Fort Siloso: 6-Inch BL Battery No.1 Gun
A figure representing the Gun Commander at the No.1 Emplacement.
ABOVE: The No. 1 Gun Emplacement in 1993.
A Mark IV 9.2-Inch Gun barrel was mounted in both the No.1 and No.2 Emplacements. These were later moved to their present location.
A Replica 6-Inch BL Gun in the No. 1 Emplacement. This replica represents one of the two
guns which were installed at these emplacements in 1942. The replica does not accurately
depict the Mark VII Guns originally emplaced, but gives an idea of what a 6-Inch coast gun
was like.
No. 1 Gun Emplacement seen from Mount Siloso. The Ammunition Lockers are clearly visible in the face of the gun ring. The stairs to the right lead down to the side of the entrance to the Magazine (arrowed). The replica gun is covered by an attap (Nipa Palm leaf) roof, as many guns in Singapore once were. This would provide the gunners with shade and shelter from rain. The smaller attap roof to the left covers the top end of the Ammunition hoist. The figures are standing on the wooden platform around the gun circle. The No.2 Emplacement is obscured by trees on the left.
The Gun Crew at work. Two men are holding a wooden pole which is inserted into a bucket. Their task was important. After firing, there was a possibility that the bagged propellant charge would leave some smouldering remains in the breech. Their task was to use a wet swab to clean out the chamber, ensuring that there were no such remains.
Remains of the overhead concrete Splinter Cover at No. 1 Emplacement. This was built
sometime after 1939 and was demolished after the war.
Remains of the overhead concrete Splinter Cover at the
No. 1 Emplacement.
Looking down the Ammunition Hoist. Shells are on the hoist tray at the bottom of the shaft, ready to be raised to the gun. Each of the guns had its own hoist and ammunition supply.During the battle for Singapore, a hoist broke down and ammunition had to be manually carried from the magazine to the stairs and up to the gun. This was quite backbreaking work for the magazine crew.
The No.1 Mark 24 Gun during a practice shoot in the 1950s.
Guns were assembled on their emplacements, not taken up
as a complete assembled unit. The barrels were installed
by a process called ‘Skidding’. This was labour intensive,
and used a great deal of timber to support the barrel. The
Photograph shows the No.1 Gun’s barrel being Skidded.
The No.1 Gun’s barrel being Skidded. The timber has to be very carefully arranged so that no damage is caused to the barrel, shield or emplacement.
The Centre Pivot Mounting for a Mark 24 Gun with Mark 5 Shield. The gun was bolted to a concrete ‘Holdfast’ in to which 24 long threaded posts were embedded. The Mounting was bolted to these posts.