Coastal_defences_of_Australia_during_World_War_II Knowpia

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.

New South Wales edit

Newcastle edit

Park Battery, The Hill – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Scratchley Battery, Newcastle East – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns and 1 x 6pdr 10cwt gun
Wallace Battery, Stockton – 2 x 9.2in Mk X guns

Port Kembla edit

Media related to Kembla Fortress at Wikimedia Commons

Illowra Battery, Port Kembla, New South Wales

Breakwater Battery, Port Kembla – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Drummond Battery, Coniston – 2 x 9.2in Mk X guns
Illowra Battery, Port Kembla – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns

Port Stephens edit

Tomaree Battery, Shoal Bay – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns

Sydney edit

Middle Head Fortifications, Sydney Harbour

Banks Battery, North of Cape Banks, La Perouse – 2 x 9.2in Mk X guns
Casemate Battery, Middle Head – 2 x 6pdr 10cwt guns
Henry Battery, Henry Head, La Perouse – 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns
Hornby Battery, South Head – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Malabar Battery, Malabar Headland, Malabar – 2 x 6in Mk XII guns
Middle Head Fortifications, Middle Head – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns, 1 x QF 12-pounder gun
North Battery, North Head – 2 x 9.2in Mk X guns
Shelly Battery, Shelly Head, Manly – 1 x 12 pdr 12cwt gun
Signal Battery, South Head – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
West Battery, West Head – 2 x 4.7in guns

Note: A 6pdr 10cwt battery was under construction.

Northern Territory edit

Dudley Battery, Darwin – 2 x 4in Mk VII guns and 1 x 6pdr 10cwt gun
East Battery, Darwin – 2 x 9.2in Mk X guns, 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Emery Battery, Darwin – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Waugite Battery, Darwin – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Elliot Section – 1 x 6pdr 10cwt gun
West Point Section, Darwin – 1 x 6pdr 10cwt gun

Papua New Guinea edit

Lae edit

U Battery – 4 x 155mm guns

Port Moresby edit

Paga Battery – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns, 2 6pdr 10cwt guns
Boera Battery – 2 (?) x 155mm guns

Rabaul edit

Praed Point Battery – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns

Queensland edit

Brisbane edit

Bribie Battery, Bribie Island – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Skirmish Battery, Bribie Island – 2 x 155mm guns
Cowan Battery, Moreton Island – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Rous Battery, Moreton Island – 2 x 155mm guns
Lytton Battery, Lytton – 1 x 4.7in gun

Cairns edit

False Cape Battery, East Trinity – 2 x 155mm guns

Torres Strait edit

Endeavour Battery – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Goods Battery – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Kings Battery – 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns
Milman Battery, Thursday Island – 1 x 4.7in gun
Turtle Battery – 2 x 155mm guns

Townsville edit

155mm coastal defence gun emplacement at Magnetic Island, Townsville

One of two 4.7 inch coastal defence gun emplacements built at Cape Pallarenda, Townsville in 1943

Magazine Battery, South Townsville – 2 x 155mm guns
Kissing Point Battery, North Ward – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Magnetic Battery, Magnetic Island – 2 x 155 mm guns
Cape Pallarenda Battery, Pallarenda – 2 x 4.7in Mk IV guns

South Australia edit

Fort Largs, Taperoo – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Hummock Hill Battery, Whyalla – 4 x 3.7in Mk II or III AA guns

Tasmania edit

Direction Battery, Hobart – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Pierson Battery, Hobart – 1 x 6in Mk VII gun

Victoria edit

Cribb Battery, Port Phillip – 1 x 6in Mk VII gun
Crow's Nest Battery, Queenscliff – 2 x 4.7in guns and 1 x 14pdr gun
Lonsdale Battery, Point Lonsdale – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Nepean Battery, Point Nepean – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Pearce Battery, Point Nepean – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns

Western Australia edit

Albany edit

Princess Battery, Albany – 2 x 6in guns

Fremantle edit

Media related to Fremantle Fortress at Wikimedia Commons^[1]

Harbour Battery, Fremantle – 2 x 6pdr 10cwt, 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns
Leighton Battery, Fremantle – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
Swanbourne Battery, Fremantle – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns

Note: A 9.2in Mk Xv battery was under construction.

Garden Island (Cockburn Sound) edit

Beacon Battery, Garden Island – 2 x 4in ex-US naval guns
Challenger Battery, Garden Island – 2 x 155mm guns
Collie Battery, Garden Island – 2 x 12pdr 12cwt guns

Geraldton edit

Geraldton Battery, Geraldton – 2 x 4in ex-US naval guns, 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns

Rockingham edit

Peron Battery, Cape Peron – 2 x 155mm, 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns

Rottnest Island edit

Bickley Battery, Rottnest Island – 2 x 6in Mk XI guns
Oliver's Battery, Rottnest Island – 2 x 9.2in Mk X guns

Notes edit

^ 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 edit

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.