The following is a List of Coastal Batteries in Australia and Territories during World War II. The main threat came early in the war from German raiders and threat of Japanese raids or invasion, and hence all available ordnance was pressed into service, including some obsolete guns and field guns adapted for coast defence.
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Transcription
New South Wales
Newcastle
- Park Battery, The Hill – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Scratchley Battery, Newcastle East – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns and 1 × 6-pdr 10 cwt gun
- Wallace Battery, Stockton – 2 × 9.2 in Mk X guns
Port Kembla
Media related to Kembla Fortress at Wikimedia Commons
- Breakwater Battery, Port Kembla – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Drummond Battery, Coniston – 2 × 9.2 in Mk X guns
- Illowra Battery, Port Kembla – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
Port Stephens
Sydney
- Banks Battery, North of Cape Banks, La Perouse – 2 × 9.2 in Mk X guns
- Casemate Battery, Middle Head – 2 × 6-pdr 10 cwt guns
- Henry Battery, Henry Head, La Perouse – 2 × 18-pdr Mk IV guns
- Hornby Battery, South Head – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Malabar Battery, Malabar Headland, Malabar – 2 × 6 in Mk XII guns
- Middle Head Fortifications, Middle Head – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns, 1 × QF 12-pounder gun
- North Battery, North Head – 2 × 9.2 in Mk X guns
- Shelly Battery, Shelly Head, Manly – 1 × 12-pdr 12 cwt gun
- Signal Battery, South Head – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- West Battery, West Head – 2 × 4.7 in guns
Note: A 6-pdr 10 cwt battery was under construction.
Northern Territory
- Dudley Battery, Darwin – 2 × 4 in Mk VII guns and 1 × 6-pdr 10 cwt gun
- East Battery, Darwin – 2 × 9.2 in Mk X guns, 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Emery Battery, Darwin – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Waugite Battery, Darwin – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Elliot Section – 1 × 6-pdr 10 cwt gun
- West Point Section, Darwin – 1 × 6-pdr 10 cwt gun
Papua New Guinea
Lae
- U Battery – 4 × 155 mm guns
Port Moresby
- Paga Battery – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns, 2 6-pdr 10 cwt guns
- Boera Battery – 2 (?) × 155 mm guns
Rabaul
Queensland
Brisbane
- Bribie Battery, Bribie Island – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Skirmish Battery, Bribie Island – 2 × 155 mm guns
- Cowan Battery, Moreton Island – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Rous Battery, Moreton Island – 2 × 155 mm guns
- Lytton Battery, Lytton – 1 × 4.7 in gun
Cairns
Torres Strait
- Endeavour Battery – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Goods Battery – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Kings Battery – 2 × 18-pdr Mk IV guns
- Milman Battery, Thursday Island – 1 × 4.7 in gun
- Turtle Battery – 2 × 155 mm guns
Townsville
- Magazine Battery, South Townsville – 2 × 155 mm guns
- Kissing Point Battery, North Ward – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Magnetic Battery, Magnetic Island – 2 × 155 mm guns
- Cape Pallarenda Battery, Pallarenda – 2 × 4.7 in Mk IV guns
South Australia
- Fort Largs, Taperoo – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Hummock Hill Battery, Whyalla – 4 × 3.7 in Mk II or III AA guns
Tasmania
- Direction Battery, Hobart – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Pierson Battery, Hobart – 1 × 6 in Mk VII gun
Victoria
- Cribb Battery, Port Phillip – 1 × 6 in Mk VII gun
- Crow's Nest Battery, Queenscliff – 2 × 4.7 in guns and 1 × 14-pdr gun
- Lonsdale Battery, Point Lonsdale – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Nepean Battery, Point Nepean – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Pearce Battery, Point Nepean – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
Western Australia
Albany
Fremantle
Media related to Fremantle Fortress at Wikimedia Commons[1]
- Harbour Battery, Fremantle – 2 × 6-pdr 10 cwt, 2 × 18-pdr Mk IV guns
- Leighton Battery, Fremantle – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
- Swanbourne Battery, Fremantle – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
Note: A 9.2 in Mk Xv battery was under construction.
Garden Island (Cockburn Sound)
- Beacon Battery, Garden Island – 2 × 4 in ex-US naval guns
- Challenger Battery, Garden Island – 2 × 155 mm guns
- Collie Battery, Garden Island – 2 × 12-pdr 12 cwt guns
Geraldton
- Geraldton Battery, Geraldton – 2 × 4 in ex-US naval guns, 2 × 18-pdr Mk IV guns
Rockingham
- Peron Battery, Cape Peron – 2 × 155 mm, 2 × 18-pdr Mk IV guns
Rottnest Island
- Bickley Battery, Rottnest Island – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
- Oliver's Battery, Rottnest Island – 2 × 9.2 in Mk X guns
See also
- Military history of Australia
- Structure of the Australian Army during World War II
- Anti-aircraft defences of Australia during World War II
- Hobart coastal defences
- Sydney Harbour defences
Notes
- ^ see Graham McKenzie-Smith (2009), Defending Fremantle, Albany and Bunbury, 1939 to 1945, Grimwade Publications, ISBN 978-0-9806291-0-1 - in particular map on page 6 Coast Defences of Fremantle
References
- Horner, David (1995). The Gunners. A History of Australian Artillery. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86373-917-3.
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Australian Army. A History of its Organisation 1901—2001. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-551507-2.
- Spethman, David (2008). The Garrison Guns of Australia 1788–1962. Inala, Queensland: Ron H Mortensen. ISBN 978-0-9775990-8-0.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to World War II defence of Australia.
This page was last edited on 1 May 2024, at 13:44