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)

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

Ayrshire

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Clyde Defences

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Dee Defences

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Torry Battery - geograph.org.uk - 840042

Forth Defences

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Charles Hill Battery - geograph.org.uk - 42789
 
The spine of Inchmickery - geograph.org.uk - 2713491

Highland

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North Sutor Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4094816

Easter Ross

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Orkney

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Shetland

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Tay Defences

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Second World War (1939-1945)

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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

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Fife

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Constructing beach defences at Tentsmuir H5493

Highland

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Wester Ross

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Orkney

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Rocket Silos (geograph 2297457)
 
Flotta, Buchanan Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4714877

Shetland

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Tay Defences

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Chain Home Low

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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

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Highlands

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Wester Ross

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Easter Ross

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Fife

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Orkney Islands

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Scottish Borders

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Shetland Islands

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West Coast Islands

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

Coastal Defence U-Boat

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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]

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.
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