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

See also

• Structure of the Australian Army during World War II
• Anti-aircraft defences of Australia during World War II
• Hobart coastal defences
• Sydney Harbour defences

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to World War II defence of Australia.