Henry Head Battery

Artillery battery in New South Wales, Australia

33°59′54″S 151°14′17″E / 33.998272°S 151.237981°E / -33.998272; 151.237981Site historyBuilt1892 (1892)In use2002 (2002)

The Henry Head Battery is an artillery battery on the northern side of the entrance to Botany Bay at Henry Head, La Perouse, New South Wales Australia.[1]

History

Inside the fort
Inside Henry Head Battery

Constructed between 1892 - 1895 with 2 BL 6-inch Mk V disappearing guns,[2] the fort operated until 1910, after which it became obsolete.

The battery, along with two six-inch (152.4 mm – diameter) gun emplacements and observation posts, was re-employed during World War II to defend the approaches to Botany Bay.[3] During WWII, it was armed with two 18-pounder Mk IV field guns and two QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns.[2] The underground bunker and tunnel complex consisted of vaulted ammunition storage rooms with double walls and ceilings, which were designed to stop them collapsing in the event of a direct hit.

The remains of the fortifications can still be seen.

  • 1 of 2 search emplacements
    1 of 2 search emplacements
  • 6" BL disappearing gun emplacement
    6" BL disappearing gun emplacement

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry Head Battery (New South Wales).
  1. ^ La Perouse Battery, Sydney, NSW
  2. ^ a b David Spethman. The Garrison Guns of Australia 1788 - 1962. Inala, QLD: Ron H Mortensen. pp. 98, 155, 165, 174. ISBN 978-0-9775990-8-0.
  3. ^ "History". NSW Gold CLub. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Artillery fortifications and military bases in Sydney and surrounds
Artillery fortifications
Fortifications with tunnelsBarracks, bases and hospitalsSee also


Stub icon

This article about the military of Australia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e