Coastal defences of Australia during World War II

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

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

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

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

Praed Point Battery – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns

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

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

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

Princess Battery, Albany – 2 × 6 in guns

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

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

[1] 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

[1]