Coastal fortifications in Scotland

Coastal fortifications in Scotland played a vital role during the World Wars, protecting shipping as they mustered to convoy. New fortifications were built and old defences were also rebuilt or strengthened around the Scottish coast in case of invasion.[1][2] New technologies like Radar were also deployed.[3]

First World War (1914-1918)

There were over forty seven coastal defence locations in Scotland during the First World War.[4]

Ayrshire

• Ardeer Battery, Ardeer, North Ayrshire[5]

Clyde Defences

• Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom, Firth of Clyde[6]
• Ardhallow Battery, Dunoon, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute[7]
• Dunoon Battery, Castle gardens[8]
• Portkil Battery, Kilcreggan, Roseneath peninsula[4]
• Cloch Point Battery, Gourock, Inverclyde[9]
• Fort Matilda Battery, Greenock, Inverclyde[10]

Dee Defences

Torry Battery - geograph.org.uk - 840042

• Torry Battery, Aberdeen[11]

Forth Defences

Charles Hill Battery - geograph.org.uk - 42789

The spine of Inchmickery - geograph.org.uk - 2713491

• Firth of Forth Anti-submarine Booms, Firth of Forth[12]
• Charles Hill Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife[13]
• Hound Point Battery, South Queensferry, West Lothian[14]
• Leith Docks Battery, Leith, City of Edinburgh[15]
• Braefoot Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife[16]
• Cramond Island Battery, Cramond Island, Firth of Forth[17]
• Downing Point Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife[18]
• Inchcolm Battery, Inchcolm Island, Firth of Forth[19]
• Inchmickery Battery, Inchmickery Island, Firth of Forth[20]
• Kinghorn Battery, Kinghorn, Fife[21]
• Pettycur Battery, Kinghorn, Fife

Highland

North Sutor Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4094816

Easter Ross

• Cromarty Firth Anti-submarine Boom, Cromarty Firth[22]
• North Sutor Battery, Cromarty Firth[23]
• South Sutor Battery, Cromarty Firth[24]

Orkney

• Scapa Flow Anti-submarine Booms, Scapa Flow[25]
• Ness Battery, Stromness, Scapa Flow[26][27]
• Innan Neb Battery, Flotta Island[28]

Shetland

• Score Hill Battery, Bressay Island[29]
• The Knab Battery, Lerwick[30]

Tay Defences

• Broughty Castle Battery, Broughty Ferry[31]

Second World War (1939-1945)

Many of the First World War coastal fortifications were reused in the Second World War. These defences listed below, were newly built for the Second World War.

Clyde Defences

• Toward Battery, Toward, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute[32]

Fife

Constructing beach defences at Tentsmuir H5493

• Tentsmuir coastal defences, Tayport[33]
• Roseisle WWII defences, Roseisle Beach, Kinghorn[34]

Highland

Wester Ross

• Cove Battery, Loch Ewe[35]

Orkney

Rocket Silos (geograph 2297457)

Flotta, Buchanan Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4714877

• Churchhill Barriers[36][37][38][39]
• The Buchanan Battery, Flotta Island[40]
• Gate battery, Flotta Island[25]
• Neb Battery, Flotta Island[25]
• Golta Z Battery, Roan Head, Flotta Island[41]
• Balfour Battery, South Ronaldsay[42]

Shetland

• Hill of Setter Battery, Bressay Island[43]
• Ness of Sound Battery, Yell Island[44]

Tay Defences

• Stannergate Battery, Dundee[45]

Chain Home Low

Chain Home Low (CHL), a new aircraft detection and tracking system, Radar, operated by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. There were about thirty coastal stations around the coast of Scotland.[46]

Aberdeenshire

• St Cyrus Station (CHL), St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire[47]
• Rosehearty Station (CHL), Rosehearty[48]

Highlands

• Leirinbeg Station (CHL), Leirinmore, Highland[49]
• Wick Station (CHL), Wick[50]

Wester Ross

• Point Of Stoer Station (CHL), Assynt, Wester Ross[51]

Easter Ross

• Cromarty Station (CHL), South Sutor, Cromarty, Easter Ross[52]

Fife

• Anstruther Station (CHL), Anstruther, Fife[53]

Orkney Islands

• Crustan Station (CHL), Orkney Islands[54]
• Deerness Station (CHL), Deerness[55]
• South Ronaldsay Station (CHL), South Ronaldsay[56]
• Sanday Station (CHL), Sanday[57]

Scottish Borders

• Lamberton Station (CHL), Lamberton, Scottish Borders[58]
• Coldingham Station (CHL), Coldingham[59]
• Cockburnspath Station (CHL), Cockburnspath[60]

Shetland Islands

• Skaw Station (CHL), Unst, Shetland Islands[61]
• Noss Hill Station (CHL), Shetland Islands[62]
• Wats Ness Station (CHL), Shetland Islands[63]
• Compass Head, Grutness Station (CHL), Sumburgh, Shetland Islands[64]
• Ward Hill Station (CHL), Fair Isle[65]

West Coast Islands

World War II The old radar station, Tiree - geograph.org.uk - 1458870

• Tiree Station (CHL), Tiree[66]
• Islay Station (CHL), Islay[67]
• Harris Station (CHL), Harris[68]
• Barra Station (CHL), Barra[69]
• Eorodale, Lewis (CHL), Lewis[70]
• Islibhig, Lewis (CHL), Lewis[71]
• Skye Station (CHL), Skye[72]

