A Gun at Fort Connaught

This page contains a list of all of the Singapore gun batteries that I know of. If you can provide information about any more, I would be grateful. Links are provided to Google Earth or Bing maps showing the location of the various batteries. Each location has been researched to ensure that the location given is accurate.

Pre-World War Two Batteries

• Fort Canning: There are still some remains of this early fort to be found in Fort Canning Park.
  
• Fort Faber: No known remains. The underground rooms of the World War Two Faber Fire Command still exist, but the entrance is locked.
• Fort Fullerton: Named after the first Governor of Singapore, and stood where the Fullerton Hotel now is. The Fort was armed with 56 and 64 Pounder ML Guns.
• Fort Pasir Panjang: There are substantial remains of the 7-Inch RML, 6-Inch QF and Mark IV 9·2-Inch BL batteries which were once at today’s Labrador Park. Magazines for the 9·2-Inch Guns, the 7-Inch RML Battery and the 6-Inch QF Battery still exist, but are sealed.
• Fort Teregah: Located on what was the south eastern tip of Pulau Brani before land reclamation. The Fort was armed with two 64-Pounder RML Guns. Some of the underground complex still remains, but can not be visited by the public.
• Fort Tanjong Katong: Originally armed with three 7-Inch RML Guns, later up-rated to two Mark VII 8-Inch BL Guns. Located in Katong Park, this was the only true coastal artillery fort built on Singapore. Land reclamation means that the Fort is no longer on the coast. An archaeological dig uncovered substantial remains of the fort. See the Links page.
• Mount Imbiah: Substantial remains of this early 20th Century Mark X 9·2-Inch BL Gun Battery are still to be found at the top of Imbiah Hill Road, Sentosa. The Magazine however is gated and locked, therefore not accessible.
• Mount Palmer: No remains of the fort which was behind the Foot Tet Soo Khek Temple on Palmer Road. Mount Palmer was armed with two 10-Inch BL Guns.
• Prince’s Battery: I have no information about this battery except for its location. It was contemporary with Scandal Point (below). It was armed with three 68-Pounder Cannon.
• Mount Serapong: Two gun batteries were built on the top of Mount Serapong, but there was a military presence here years before a coast battery was constructed. The hill was then an infantry redoubt. The first Battery, in 1885 consisted of two Mark VII 8-Inch BL Guns. These were replaced in 1913 by two Mark X 9·2-Inch BL Guns. Some remains of the 8-Inch Battery still exist, including the Casemates and Magazine. These were later modified and used for the 9.2-Inch Battery, of which substantial remains exist. Mount Serapong on Bing Aerial View
• Serapong Spur: A third Mark X 9·2-Inch BL Gun was emplaced on The Spur of Mount Serapong in 1913. This location is the first you reach when going up Serapong Hill Road. The surface area of this Battery was later much modified for a 6-Inch BL Gun, but parts of it remain on the surface. The magazine still exists and this was later used for the 6-Inch Gun.
  
• Scandal Point: Singapore’s first fixed defences. This was built near the Padang in 1819 and armed with 12 Pounder ML Guns. The Battery was used for Saluting purposes. No remains exist. The Google earth Marker is believed to be within 20 metres of the Battery.
• Un-named Battery: I know little of this battery except its location which was approximately at the junction of Beach Road and Middle Road, and that it was contemporary with Scandal Point. It is shown on 1843 maps. In 1956, it was armed with six 68-Pounder Cannon. An Infantry Redoubt was opposite the battery on Tanjong Rhu.

