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The Gonfreville-l'Orcher cannon encumbrance is a military reinforced concrete structure in the municipality of Gonfreville-l'Orcher, Seine-Maritime, Normandy. This R 600-type blockhouse, designed to accommodate a 50 mm anti-tank gun, was an integral part of the Atlantic Wall, a defensive system built by German forces during World War II. It was specifically intended to control the south access to Le Havre via the marshes bordering the Tancarville Canal. Its construction, probably completed in 1943, reflects the concealment strategies used at the time: the structure, isolated and raised, was covered with a roof and a brick gable imitating a civilian dwelling, with even an oculus to reinforce illusion.

The encument consists of two superimposed levels. The ground floor includes a concrete shelter with a level entrance to the back, a airlock, a room for troops and an ammunition hold. The upper level, accessible by an internal staircase, houses the encument itself, a circular concrete structure designed to protect the cannon. The original artillery piece, a 50 mm anti-tank gun, was removed after the war and is now preserved by the Remember Le Havre association. This monument, listed in the inventory of Historic Monuments by decree of 21 August 1996, bears witness to the techniques of fortification and camouflage used during the occupation.

Integrated with the Havre Fortress system, this encumbrance illustrates the strategic importance of the region during the conflict. Its location along the Industrial Road (76700 Gonfreville-l'Orcher) made it a key point for defence against a possible allied offensive from the south. Although owned by a private company today, its state of conservation and designation as historical monuments make it a remarkable vestige of the 20th century military heritage in Normandy. Its architecture, combining defensive functionality and ingenuity in camouflage, offers a concrete overview of the technological and tactical challenges of the Second World War.

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