Fort Siloso: 7-Inch RML Gun Magazine

The view to the left as you enter the Magazine. A window is on the left-hand wall, and an Ammunition Hatch is in the wall directly ahead. On the right is the door to the Shell Store.

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 .A passageway runs round the magazine. The Magazine held 200 Shells and 200 Propellant Cartridges.

In 1885, during an upgrade of the fort, it was recommended, “As these guns bear only on inner waters 100 rounds per gun will suffice, and for this amount accommodation exists. It appears that the remainder can be stored in Blakang Mati East (Fort Connaught)”.

Soldiers entering the Magazine had to remove their footwear and strip to their underclothes before donning special clothing and footwear for working in the magazine. Soldiers working in the Magazine had to take special precautions to prevent any chance of setting off an explosion. Items such as Lucifers matches), smoking materials and inflammable items were not permitted past the entrance.

Men propellant charges to the guns would not enter the Magazine itself. They would work in the passageway and have the cartridges passed out of the ammunition hatches to them. This was in to reduce the risk of a catastrophic explosion should an accident occur. Shells would have been too heavy to lift through hatches and would have been passed out of the door onto trolleys in the passageway between the guns and the Magazine.

Lighting in the Magazine was from oil lamps kept in recesses on the walls. The recesses had glass doors to reduce the risk of explosion. The level of light in the Magazine was not very good as there are few lighting recesses.

The front wall of the magazine
The Outside Wall of the Magazine.