Changi Fire Command 1942

• Beting Kusah Battery: There are no remains of this two gun Mark VII 6-Inch BL Gun Battery which was once by the beach near Telok Paku. The site is now under Changi airport.
• Changi Battery: No remains are left of this two gun Mark VII 6-Inch BL Gun Battery which was on the hill behind Changi Village. The airport radar station covers the site.
• Pengerang Battery: Not in Singapore, but east of Changi in Malaysia. Substantial remains are still visible, but the gun emplacements for the two Mark VII 6-Inch BL Guns themselves are on what is now Malaysian Navy land and it is not known if there are any remains of these.
• Sphinx Battery: On restricted MINDEF land on Pulau Tekong. It is not thought that any remains of this two gun Mark 24 6-Inch BL Gun Battery remain following building works on the site.
• Tekong Besar Battery: This battery was on Pulau Tekong. It was armed with three Mark X 9·2-Inch Guns on 35° Mountings. Remains of the power house have been found and there may be significant other remains of the No.1 and No.3 Emplacements. The no.2 Emplacement was completely destroyed when the Magazine was blown up in February 1942.
• Johore Battery: Three Mark 1 15-Inch Guns, of which two were on Mark II Mountings. A replica 15-Inch Gun is emplaced where the No. 1 Gun once was in Cosford Road. The gun’s magazine is intact below and behind the replica. The magazine of the No2. Gun may also remain, but is in Prison Service land. The No.3 Gun emplacement was totally destroyed during airport expansion work. The Google Earth link marks the No.1 Gun. The No.1 Gun on Bing Aerial View.

Faber Fire Command 1942

• Fort Serapong: Two Mark VII 6-Inch Guns. The emplacement was built on Serapong Spur with the No.2 Gun being sited in the old Serapong Spur 9·2-Inch Emplacement. The No. 1. Gun was sited a little further up hill. Substantial remains still exist.
• Fort Silingsing: A two gun Mark VII 6-Inch BL Battery On Pulau Brani. There are no visible remains on the surface, but I believe that the magazine may remain underground. Fort Silingsing dates back to the late 1890s when it was armed with two 12-Pounder QF guns. In 1911, it was armed with two 6-Inch QF Guns taken from Fort Connaught. It was re-armed with Mark VII 6-Inch BL Guns during the 1930s.
• Labrador Battery: Some remains of the Emplacements of the two Mark VII 6-Inch guns are visible. The Magazine for the guns was converted from the Fort Pasir Panjang No.1 9·2-Inch Gun’s Magazine.
• Pasir Laba Battery: On the western coast of Singapore and now inaccessible as it is in MINDEF land. Some remains of this two gun Mark VII 6-Inch BL Gun Battery are thought to still exist.
• Fort Connaught: A three gun Mark X 9·2-Inch Gun Battery. The link takes you to the No.2 Emplacement. The No.3 Gun Emplacement, and Magazine still exist, as does the No.1 Gun Magazine and an Observation Post overlooking Allenbrooke Road East. There is a rest area for golfers built on the No. 1 Gun Emplacement. The site is on Sentosa’s Tanjong Golf Course, and consequently it is not accessible to the public. The Battery Observation Post on top of Mount Serapong still exists and is accessible. Fort Connaught started life as Fort Blakang Mati East and was renamed following the visit to Singapore of the Duke of Connaught in 1890. The first armament consisted of three 7-Inch RML Guns and two 64-Pounder RML Guns. Later came 6-Inch QFs and Mark IV 9·2-Inch BL Guns, then a single Mark X 9·2-Inch BL Gun, and finally the three Mark X 9·2-Inch BL Gun Battery. The No.2 Emplacement on Bing Aerial View
• Buona Vista Battery: This battery had two Mark I 15-Inch Guns on Mark II Mountings, and was located east of the junction of Clementi Road (Then called Reformatory Road) and Ulu Pandan Road. The Battery straddled Ulu Pandan Road. Only a part of the underground complex of the No.1 Gun is said to remain and that is are in Mowbray Police Training Camp. I would not be surprised if the Magazine is intact and the Gun Well just filled in. The link marks the No.1 Gun. The No.2 Gun was in what is now Pine Grove. The No.2 Gun on Bing Aerial View. The location was in the curve formed by the buildings.

AMTB (Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat) Batteries

RIGHT: Gunners in front of a Twin 6-Pounder, believed to be Berhala Reping post-war.

