I've just returned from holiday in South-West France.

One day, when the weather was a little indifferent, I went visted La Rochelle. Whilst there, I got some shots of the WW2 German - built submatine pens located in the La Pallice district

This is the place where some of the dockyard exteriors for "Das Boot" film were shot.

The French call this place "Ancien base sous-marine", rightly deserved. These are impressive and solid structures, built, in 1941-1942, by slave labour, to house, maintain and repair part of the German submarine fleet. They survive and are in partial use today, although for a different purpose.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get inside, as the pens are now located in the area controlled by the commercial port - you have to apply for a visitor's pass in advance - so some the shots come cortesy of a "Hole in the fence".

Nick,

30/09/07

fantastic, I'm a bit of a spotter with this sort of stuff so its good to see