted of flattened out German fuel cans, each one stamped ‘Wermacht’, wonder if it’s still there.

There is a massive U-boat structure in IJmuiden as well. This was bombed by 617 Squadron and for many years the remains of a Tallboy which had broken on impact had been lying alongside the pen. This consisted of the tailsection and part of the nose cone but in recent years this has dissapeared. It is said to be taken to a local museum (not ours).

The building is in use now for off shore companies and having been there once the thickness of the walls is intimidating to say the least.

Cheers

Cees

I visited the Normandy beaches and inland as far as the Falaise gap last year and it was very sobering, with lots still to be seen. In addition to the Saumur tunnel, next week I am planning on visiting the St.Nazaire U-boat pens, and also the sight of a Stirling crash which has links with one of my relatives.

We want pics!!!

Has anyone else been to battlefields of past and seen stuff still lying around,like the Uboat pens in France,the Dragons Teeth etc?We here in Auss have a few old airfields around the place and a Midget Sub.Have a good trip Steve.

Thanks Papa Lima, I will go and take a look next week.

Thought I might have been there, but not so.
Found it on the map, though, halfway between Tours and Angers, and 100 miles due south of Le Mans.
The RAF made such a mess of the tunnel, it’s probably a cutting now, if the railway line still exists!