Coastal defences of Australia during World War II
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/6_inch_Mk_VII_gun_Leighton_Battery_Fremantle_1943_AWM_029136.jpeg/300px-6_inch_Mk_VII_gun_Leighton_Battery_Fremantle_1943_AWM_029136.jpeg)
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
- 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[]
Media related to Kembla Fortress at Wikimedia Commons
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Illowra_battery_aka_hill_60.jpg/220px-Illowra_battery_aka_hill_60.jpg)
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[]
Sydney[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Midheadfort.jpg/220px-Midheadfort.jpg)
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[]
- 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[]
Queensland[]
Brisbane[]
- 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[]
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, Thursday Island – 1 x 4.7in gun
- Turtle Battery – 2 x 155mm guns
Townsville[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Magnetic_Gun.jpg/220px-Magnetic_Gun.jpg)
155mm coastal defence gun emplacement at Magnetic Island, Townsville
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Pallarenda_Gun.jpg/220px-Pallarenda_Gun.jpg)
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[]
- Fort Largs, Taperoo – 2 x 6in Mk VII guns
- Hummock Hill Battery, Whyalla – 4 x 3.7in Mk II or III AA guns
Tasmania[]
- Direction Battery, 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, 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[]
Albany[]
- Princess Battery, Albany – 2 x 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, 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[]
- Geraldton Battery, Geraldton – 2 x 4in ex-US naval guns, 2 x 18pdr Mk IV guns
Rockingham[]
- Peron Battery, Cape Peron – 2 x 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[]
- ^ 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[]
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Categories:
- Military history of Australia during World War II
- Artillery units and formations of Australia
- Forts in Australia
- Coastline of Australia