All Singapore AMTB Batteries were designed to be armed with Twin 6-Pounder QF Guns. These guns fired 6 Pound shells at a rate of 72 rounds per minute. In the event, there were insufficient Twin 6-Pounders to go round and much older 12-Pounder QF and Field Artillery 18-Pounders were pressed into service. Two ancient 6-Pounders were also mounted on a ship hulk to the east of Keppel Harbour and on the Mole to bolster the defences.

AMTB Batteries Changi Fire Command

• Calder Harbour: On the eastern side of Pulau Tekong and not accessible. Substantial remains of this two Twin 6-Pounder Battery exist.
  
• Changi Outer (Palm): This was close to the Beting Kusah Battery and there are no remains. It was armed with two Twin 6-Pounders.
• Changi Inner (School): Built for two Twin 6-Pounders, but was never armed. It was located on the south side of Changi Creek opposite the tip of Changi spit. Traces of the emplacement can still be found near the swimming pool.
• Ladang: Near the military jetty on Pulau Tekong. Was armed with a single 12-Pounder. Substantial preserved remains which are not accessible.
  
• Pulau Sejahat: There are substantial remains of this emplacement which was armed with two Twin 6-Pounders. Pulau Sejahat has now been joined to Pulau Tekong by land reclamation. Not accessible.
• Pulau Ubin: Built for two Twin 6-Pounders, but was never armed. This emplacement is on the Scout Camp on the northern side of the island. Substantial remains still exist.
  

AMTB Batteries Faber Fire Command

• Batu Berlayar: Located at the east end of Labrador Park. The emplacement dates back to 1892 when it was armed with 6-Pounders. In 1942 it was armed with two 12 Pounders. Post-war, a single Twin 6-Pounder was mounted there. Substantial remains exist. Batu Berlayar on Bing Aerial View.
• Pulau Hantu (Now called Pulau Keppel): No remains of the emplacement which was armed with an 18-Pounder. The Japanese called this emplacement ‘Burofunt’.
• OSO: At Siloso Point. Armed with a single 12-Pounder. Re-armed with a Twin 6-Pounder after World War Two. A replica 12 Pounder is mounted there today. OSO on Bing Aerial View
  
• Berhala Reping: Once an island, but now part of the Serapong Golf Course. When first built it was armed with machine guns. It was armed with two Twin 6-Pounders at the time of the Japanese invasion. After the war it was re-armed with a single Twin 6-Pounder. Substantial remains exist, including the bridge linking the island to Blakang Mati, but underground areas are sealed. The site is not accessible to the general public. Berhala Reping on Bing Aerial View
• Tanjong Tereh: On Pulau Brani and was never armed. No known remains.
  
• Loudon: This was one of many hulks sunk in the harbour eastern entrance to form a block. An old single 3-Pounder QF Gun (as mounted at Batu Berlayar in 1892) was mounted on the Loudon. It is not known what position in the row of hulks that the Loudon was in.
• The Mole: An old single 3-Pounder QF was also mounted here. The exact location of the gun on the Mole is not known.

Penang Coast Batteries

• Auchry: On the north of Penang, near Batu Feringgi. Built for two 9.2-Inch Guns. The battery was almost complete in December 1941, but was never armed. The Japanese moved a 6-Inch Gun to Auchry from Fort Cornwallis, and mounted it in the No.2 Emplacement. I believe that remains of the Battery may still exist, but are under threat from development in the area.
  
• Cornwallis Battery: No remains are left of this 6-Inch BL Close Defence Battery. It stood just outside Fort Cornwallis in Georgetown, Penang. The Japanese removed both guns from Cornwallis and mounted one at Auchry, and the other at Tanjong Pak Pajoh on the southern coast of Penang.
  
• Batu Maung: Substantial remains of this two gun 6-Inch Counter Bombardment Battery. The Battery now houses the Penang War Museum. The link is over the No.2 Emplacement. Batu Maung on Bing Aerial View.
  

Other Batteries
& Defences