Coastal defences of Australia during World War II

Fremantle, Western Australia

in 1943

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
• Newcastle East – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns and 1 × 6-pdr 10 cwt gun
• 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
• 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

• 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 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,
  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,
  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
• 155 mm guns
• Cowan Battery, Moreton Island – 2 × 6 in Mk XI guns
• Rous Battery, Moreton Island – 2 ×
  155 mm guns
• 4.7 in gun

Cairns

• 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,
  4.7 in gun
• Turtle Battery – 2 ×
  155 mm guns

Townsville

• Magazine Battery,
  155 mm guns
• Kissing Point Battery, North Ward – 2 × 6 in Mk VII guns
• 155 mm guns
• 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

• 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,
  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,
  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,
  4 in ex-US naval guns
• 155 mm guns
• Collie Battery, Garden Island – 2 × 12-pdr 12 cwt guns

Geraldton

• Geraldton Battery,
  4 in ex-US naval guns, 2 × 18-pdr Mk IV guns

Rockingham

• 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

References

• 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.