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 x 6in Mk VII guns
• Newcastle East – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns and 1 x 6pdr 10cwt gun
• 9.2in Mk X guns

Port Kembla

Media related to Kembla Fortress at Wikimedia Commons

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

Port Stephens

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

Sydney

• 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 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,
  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,
  4.7in guns

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

Northern Territory

• 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

Lae

• U Battery – 4 x
  155mm guns

Port Moresby

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

Rabaul

• Praed Point Battery – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns

Queensland

Brisbane

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

Cairns

• 155mm guns

Torres Strait

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

Townsville

• Magazine Battery,
  155mm guns
• Kissing Point Battery, North Ward – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
• 155 mm guns
• 4.7in Mk IV guns

South Australia

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

Tasmania

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

Victoria

• Cribb Battery, Port Phillip – 1 x 6in Mk VII gun
• Crow's Nest Battery,
  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

Albany

• Princess Battery,
  6in guns

Fremantle

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)

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

Geraldton

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

Rockingham

• 155mm, 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns

Rottnest Island

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