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Coastal fortifications were constructed in New Zealand in two main waves: around 1885 as a response to fears of an attack by Russia, and in World War II due to fears of invasion by the Japanese.

The fortifications were built from British designs adapted to New Zealand conditions. They typically included gun emplacements, pill boxes, fire control or observation posts, camouflage strategies, underground bunkers, sometimes with interconnected tunnels, containing magazines, supply and plotting rooms and protected engine rooms supplying power to the gun turrets and searchlights. There were also kitchens, barracks, and officer and NCO quarters.[1]

The "Russian-scare" forts of 1885

In the 1870s New Zealand was a young self-governing colony of Britain. It had developed no coastal defences of any consequence and was becoming increasingly sensitive to how vulnerable its harbours were to attack by a hostile power or opportunistic raider. Fears of invasion by the expanding Russian Empire were common, especially due to the founding of Russia's Pacific port at Vladivostok.[2]

Fears intensified after a hoax article was run in the Daily Southern Cross on 18 February 1873.[2] The article proclaimed that war had been declared between England and Russia,[3] and that a fictional Russian naval cruiser, the Kaskowiski, had attacked Auckland.[2][4]

[The Kaskowiski] - whose very name should have made sober readers suspicious - had allegedly entered Auckland Harbour on the previous Saturday night and proceeded to capture a British ship, along with the city's arms and ammunition supply, and hold a number of leading citizens for ransom. The 954-man Russian vessel obviously meant business, with a dozen 30-ton guns as well as a remarkably new advance in warfare, a paralysing and deadly "water-gas" that could be injected into enemy ships from a great distance.[3]

The Southern Cross article created panic and the Government commissioned its first reports on the colony's defences. It was now clearly understood that Britain would protect its territories and vital shipping routes, but the defence of individual ports was the responsibility of each self-governing colony. Then Russia declared war on Turkey in 1877 producing another "scare".

An 1884 report by Sir William Jervois, the Governor of New Zealand, included recommendations for military forts to be constructed at the country's four main ports at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers.[2] These coastal artillery fortifications or land batteries were to be based on British designs. Heavy artillery pieces and ammunition was ordered from Britain. By 1885, work started in earnest on the construction of what eventually became seventeen forts, further encouraged by yet another Russian scare.[3]

Artillery

Файл:North Head South Battery.jpg
BL 8-inch Armstrong disappearing gun at North Head.

In 1885 the New Zealand Government bought ten Armstrong BL 8-inch and thirteen Armstrong BL 6-inch guns on disappearing carriages. The disappearing gun was the very latest in military technology in the 1880s. It was "disappearing" because as it fired, the recoil pushed the gun back underground where it could be reloaded under cover. The total costs of this artillery plus the costs of installation including land, emplacements, magazines and barracks was about £160,000.[5]

Following the "second Russian scare" a number of additional RML 7-inch and 64-pr guns were also installed[6]

Artillery circa 1890 Number Range Notes
Armstrong BL 8-inch Mk VII disappearing guns 10 4 miles Weighed 13.5 tons and fired a 180-pound shell.
Armstrong BL 6-inch disappearing guns 13 3 miles Weighed 5 tons and fired a 100-pound shell.
RML 7 inch 7 ton guns 11 Weighed 7 tons.
RML 64-pr Mk 3 guns 9 2 miles Weighed 64 cwt