Coastal Defence U-Boat

Dunnet Head - geograph.org.uk - 14728

Coastal Defence U-Boat (CDU). A new experimental system, Radar, for submarine detection and tracking. First introduced in the Second World War. There were six experimental stations, two located on Fair Isle.[73]

• Ward Hill, Radar Station (CDU), Fair Isle, Fair Isle[65]
• Dunnet Head, Radar Station (CDU), Dunnet Head, Wick, Highland[74]
• Ward Hill, Radar Station (CDU), South Ronaldsay, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands[56]
• Saxa Vord Radar Station (CDU), Unst, Shetland Islands[75]
• Sumburgh, Radar Station (CDU), Sumburgh, Shetland Islands[76]

See also

• British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War
• Palmerston Forts
• Anti-submarine_net
• Naval_warfare_of_World_War_I
• Naval_history_of_World_War_II
• RAF Coastal Command during World War II
• Z_Battery
• Anti-aircraft_warfare
• Chain_Home_Low
• U-boat
• Radar

References

1. "The Convoys That Helped Save Britain During The Second World War". Imperial War Museums.
2. "Anti-invasion and Coastal Defences | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
3. "How Radar Changed The Second World War". Imperial War Museums.
4. "Portkil Battery, 6-inch gun battery and 4.7-inch Quick Firing Battery, excluding all later sheds and mobile homes, Fort Road, Kilcreggan (LB52486)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
5. "Ardeer, Ardeer Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
6. "Clyde Defences, Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
7. "Ardhallow Battery and Defences (SM13683)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
8. "Clyde Defences, Dunoon, Castle Gardens, Dunoon Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
9. "Cloch Lighthouse, coast battery 295m SSE of (SM12803)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
10. "Clyde Defences, Greenock, Fort Matilda | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
11. "Aberdeen, Torry Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
12. "Forth Defences, Inner, Submarine Boom | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
13. "Charles Hill Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
14. "Forth Defences, Inner, Hound Point Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
15. "Forth Defences, Outer, Leith Docks Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
16. "Forth Defences, Middle, Braefoot Point Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
17. "Forth Defences, Middle, Cramond Island, Gun Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
18. "Forth Defences,inner, Downing Point Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
19. "Forth Defences, Middle, Inchcolm | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
20. "Forth Defences, Middle, Inchmickery Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
21. "Forth Defences, Kinghorn And Pettycur Batteries | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
22. "Cromarty Defences, Nigg - Cromarty Anti-submarine Boom | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
23. "North Sutor, Coast Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
24. "South Sutor, Coast Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
25. "Flotta, Innan Neb, Neb And Gate Batteries | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
26. "Ness Battery, coast defence battery, Stromness (SM8241)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
27. "Ness Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
28. "Flotta, Neb Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
29. "Bressay, Score Hill, Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
30. "Lerwick, The Knab, Coastal Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
31. "Tay Defences, Broughty Castle Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
32. "Toward Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
33. "Tentsmuir Coastal defences (SM9712)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
34. "Forest Heritage Scotland webpage - Roseisle WWII defences | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
35. "Rubha Nan Sasan, Cove Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
36. "Churchill Barrier No. 1, Mainland To Lamb Holm | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
37. "Churchill Barrier No. 2, Lamb Holm To Glimps Holm | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
38. "Churchill Barrier No. 3, Glimps Holm To Burray | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
39. "Churchill Barrier No. 4, Burray To South Ronaldsay | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
40. "Flotta, Buchanan Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
41. "Flotta, Golta, Roan Head, Z Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
42. "South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, Balfour Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
43. "Bressay, Hill Of Setter, Anti-aircraft Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
44. "Ness Of Sound, Coast Battery | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
45. "Dundee, Stannergate | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
46. "Map of wartime Chain Home Radar Stations in England, Scotland and Wales". anti-aircraft.co.uk.
47. "St Cyrus, Scotston Of Kirkside, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
48. "Rosehearty, Chain Home Low Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
49. "Leirinbeg, Sango Chain Home And Northern Type 7000 Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
50. "Tannach, Thrumster, Chain Home Radar Station; Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
51. "Point Of Stoer, Meall An Sgriobain, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
52. "Cromarty, South Sutor, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
53. "Kingsmuir, Naval Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
54. "Knowe Of Crustan, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
55. "Deerness, The Ward, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
56. "South Ronaldsay, Ward Hill, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
57. "Sanday, Whale Head Chain Home Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
58. "Lamberton Moor, Type 31 And Type 52 Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
59. "Drone Hill, Chain Home Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
60. "Cockburnspath, Hawk's Heugh, Ground Control Intercept Centimetric Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
61. "Skaw, radar station SM13097)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
62. "Noss Hill, Chain Home Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
63. "Wats Ness, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
64. "Compass Head, Grutness, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
65. "Fair Isle, Ward Hill, Coast Defence (C.d.u.) Radar Stations | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
66. "Tiree, Beinn Hough, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
67. "Islay, Kilchiaran, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
68. "Harris, Rodelpark, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
69. "Barra, Greian Head, Ghrein, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
70. "Lewis, Eorodale, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
71. "Lewis, Druim Grunavat, Islivig, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
72. "Skye, Kendrom, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
73. "Secret Scotland - Dunnet Head Radar Station". www.secretscotland.org.uk.
74. "Dunnet Head, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
75. "Unst, Saxa Vord, Royal Naval Chain Home Low Radar Station, | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.
76. "Sumburgh, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore". canmore.org.uk.

External links