Storage at the 7-Inch RML Gun Emplacement on Mount Siloso before restoration.
Fort Siloso
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Nos. 1 & 2 7-Inch RML Guns
Constructed at the entrance to the Fort, very little remains of these two gun emplacements today. It is very easy to walk past and not even realise what remains. In 1898, the No.1 Emplacement was rebuilt to mount two 12 Pounder QF Guns, and the No.2 Gun was removed. The plan below shows a plan for the 12 Pounder Emplacement. The old 7-Inch Emplacement is outlined in blue.
The 12 Pounder Emplacement still exists and has two 64 Pounder RML Guns mounted on it. The No.2 7-Inch Emplacement also still exists. It is very easy to walk past it and not know it is there.
RIGHT: A 2008 view with a tree in the Emplacement. The building on the right of the photo is the shop and Surrender Chamber.
BELOW LEFT: A Water tank in the No. 2 Emplacement. The Magazine Passageway is still in place.
BELOW RIGHT: The No.2 Emplacement in the late 1950s. The passageway roof has been removed.
Fort Siloso as seen from Tanjong Berlayer. The shop and Surrender Chamber, in front of which were the guns, are shown arrowed in the centre of the photograph. This shows how the two 7 Inch Guns and later the two 12 Pounders, commanded the harbour entrance. The arrow on the left shows Mount Serapong where an 8-inch Gun Battery guarded the eastern approach to the harbour.
The Magazine
The magazine was built to store ammunition for the two 7 Inch RML guns which were on emplacements opposite. The Magazine has thick stone walls and its roof is protected by an earth covering which together were designed to withstand the effects of enemy fire.
When built, there was a thick roof over the passageway between the Magazine and the 7 Inch RML Gun Emplacements at each end of it. The Magazine is on the left of the passageway in the photo above right.
ABOVE: Views alongside the magazine. The left-hand photograph is taken from the end of the Magazine nearest the Guardroom. The area where the roof was is easily seen above the Magazine's doors. The right-hand photograph is from the other end of the Magazine. The wall on the left of this photograph is that of the Shop and Surrender Chamber. Look inside the Magazine.
Mount Siloso 7 Inch RML Gun
The Mount Siloso 7-Inch RML Gun Emplacement was one of the three original emplacements constructed at Fort Siloso. This emplacement faces to the south-east and is on the highest part of Mount Siloso. Just beyond the gun emplacement the ground slopes away steeply thus giving the gunners at this emplacement a good view and field of fire. This replica 7 Inch Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun is mounted as a real one would have been in the 1880s, on a Garrison Sliding Carriage.
RIGHT: three views of the Mount Siloso 7 Inch RML Gun Emplacement.
At the top are the the ammunition storage facilities to the left of the Gun Emplacement.
In the middle is a replica 7 Inch RML Gun run out for firing. The left-hand ammunition storage is beyond the emplacement. The replica is equipped with sound effects and a commentary which describes the loading and firing the gun.
At the bottom is the ammunition storage facility at the right of the emplacement. Shells will have been kept in one of the stores and propellant charges in the other.
The ammunition storage facilities would have been vulnerable to incoming fire from the south-west.
The 7 Inch RML guns at Fort Siloso were manufactured in England in 1886. This type of gun was originally used as a naval gun from 1875, and some time later was modified for service on land. They acquired their nickname “bottle gun” from their distinctive shape which resembled soda pop bottles of the period.
LEFT: The view from the top of the 7 Inch Emplacement.
The small islands on the right of the photograph are man made, and were build as part of the development of the island for the tourism and leisure industry. The building at the bottom is the Shangri-La Rasa Hotel. This is built on reclaimed land.