ARTILLERY REGISTER |
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| Historical Specifics: | The Scratchley/Jervois report of 1876 recommended the establishment of permanent fortification at Newcastle. By 1882 Fort Scratchley was complete and three 9 inch RML and four 80 pounder RML guns installed. The 9 inch RML guns were replaced by three BL 6 inch Mark V guns on hydro pneumatic EOC Cylinder Mk II mounts. A BL 8 inch Mark VIIA gun on hydro pneumatic EOC Cylinder Mk I mount was placed in a new gun pit. These guns are commonly known as disappearing guns. In 1910 the 8 inch and one 6 inch gun were replaced with BL 6 inch Mark V guns. The date of the removal of the two other 6 inch Mk V guns is not known but would have been prior to 1939, probably around 1930.
Although Fort Scratchley information indicate the Mk V guns were replaced by the Mk VII guns in 1910 it likely this date refers to the removal of the old guns and preparation for the new mountings and actual emplacement of the guns occurred in 1911 when gun serial numbers were 1591 and 1597 (both manufactured in August 1902) mounted1. The present guns 2330 and 2331 are listed as being at Middle Head2 When they were moved to Fort Scratchley is not known but records indicate new barrels were fitted in 1933, 1941 and 1955. The guns fired in action on 8 June 1942 against the Japanese Submarine I 21. The submarine had surfaced about 5,000 metres north of Nobbys Head and began firing 140 mm shells. In all she fired 28 rounds of illumination and six high explosive (only three detonated) before the fort replied with four rounds. The submarine was lost in smoke and submerged. The guns were removed from Fort Scratchley and placed at Shepherds Hill and mounted as a war memorial in 1965. In 1978 they were remounted at Fort Scratchley. The pedestals for the guns had been removed in 1965 and to replace them two were obtained from Upper Georges Heights battery. 1 National Archives of Australia MP 367/1 411/2/57, Alteration to Armament 1905-1919 p53 of file 2 Ibid, p 52 of file |
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