A post on facebook, 'Rural East Suffolk in old photographs' WW2 gun emplacements on Hollesley Common, 30th December 1943. This pair of gun pits housed two 6 inch guns of the 10th Super Heavy Regiment and are unusual as they are inline and both facing the same way (inland) with their ancillary structures of magazines and shelters behind . Today although overgrown, you can see the two emplacements on the Common still remarkably intact. The Holdfasts still have their mounting rings in place and their layout would have allowed the guns 180 degree swing of fire (the black and white aerial photo shows the guns trained 90 degrees to the right). The colour photos are the site today.
Perhaps Derek Barton might find this interesting its not on his latest offering. Perhaps it wasn't a Coastal Battery. Coast Battery Locations UK - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Nearest is Bawdsey.
HLY 115 - Two World War II gun emplacements. - Suffolk Heritage Explorer. Appears to be: 1 Super Heavy Regiment RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45
I live at the back of Derby road Rail Station, Ipswich. There was a Armoured train on the tracks there during the war. The gun shed was about half way to Felixstowe. 12" Howitzer | WW2Talk
I've placed a comment on your other thread "12inch Howitzer", possibly in error due to the Super Heavy description., regarding a Railway Gun in Lincolnshire. Better seen twice than not at all. The description in the link above tells us: "The task of the guns was to enfilade the beaches and cover the entrance to the Deben Estuary". Looking at the map they could swing around to fire over the sea coast as well. Explaining why the guns could swing round so far. virtually on a peninsular between the River Deben and the coast. Couldn't have Jerry disturbing the archaeology at Sutton Hoo!
I have added the Battery to my Coast Defences map. Although I can find no mention of the Battery during WW2 in any of my sources, there had been a coast battery covering Hollesley Bay in 1805 as part of the defences against an invasion by Napoleon. Whether or not this is the same battery, I could not say.
I wonder where Sussex Heritage Explorer got their info from. It may be worth filing in their Feedback form. I don't particularly want to Register with Suffolk County Archives. Anyone local to that neck of the woods?
I must admit that the buildings look like WW2. Sussex Heritage Explorer Confusingly mention 2 x 6 inch WW2 guns Then mention two substantial gun positions in Hollesley Common, with the Holdfasts for Naval 4" Mark 3 QF guns. QF 4-inch naval gun Mk I – III - Wikipedia All these guns seem to have been accounted for elsewhere. If this was the case. these must be similar to the guns at West Mersea. 373 Battery West Mersea Guns QF (Quick Fire) 4.7 inch Mk5 Manufactured in Japan 1918 Originally Designed in UK by Armstrong Whitworth 24 guns were given to UK in WW1 under the Anglo Japanese Alliance. Issued 26th July 1940 Royal Navy Ordnance Depot Priddy’s Yard Gosport. Were these Hollesley Common positions constructed for WW1 or WW2 defences but the guns never installed.
COV 120 - World War II 'Diver' Anti Aircraft Battery, Diver battery T9 - Suffolk Heritage Explorer 122 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Operation Diver - Wikipedia 435th (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery - Wikipedia BNC 055 - World War II Diver Battery YA - Suffolk Heritage Explorer BAW 072 - World War II Diver Battery G12 - Suffolk Heritage Explorer This is at Bawdsey not far from Hollesley Common Too many Diver sites to list here. The sites were much different using Radar gun directors with more guns.