The forts

Fort Harbour Way-
point
Ordnance
circa 1890
Range
(miles)
Dates Notes
North Head Auckland Шаблон:Coord 1xBL 8in gun
RML 7in guns
64-pr guns
1870 At Devonport, divided into three sub-forts:
  • North Battery (to defend Rangitoto Channel)
  • South Battery (with a 7in gun to protect the inner harbour)
  • Fort Cautley (with the 8in gun on the summit).[7][8][9]
Bastion Point Auckland Шаблон:Coord 2xBL 6in guns 1885– In Mission Bay. Not completed.
Fort Resolution Auckland 2xBL 6in guns 1885 In Parnell.
Fort Takapuna Auckland Шаблон:Coord 2xBL 6in guns 1886– [10][11][12][13]
Fort Victoria Auckland 1xBL 8in gun 1885 On Mount Victoria, Devonport. The gun fired only once because of complaints from residents whose windows were broken.[14]
Fort Ballance Wellington Шаблон:Coord 2x7" RML guns
1x6" BLHP gun
2 x QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt guns
1885 (1885–1886) Point Gordon. At Miramar. Wellington's primary military fort until 1911 when Fort Dorset opened.[15]
Fort Gordon Wellington Шаблон:Coord 1x8" BLHP gun 1895-1924 Point Gordon
Fort Buckley Wellington Шаблон:Coord 2x64-pr RML guns 2 At Kaiwharawhara.[16][17][18]
Haswell Battery Wellington 1xBL 8in gun 1889 At Miramar.
Kau Point Battery Wellington 1xBL 8in gun 1891-1922 At Miramar.
Fort Kelburne Wellington 2xBL 8in guns 1885 At Ngauranga.[19]
Battery Point Lyttelton Шаблон:Coord 2x7in RML guns
1x QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt guns
1885 On the north side of Lyttelton Harbour, 3 miles from mouth.[20][21]
Fort Jervois Lyttelton Шаблон:Coord 2x8in BL guns
2x6in BL guns
1886 On Ripapa Island on the south side of Lyttelton Harbour.[22] Fort Jervois is an internationally rare 1880s “Russian Invasion Scare” structure, which has retained a high level of authenticity of both structure and hardware (6” and 8” disappearing guns). It is one of only five examples of this type of fortification in the world. The Island has been managed by the Department of Conservation since 1990.[23]
Spur Point Battery Lyttelton 1x64-pounder RML gun 1885 Site of battery, quarried away as part of land reclamation during the 1970s to build Cashin Quay.[24]
Lawyers Head Battery Port Chalmers Шаблон:Coord 1885 Eastern Ocean Beach, Dunedin South.
Ocean Beach Battery Port Chalmers 1886
St Clair Battery Port Chalmers 1885 On a spur of Forbury Hill above Second Beach, Dunedin. No remnants remain; the area was cleared and subdivided for residential housing.
Fort Taiaroa Port Chalmers Шаблон:Coord 1xBL 6in gun 1885 Otago Harbour. This Armstrong Disappearing Gun was installed in May 1889 and was recommissioned during World War II. It is the only one of its kind working and is still in its original gun pit.[25][26]

World War II coastal fortifications

Файл:NZ-StonyBatter1.jpg
Tunnel layout for a three gun emplacement system.

The second main wave of building coastal fortifications occurred during World War II. This was mainly a response to a perceived threat of invasion by the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor. From 1942 until 1944, when the threat receded, 42 coastal artillery fortifications or land batteries were either developed using historical fortifications or were built from scratch. The fortifications were built from British designs adapted to New Zealand conditions. Radar was installed which allowed long range shooting at night and replaced the traditional fortress system of range finding.[1]

Ordnance

Файл:NZ-StonyBatter3.jpg
9.2 inch gun emplacement at Stony Batter.

The fortifications were equipped with both old and new ordnance, mostly British. Some World War I ordnance was requisitioned from museums and recommissioned.Шаблон:Citation needed

Ordnance used during World War II Number Range Notes
9.2 inch guns 6 18 miles
BL BL 6 inch Mk 24 guns 3 14 miles
BL 6 inch Mk 21 guns 6 13 miles
6 inch Mark 7 guns 32 12 miles
6in EOC gun 2 6 miles Elswick Ordnance Company
5"/51 caliber guns[27] (USA naval guns) 6 10 miles 51 calibre MkVII 1912
4.7in guns 1 6 miles
4 inch Mark 7 guns 11 9 miles
155mm guns 2 9 miles
75mm guns 2
QF 12 pdr guns 8 8 miles
QF 6 pdr guns 12 5 miles
Bofors 40mm guns 48 4 miles
CASLs 48 Coastal Artillery Searchlight

