Coastal defences of Australia during World War II

Leighton Battery in 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.

Queensland

Brisbane

Bribie Battery (Bribie Island) – 2 x 6 inch Mk XI guns
Skirmish Battery (Bribie Island) – 2 x 155mm guns
Cowan Battery (Moreton Island) – 2 x 6 inch Mk XI guns
Rous Battery (Moreton Island) – 2 x 155mm guns
Lytton Battery – 1 x QF 4.7 inch gun

Cairns

False Cape Battery – 2 x 155mm guns

Townsville

155mm coastal defence gun emplacement at Magnetic Island, Townsville

One of two 4.7 inch coastal defence gun emplacements built at Cape Pallarenda, Townsville in 1943

Magazine Battery – 2 x 155mm guns
Kissing Point Battery – 2 x 6 inch Mk VII guns
Magnetic Battery – 2 x 155 mm guns
Cape Pallarenda Battery – 2 x QF 4.7 inch Mk IV guns

Torres Strait

Endeavour Battery – 2 x 6 inch Mk XI guns
Goods Battery – 2 x 6 inch Mk XI guns
Kings Battery – 2 x 18-pdr Mk IV guns
Milman Battery (Thursday Island) – 1 x QF 4.7 inch gun
Turtle Battery – 2 x 155mm guns

New South Wales

Newcastle

Park Battery, The Hill, Newcastle – 2 x 6in Mark VII
Scratchley Battery, Newcastle East, Newcastle – 2 x 6in Mark VII and 1 x QF 6 pounder 10 cwt gun
Wallace Battery, Stockton, Newcastle – 2 x 9.2in Mark X

Port Stephens

Tomaree Battery, Shoal Bay, Port Stephens – 2 x 6in Mark VII

Sydney

Middle Head Fortifications, Sydney Harbour

Banks Battery, North of Cape Banks, La Perouse, Sydney – 2 x 9.2 inch Mk X guns
Casemate Battery, Middle Head, Sydney – 2 x 6-pdr 10cwt guns
Henry Battery, Henry Head, La Perouse, Sydney – 2 x 18-pdr Mk IV guns
Hornby Battery, South Head, Sydney – 2 x 6 inch Mk VII guns
Malabar Battery, Malabar Headland, Malabar, Sydney – 2 x 6 inch Mk XII guns
Middle Head Fortifications, Sydney – 2 x 6 inch Mk VII guns, 1 x QF 12 pounder guns
North Battery, North Head, Sydney – 2 x 9.2 inch Mk X guns
Shelly Battery, Shelly Head, Manly, Sydney – 1 x QF 12 pounder guns
Signal Battery, South Head, Sydney – 2 x 6 inch Mk XI guns
West Battery, West Head, Hawkesbury River – 2 x QF 4.7-inch guns

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

Port Kembla

Media related to Kembla Fortress at Wikimedia Commons

Illowra Battery, Port Kembla, New South Wales

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

Northern Territory

Dudley Battery, Darwin, Northern Territory – 2 x 4 inch Mark VII and 1 x 6pdr 10cwt
East Battery, Darwin – 2 x 9.2 inch Mk X, 2 x 6in Mark XI guns
Emery Battery, Darwin – 2 x 6in Mark XI guns
Waugite Battery, Darwin – 2 x 6in Mark XI guns
Elliot Section – 1 x QF 6 pounder 10 cwt gun
West Point Section, Darwin – 1 x QF 6 pounder 10 cwt gun

Papua New Guinea

Lae

U Battery – 4 x 155mm guns

Port Moresby

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

Rabaul

Praed Point Battery – 2 x 6 inch Mk VII guns

South Australia

Fort Largs, Adelaide, South Australia – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns

Tasmania

Direction Battery, Hobart, Tasmania – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns
Pierson Battery, Hobart, Tasmania – 1 x 6in Mark VII gun

Western Australia

Albany

Princess Battery, Albany, Western Australia – 2 x 6in QFC guns

Fremantle

Media related to Fremantle Fortress at Wikimedia Commons

Bickley Battery, Rottnest Island – 2 x 6in Mark XI guns
Beacon Battery, Garden Island, Western Australia – 2 x 4-inch ex-US naval guns
Challenger Battery, Garden Island, Western Australia – 2 x 155mm guns
Collie Battery, Fremantle, Western Australia – 2 x QF 12 pounder guns
Harbour Battery, Fremantle, Western Australia – 2 x 6pdr 10cwt, 2 x 18 pounder Mk IV
Leighton Battery, Fremantle, Western Australia – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns
Oliver's Battery, Rottnest Island – 2 x 9.2in Mark X guns
Peron Battery, Cape Peron, Western Australia – 2 x 155mm, 2 x 18 pounder Mk IV
Swanbourne Battery, Fremantle, Western Australia – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns

Note: A 9.2in Mark Xv battery was under construction.

Geraldton

Geraldton Battery, Geraldton, Western Australia – 2 x 4-inch ex-US naval guns, 2 x 18 pounder Mk IV

Victoria

Cribb Battery, Port Phillip, Victoria – 1 x 6in Mark VII gun
Crow's Nest Battery, Queenscliff Port Phillip Bay, Victoria – 2 x 4.7in guns and 1 x 14pdr gun
Lonsdale Battery, Port Phillip, Victoria – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns
Nepean Battery, Port Phillip, Victoria – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns
Pearce Battery, Port Phillip, Victoria – 2 x 6in Mark VII guns

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.

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