The Battery Command Post
As part of the 1930s upgrade of Fort Siloso, a Battery Command Post was built at the top of Mount Siloso. The existing Command Post was modified and added to to make the building seen today. This Post was the new nerve-centre of the Fort, and from here the Siloso guns were directed. The Command Post was linked to Faber Fire Command on Singapore Island. Faber Fire Command had overall command of the guns at Pasir Laba, Buona Vista, Labrador, Siloso, Connaught, Serapong and Silingsing.
Plans of the Command Post. The Command Post has an upper storey in which was mounted the Depression Range Finder, and a lower storey in which was the Command Centre for the Fort. The photograph on the right shows the Command Post pre-restoration and was taken in 1993. The steel shutters seen on the windows to the lower storey could be raised to provide some protection from incoming fire to the men in the Command Centre. Similar shutters were on the Range Finder.
The Command Post after restoration. Glass windows have been fitted to protect exhibits inside and the open steel shutters of the Range Finder are closed off. No glass windows were fitted to the Command Post when it was built. Glass shattered by a near-miss and sent flying inside the Post would be quite a danger to the men inside.
LEFT: Fittings on the side of the Command Post. The long metal bars would support the steel shutters on the side of the Depression Range Finder when they were open.
RIGHT: The Stairs down from Mount Siloso leading to the Gunners Shelter. Above these are the stairs leading up to the entrance to the Depression Range Finder. The entrance to the lower portion of the Command Post is to the left of the stairs down to the Gunners Shelter.
LEFT: The entrance to the Depression Range Finder.
RIGHT: On entering the Range finder, you find a long room, with a dividing wall half the width of the room on the left.
The photo shows the steel shutters on the rear wall of the room. The ventilation was rather primitive, the fan being a modern addition.
LEFT: Figures of gunners working in the Range Finder. The figure on the right is using a Depression Range Finder.
RIGHT: From the top floor, there is a portion of the wall cut away providing access to the lower floor.
RIGHT: Looking left from the Depression Range Finder in 1993. The roof which can be seen a few metres from the Command Post belonged to a small building which once stood on the No.1 Gun Emplacement of the Mount Siloso 6 Inch QF Battery.