Mount Siloso 6 Inch QF Magazine
Ammunition Hoists
The photographs shown below were taken in the two numbered yellow areas in the plan.
1. This is the left-hand hoist leading to the steel doors on the rear of the emplacement. One hoist is on each each side of the entrance stairs.
The ammunition was placed on the long tray fitted to the side of each hoist. The tray measures 3 feet 9 inches long by 1 feet 3 inches wide (1092 x 380mm).
2. The hoist was manually operated by one man a turning a handle on the side of the mechanism. A handle can be seen in the photograph to the left. The handle is connected to a small cog wheel meshed with a large cog wheel below it. The large wheel works a mechanism connected to a chain attached to a a large metal counterweight (shown below), and pulls the weight down to raise the ammunition tray.
A foot controlled lever can be seen at the front of the photograph on the left. This operated a braking mechanism which helped to hold the ammunition tray at the doors on the surface, and if necessary controlled the descent of the ammunition tray. The brake consisted of a metal strap placed over a protruding drum at the side of the large cog wheel. The strap being tightened over the drum to cause friction, thus slowing down the rotation when required.
Working the hoist would be tiring in the heat inside the Magazine.
3. The counterweight balances, or counters, the weight of the ammunition tray and its contents, thus making raising or lowering it an easier task for the operator. Think of it as being like a set of balance scales with the weights countering the item being weighed. When you are carrying a long object, you usually hold it at the point of balance as that makes it easier for you. The principle of the counterweight is the same. The weight is attached to the ammunition tray by cables running down trays at each side of the hoist. One cable tray can be seen in the photograph at the top of the page. The slightly open doors leading to the surface are visible at the top of the photograph.