WORLD WAR 2
Main page Introduction Bookshop
HOT STUFF!
Battles & Campaigns Chronology FORUM Links Site Map Updates
AXIS & ALLIES
Bulgaria Chetnik movement Germany Hungary Italy Kingdom of Yugoslavia Macedonia Montenegro NDH - Independent State of Croatia Serbia Slovenia Soviet Union United Kingdom United States Yugoslavia
WEAPONS 1941-45
Aircraft Armor Artillery Infantry weapons Radio
MORE INFO
Bibliography and sources Comparative chart of Ranks Concentration camps and Prisons Losses of population Glossary
MILITARY HISTORY
Biographies project Military history World War I Armed Forces
MORE
Gaming Sections
SUPPORT THIS SITE
On-line Store How can YOU help? Translation help needed Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca

Newest updates:
German 202nd Tank Battalion (Pz.Abt.202)
German 172nd Anti-Aircraft (Flak) Battalion
German army battalions in Yugoslavia
1052nd Special Unit (Sonderkommando)
German Security battalions in Yugoslavia

Vojska.net

Promote Your Page Too



540th Naval Artillery Battalion

540 Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung - MMA540

History

Formed in Zadar (Zara) in February 1944 with 10 coastal batteries.

Batteries were deployed from Rab island to Zečevo near Rogozinica.

During German retreat from Dalmatia, commander of Naval Command of Northern Dalmatia, Captain Weygold, issued order on 12 October 1944 that in 8 days from personnel of 3,4,5 and 7 batteries 581st should be formed and 582nd Naval Rifle Battalions. Coastal artillery guns which couldn't be evacuated were destroyed. Two batteries were part of KG Allermann which suffered heavy losses during retreat from Å ibenik to Knin.

1st and 2nd Battery were deployed on Rab (Arbe/Arbey) island near Krištofor cape and Lopar covering several naval minefields.

After loss of Dalmatia as well as mainland opposite to Rab island, German island garrison was kept in order to obstruct naval traffic in Velebit channel. Besides 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battery also part of Rab garrison were 20 soldiers of the Engineer platoon from 846th Regiment of the 392nd Division, Port command Rab with 30 soldiers, 20 naval pioneers, 40 soldiers of Wasser Schutz Polizei and 20 NDH Gendarmes. Lacking infantry support all three batteries were easily destroyed despite being well entrenched by 9th Dalmatian Division which landed its 2nd and 3rd Brigade and Kvarner partisan detachment on 11 April 1945. Oberleutant Gaul was captured while port commander oberleutant Müller was killed.

Order of Battle, April 1945

450 soldiers, 13 guns, 4 anti-tanks guns, 18 anti-aircraft guns.

  • Battalion Staff - Cres island
  • 1st Battery, 130 soldiers, 4x90mm guns, 3x20mm Flak, oberleutant Schwarz - cape Stoajn, Rab island
  • 2nd Battery, 120 soldiers, 4x76mm guns, 3x20mm Flak, oberleutant Weibl - cape Stoajn, Rab island
  • 3rd Battery, 150 soldiers, 4x88mm guns, 4x20mm Flak, 2x81mm mortars, oberleutant Gaul - Rab town, Rab island
  • 4th Battery - cape Kurila, LoÅ¡inj island
  • 5th Battery - Krk island
  • 6th Battery - Tovarić hill (k.97), LoÅ¡inj island

Staff

  • Fregattenkapitän M.A. Robert Parow - from February to March 1944
  • Korvettenkapitän Rupert Freymadl - from March 1944

Battles & Campaigns

Reference

  • Zadar i zadarsko područje u NOB i socijalističkoj izgradnji, zbornik 2, page 237-268, Zadar, 1986.