The fortifications

The fortifications were administered by the Royal New Zealand Artillery, which grouped them into four areas. Each area was under the command of a heavy artillery regiment. Within each regiment the fortifications were grouped into batteries.Шаблон:Citation needed

     Also used (highlighted below in yellow) were seven of the now historic Russian scare fortifications     

Upper North Island

Under the command of the 9th Heavy/Coast Regiment.Шаблон:Sfn[28]

Battery Name Way-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
(miles)
Dates Notes
60 Motutapu Island Шаблон:Coord 3 x 6in Mk 21 guns
2 x CASLs
13 1936
-1945
Consisted of a battery, camp, gun emplacement, pill boxes and US naval magazines. Its remains are administered by DOC.[29]
61
RHQ
North Head
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 2 x 4in Mk 7 guns
2 x 12pdr guns
4 x 6pdr H&N
6 x CASLs
9 1870
-1957
Part of Auckland's coastal defence system from the Russian scare in 1885 to World War I. By World War II, with ships' guns able to fire long distances, the old fort was too close to the city it was meant to defend. New batteries were built at Motutapu, Castor Bay, Whangaparaoa and Waiheke Island and North Head became the centre of administration.[30] A complex of tunnels, guns, searchlights and other fortifications remain and it is now a historic reserve managed by the Department of Conservation.[7][8]
61 Bastion Point
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 2 x 12pdr gun
Twin 6pdr guns
3xCASLs
8 1885– Located in Mission Bay. The fortifications were buried in the 1940s when the Michael Joseph Savage memorial was built, and effectively forgotten. The underlying tunnels were later rediscovered.
61 Great Barrier Island 6in Mk 7 gun
4in Mk 7 gun
4 x 40mm Bofors
12
61 Manukau 1x4.7in gun 6 1942 Built by American Forces [unknown unit] at the end of Harvey Road, Manukau Heads, approximately 100 m north of lighthouse site, this open fronted fortification had one gun, and an observation post inland. Accommodation was at the end of Harvey Road, with only concrete pads remaining for some buildings. Due to the erosive nature of these compacted sandhills the gun emplacement was undermined and slipped down the cliffs in the early 1980s. According to local residents, the gun was only fired 6 times, cracking the concrete abutments.
61 Motuihe Island Шаблон:Coord 2 x 4in Mk 7 guns 9 1872– During World War II (1941) the Motuihe buildings became HMNZS Tamaki naval base, a training establishment. Now in the care of the Department of Conservation.[31][32][33]
62 Fort Takapuna
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 2 x 4in Mk 7 guns
2 x CASLs
9 1886– Also known as HMNZS Tamaki, and Narrow Neck. In 1963 the RNZN moved its New Entry Training School HMNZS Tamaki from Motuihe Island to the fort. The navy built a new Gunnery School and set up an Officer Training School. Previously officers had been sent overseas for training. Only the Officer and Trade Training schools remain. Has been under the care of the Department of Conservation since 2000.[10][11][12][13]
63 Castor Bay Шаблон:Coord 2 x 6in Mk 7 guns
2 x CASLs
12 1942
-1944
Файл:J F Kennedy bunker.jpg
Bunker at Castor Bay

Notable for its camouflage strategies during World War II.[34][35][36]

64 Whanga-
paraoa
Шаблон:Coord 2 x 6in Mk 7 guns
2 x CASLs
12 SE tip of peninsula
163 Whanga-
paraoa
Шаблон:Coord 2 x 9.2in guns 18 SE tip of peninsula
164 Stony Batter
Шаблон:Coord 2 x 9.2in guns 18 1942– Waiheke Island. Now in the care of the Department of Conservation.[37][38]
68 Moturoa Island Шаблон:Coord 4 x 6in Mk 7 guns
8 x 40mm Bofors
12 Bay of Islands
68 Whangaroa Шаблон:Coord 6in Mk 7 gun 12 South Head of harbour.
139 Bream Head
Шаблон:Coord 5in Mk 7 gun (USA) 10 1942
-1944
Entrance to Whangarei harbour. Remaining structures are the (Colchester) gun shelter, engine room, and observation post. The most significant feature is the spotting mural with compass bearings painted above the slit window in the observation post.[39][40]

