The high ground over L'Eree provided a commanding view over the West Coast of the island, and was well suited to the construction of a large naval battery. Originally planned to be part of a trio of 38cm batteries (with two on the continent) in order to block the Gulf of St Malo, however the only barrels that could be sourced were 30.5cm and the other batteries were never constructed. The barrels themselves originated from the Russian battleship Imperator Aleksandr III, captured aboard the Norwegian freighter Nina at Narvik. After a review of the plans by German high command, and under the instruction of Fritz Todt, construction began in November 1941, and the battery was operational in a limited capacity by April 1942, with the first firing taking place on the 13th of that month from Gun No.2. By June 29th all guns were operational. August 1942, a ceremony was held to rename the battery from Nina to Mirus. Construction would continue up until June 1944, when excavations for a type 118b hospital bunker were abandoned due to a lack of resources.
Following the liberation of the islands, a recommendation was put forward to the States of Guernsey that one of the emplacements be retained and preserved. This was ignored, and by 1953 all scrap metal was removed from the sites, including the gun turrets. See below for details on the condition of individual emplacements.
This emplacement was constructed along Rue des Cinq Verges on the west side of the valley. The gun here was famously camouflaged as a house, along with the No.4 emplacement a short distance away. There is evidence that one of the two large ammunition lead ins was modified as a crew entrance, while the other became somewhat overgrown as there was no more new ammunition coming in after 1942. The large water reservoir is intact. Internally it retains many electrical fittings and several doors, as well as murals in the engine room. It is now in the care of Festung Guernsey and is being restored.
The No.2 emplacement is located on the east side of the valley, in the grounds of a house named 'Mirus'. It was camouflaged using more traditional methods. The crew corridor and some other rooms throughout are very well preserved, especially the ablutions block. The substantial main crew entrance was never finished on this emplacement, and the flight of steps leads up to a large concrete lined pit several meters deep. The water reservoir survives and is covered by thick undergrowth.
No.3 is located within the grounds of the present Houguette Primary School, and was camouflaged using chicken wire and netting. Internally, the bunker is very well preserved, with most original signage surviving unaltered. The gun pit has been converted into an amphitheater for the school.
Mirus No.4 lies a short distance from No.1, on the western side of the valley. It was camouflaged as a house. It is currently used for Battletec games, and in a fairly poor state of preservation (although structurally intact).
Primary Armament
4x 30.5cm K14(r) [Range: 32km]
Regiment
1./ Marine Artillerie Abteilung 604
Structures Built
4x 30.5cm K14(r) SK Gun Emplacement
4x Vf Water Reservoir
3x S448a Reserve Ammunition Bunker
4x Fl242 2cm Flak Emplacement
Fl242 Würzburg Radar Emplacement
SK Accommodation Bunker
SK Water Bunker (w/ Well)
3x Vf 2cm Flak Emplacement
3x 7.5cm FK231(f) Field Emplacement
16x MG Post
Mess Hall & Parade Ground
2x 8cm Mortar Field Position
2x Vf Shelter
Guard Room