The battery was never fully operational as a unified unit on D-Day due to a lack of complete command-and-control firing circuitry.
One of the 150mm guns was disabled by a direct hit from the HMS Bulolo on the morning of June 6, 1944.
The bunkers feature 'Tobruk' pits, which are small circular defensive positions for machine gunners.
The observation post bunker was constructed with significantly thicker walls than the gun casemates to protect the range-finding equipment.
The site was used as a filming location for the 1962 movie The Longest Day.
The steel cupola of the observation bunker was specifically designed for panoramic target acquisition across the Bay of the Seine.
Approximately 180 German personnel were stationed at the battery at the time of the Allied landings.
The Longues-sur-Mer battery is the only German coastal defense site in Normandy that retains its original long-range naval artillery. It features four reinforced concrete casemates, each originally housing a 150mm TBK C/36 gun. Located on a cliff edge, it served as a critical part of the Atlantic Wall, positioned between Gold Beach and Omaha Beach. An observation bunker sits at the very edge of the cliff, commanding a panoramic view of the English Channel. The site was neutralized by British Royal Navy cruiser fire and Allied infantry on June 7, 1944. It remains an exceptionally preserved example of Nazi German military engineering from World War II. The site is part of the designated D-Day landing sector sites maintained for historical interpretation.
The interior of the gun casemates looking out through the massive firing slits toward the ocean.
Wear sturdy walking shoes as the terrain between bunkers is uneven grass and gravel.
Bring a windbreaker, as the coastal location is highly exposed to Atlantic gusts.
Walk the full path to the edge of the cliff to see the observation bunker, which is often missed by visitors staying near the parking lot.
Do not attempt to walk down the steep, unstable cliff path to the beach, as it is hazardous and strictly prohibited.
Maintain a respectful demeanor as the site is considered a war memorial; do not climb on the protected concrete structures.