Lower North Island

Under the command of the 10th Heavy/Coast Regiment.[41]

Battery Name Way-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
(miles)
Dates Notes
70 Palmer Head Шаблон:Coord 3x6in Mk 21 guns
4xCASLs
13 1936
-1957
At the entrance to the Wellington Harbour. The abandoned gun pits were blown up in the late 1960s. The only remains are the underground plotting rooms, which are closed for safety reasons.[42]
71
RHQ
Fort Dorset Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns
2x4in Mk 7guns
4x12pdr guns
7xCASLs
12 1908
-1991
At the inner entrance to Wellington harbour. The fort was demolished in 1998.[43][44]
72 Fort Ballance
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 2x4in Mk 7guns
Twin 6pdr guns
2x75mm guns
6xCASLs
9 1885–
1945
(1885–1886) Point Gordon

By Mount Crawford, Karaka Bays, Wellington's primary fort until 1911 when Fort Dorset opened, Fort Ballance was closed in 1945 but remnants remain.[15]

73 Fort Opau Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns 12 1942
-1944
On a high headland above Mākara, on Wellington's west coast, protecting Cook Strait.[45][46][47] The fort was built in 1941, and comprised two covered 6" gun emplacements, a battery operations post, and an observation post and a radar post, with a large barracks several hundred metres inland.
165 Wrights Hill Fortress Шаблон:Coord 2x9.2in guns 18 1942
1957
This British-designed fortress was similar to the 9.2 inch fortresses built at Whangaparaoa and Stoney Batter. 2,030 feet (620 metres) of interconnecting tunnels were dug. Two 185 hp diesel generators provided power to manoeuvre the guns. Each gun weighed 135 tons and could fire a 380-pound (172 kg) shell across Cook Strait or up to Plimmerton. The fortress was used for training purposes up to the mid-1950s. In early 1960 the guns were sold for scrap, ironically, to the Japanese. The Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society is restoring the coastal battery to its former state.[48][49]
77 Bluff Hill Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns
4x40mm Bofors
12 At Napier. Also a signal station during World War II,[50] although never a lighthouse,[51] despite being situated on Lighthouse Road.
77 Titirangi (Kaiti Hill) Шаблон:Coord 5in Mk 7 gun (USA) 10 Located at Gisborne.
78 Moturoa 2x155mm guns
4x40mm Bofors
9 At New Plymouth.
140 Languard Bluff Шаблон:Coord 5in Mk 7 gun (USA) 10 At Wanganui.[52][53]

Upper South Island

Under the command of the 11th Heavy/Coast Regiment.Шаблон:Sfn[28]

