The Electric Light Emplacement at Siloso Point was replaced during the 1939s, by three Electric Light Emplacements mounted on stilts above the beach. These lights were to illuminate targets for the Twin 6-Pounder AMTB (Anti Motor torpedo Boat) Emplacement which built above them. However, there was a shortage of Twin 6-Pounders for the emplacements prepared for them in Singapore, so Fort Siloso and several other Close Defence Batteries were armed with old 12-Pounder QF Guns. A Holdfast (mounting for a fixed gun) for the 12-Pounder was built in the emplacement, and the 12-Pounder mounted. The Emplacement at Siloso Point was code named‘OSO’.

Before WWII, the gunners who manned the 12-Pounder at OSO used to exercise daily. A boat delivering water to islands such as Pulau Bukom, would pass by every day, and this was used as a practice target. The speed and range of the boat was tracked and fire orders were passed to the gunners, who in turn trained the gun on the boat and duly ‘sank’ it.

When Demolitions were carried out at Fort Siloso the deny it to the Japanese on 14th February 1942, the 12-Pounder was tripped into the sea. The Japanese recovered the gun and remounted it.

LEFT & RIGHT: In March 1948, OSO finally had a Twin-6 Pounder emplaced. This had arrived from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the latter part of 1947. This 6-Pounder, and others brought to Singapore to arm Berhala Reping and Batu Berlayar, were modified to operate in an ant-aircraft role as well as their original AMTB (Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat) role.

A mushroom shaped object can be seen on top of the gun in the left-hand photograph. This was a ventilator. An electric motor sucked cordite fumes from the inside gun when it was in operation.

In the AMTB role, these guns were very effective as the Italians found out to their cost on 26th July 1941. A force of seventeen Italian Torpedo and E-Boats attempted a dawn raid on the Grand Harbour at Valetta in Malta. Aided by Searchlights, Twin 6-Pounders at Forts St. Elmo and Ricasoli drove them off sinking eight Torpedo and five E-boats. None of the attackers managed to get in to Grand Harbour, none made it home.

The Twin 6-Pounder could fire 72 rounds per minute, this despite each gun being hand loaded. Ammunition was stacked pyramid fashion on trolleys on rails behind the gun. The rails enabled the trolley to be pushed to follow the movement of the gun. This ensured that ammunition was always to hand. Rounds were passed from a soldier at the trolley to another man between him and the Gun Loader. He would in turn, pass the round to the Gun Loader who had an arm sticking out slightly, the right arm for the Loader of the left-hand gun, and theleft arm for the Loader of the right hand gun. The 12-Pounder round was placed in his armpit pointing forward and angled up. As the loader felt the round being placed, he would grasp it with his free hand and push it towards the breech. His other hand would be brought up to the base of the shell to push it home into the breech (above right). When both guns were loaded, they would be fired. The cartridge cases were automatically ejected on the recoil, and the whole procedure started again. As soon as the shell was in the breech, the Loader would position his arm for the next round.

LEFT: In 1956, Coast Artillery was disbanded and the emplacement fell in to disrepair. The The photo shows the Ammunition Trolley Rails and two Ammunition Trolleys at the foot of the Director Tower. The Holdfast and mounting bolts for the gun’s pivot mounting can be seen.

LEFT: Directly opposite the stairs down to Siloso Point is a steel door in the Blast Wall.
CENTRE: The entrance to the stairs leading up to the underground Complex.
The circular holes in the wall are for drainage purposes.
RIGHT: The entrance to the Magazine with the Director Tower beyond.

LEFT: The Magazine from the Gun Emplacement. The door to the Watch Shelter is open.
CENTRE: Looking along he Blast Wall from the Gun Emplacement.
RIGHT: Inside the Watch Shelter.

LEFT: Ladder down to the Searchlight Emplacements.
CENTRE: The Director Tower in 1993. An 8-Inch BL Gun Barrel is mounted in the Gun Emplacement.
RIGHT: Storage Lockers in the Gun Emplacement.

LEFT: A replica 12 Pounder in the Emplacement.
CENTRE & RIGHT: The pathway from the Gun Emplacement leading behind the Director Tower.

The path goes on to the top of the Watch Shelter and Magazine and leads to a staircase which leads up to another path running alongside the underground Complex.

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