Battery Name Way-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
(miles)
Dates Notes
80
RHQ
Godley Head Шаблон:Coord 3x6in Mk 24 guns
2xCASLs
14 1939
-1963
At the northern entrance to Lyttelton Harbour, the last NZA to be decommissioned. It last fired a gun in 1959. In its heyday in World War II, it was staffed by over 400 men and women and was a self-contained community. It is ranked in the top ten New Zealand coastal defence heritage sites.[54] It is now under the care of the Department of Conservation and the Godley Head Heritage Trust.[55][56]
81 Battery Point
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 2x4in Mk 7guns
Twin 6pdr guns
5xCASLs
9 1886– On the northern side of Lyttelton Harbour, 3 miles from mouth.[20][21]
81 Fort Jervois
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 6in EOC gun 6 1886 On Ripapa Island on the southern side of Lyttelton Harbour.[22] It is an internationally rare 1880s “Russian Invasion Scare” military defence structure, which has retained a high level of authenticity of both structure and hardware (6” and 8” disappearing guns). It is one of only five examples of this type of fortification in the world. The island has been managed by the Department of Conservation since 1990.[23]
Magazine Bay
[Russian scare]
? 1886 Lyttelton, in conjunction with nearby torpedo boat base.[57]
84 Tory Channel entrance 6in Mk 7 gun
12x40mm Bofors
12 Queen Charlotte Sound
84 Maraetai Шаблон:Coord 6in Mk 7 gun 12 In Tory Channel, Queen Charlotte Sound.
84 Blumine Island Шаблон:Coord; Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns 12 1942
-1945
Guarding the northern entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, the guns are positioned separately on the two northern points of Blumine Island. Associated with each emplacement are a magazine, observation post and accommodation camp.[58][59]
84 Post Office Point 6in Mk 7 gun 12 In Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere.
84 Maud Island Шаблон:Coord 6in Mk 7 gun 12 At the entrance to Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere. Under the care of the Department of Conservation.[60][61]
84 Port Hills Шаблон:Coord 6in Mk 7 gun 12 In Nelson.
85 Smithfield Freezing Works Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns
4x40mm Bofors
12 1942–
1944
In Timaru. The No 2 (Colchester type) gun shelter is in an excellent state of preservation.[62]
134 Westport Шаблон:Coord 5in Mk 7 gun (USA)
4x40mm Bofors
10 1942–
1944
On South Spit. The gun emplacement is no longer there but the battery observation post is visible on Google Earth.[63]
134 Cobden Шаблон:Coord 5in Mk 7 gun (USA)
4x40mm Bofors
10 1942–
1944
At Greymouth. Establishment: 2 Officers, 1 WO, 3 Sergeants and 26 ORs. Grey District Council destroyed part of this site, without consultation, in 2007 to make way for a sewer line.[64]
143 Wainui Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns
4x40mm Bofors
2xCASLs
12 1942–
1944
In Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula[65]

Lower South Island

Under the command of the 13th Coast Regiment.Шаблон:Sfn[28]

Battery Name Way-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
(miles)
Dates Notes
RHQ Dunedin
82 Fort Taiaroa
[Russian scare]
Шаблон:Coord 6in EOC gun
5xCASLs
6
Файл:Disappearing Gun Taiaroa Head.jpg
Armstrong disappearing gun at Taiaroa Head
Close to Taiaroa Head at the northeastern tip of Otago Peninsula. Restored, and open to the public. Includes what is believed to be the only 1889 Armstrong Disappearing gun remaining in working condition in its original gun pit.[66]
82 Rerewahine Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns 12 Otago Peninsula.
82 Tomahawk Шаблон:Coord 2x6in Mk 7 guns 12 Dunedin
82 Harington Point Шаблон:Coord 2xTwin 6pdr guns
2x6pdr H&N
Dunedin
141 Cape Wanbrow Шаблон:Coord 5in Mk 7 gun (USA) 10 1942– Under the care of the Oamaru Coastal Defence Restoration Group[67][68]
142 Bluff 6in Mk 7 gun 12

Post war

The advent of air warfare and missiles made these forts redundant and most were decommissioned by the 1950s. Godley Head continued because of compulsory military training and last fired a gun in 1959. The Department of Conservation has the remains of around 30 installations on land it manages.[54]

Postscript

None of the forts fired a gun in anger, though in October 1939 a Battery Point gun at Lyttelton accidentally sank the fishing boat "Dolphin" and killed its skipper.[69]

In 1972 the United States declassified a contingency plan for invading New Zealand. This plan consisted of a 120-page intelligence document called Naval War Plan for the Attack of Auckland, New Zealand. The intelligence for the report was gathered during the visit of the Great White Fleet to Auckland over six days in 1908. The plan advocated Manukau Harbour as the best invasion point and landing heavy guns on Rangitoto Island to shell the forts on the North Shore. The plan was not very realistic and may have been an exercise to keep young officers busy (see United States war plans; which allocated the colour Garnet to New Zealand as part of War Plan Red).[70]

See also

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

  • Шаблон:Cite book Two volumes. Reviewed by Capital Defence.
  • Corbett, Peter D. (2003). A First Class Defended Port: The History of the Coast Defences of Auckland, its Harbour and Approaches. Шаблон:ISBN (Available from Auckland Conservancy, Department of Conservation).
  • Glackin, Russell (2009) In defence of our land: a tour of New Zealand's historic harbour forts, Penguin, Шаблон:ISBN.

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  25. Fort Taiaroa
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