Coastal Artillery In The Third World War

[Bernard Woolley]

DRAFT

*

AUSTRALIA

BL 6-inch gun Mark VII
Two 6-inch guns installed in Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, NSW, were found to be in near operational condition, having been restored in 1991 when moved to Fort Scratchley Museum so as to be able to fire ceremonial salutes. When the army took the fort over again in 2005 the garrison was kept busy by their CO in restoring, repairing and renovating the old fort and Newcastle’s old WWII observation positions and defensive infrastructure. An industrious army captain decided to bring the two 6-inch Mk VII back to full operational capability, as a way of keeping the reservists under his command busy. That same captain was able to obtain surplus modern 155mm ammunition through his brother, who was in the artillery branch. With some modification done by Goninans Heavy Industry the guns were able to fire this ammunition, including both HE and illumination rounds. Hearing of the success of restoring the Scratchley guns, army reservists at the Princess Royal Fortress in Western Australia made the two Mk.VI guns still in that re-activated fort operational. These guns were used to provide protection for coastal convoys assembling in Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound.
A fifth and sixth Mk VII at Fort Nepean were also re-activated for illumination and coast defence purposes. This fortress guards the entrance to Port Phillip Bay and lies on its eastern headland, and in common with many other old Defence properties was again taken over by the Army. These guns had been on display at the fort. One had fired the first Australian shot of WWI, the other the first Australian shot of WWII.

BL 6-inch (relined 8-inch) gun Mk VII (Designated 8(6)x25.5 MkVII* Illumination Gun in ADF and NZDF service)
The strangest re-activation in Australia was done at Fort Queenscliff, on the opposite side of the channel from Fort Nepean. Queenscliff had always been a Defence Establishment, and again to keep idle hands busy the Commandant noted that the New Zealanders were refurbishing three archaic 1880s-vintage Mk VII 8-inch guns (relining down to 155mm standard for illumination) in old forts at Auckland and Christchurch. He promptly decided that his 1885-vintage 8-inch Mk VII, still on its original hydro-pneumatic mounting at Fort Queenscliff, would also be a worthwhile project for his own idle hands. He discussed the matter with the local MCM Squadron who were dissatisfied with the pair of 25pdr emplaced at Torquay for illumination of that anchorage. While shorter-ranged than the two 6-inch Mk VII illumination guns at Fort Nepean, it provided much improved illumination for the western examination anchorage off Torquay and was often called on by the HMAS Osborne-based minesweeping squadron responsible for keeping Port Phillip Bay and its approaches free of mines. HMAS Osborne had been a submarine base during the 1920s, again it was resumed, with dredging done and wharfage built to support its minesweepers.

L119 ‘Hamel Gun’
Not a coastal artillery gun by design, but during the ‘Mine Battle’, several ‘Hamel Guns’ were deployed mainly to act as illumination batteries for the minesweeping forces at various ports.

105 mm M101A1 howitzer
Used in the same role as the ‘Hamel Gun’.

M198 howitzer
Used in ‘illumination batteries’, although as with the others, these units were also issued H.E rounds after the incident in Newcastle. Many were emplaced on the site of old coastal fortifications.

Ordnance QF 25-pounder
Some smaller Australian ports were given 25pdrs obtained from a variety of sources - museums, memorials, etc. Illumination and limited numbers of HE rounds were obtained from India.


DENMARK


GUNS

15cm/55 SK C/28
WW2 era German naval rifle. Arms two Danish coastal forts. The guns at Stevnsfort are housed in two twin turrets taken from the battleship Gneisenau. The guns at Langelandsfort are in four shielded single mounts.

Centurion Mk.5 DK
As these old tanks were replaced by more modern ones some were handed over to the Danish Home Guards, while others became part of the fixed coastal defences. In most cases they donated their turrets to reinforced concrete bunkers, but a few tanks were simply buried whole, minus their tracks and engine. The Danish Army also constructed semi-sunken fighting positions that could be used by any of their MBTs, so that they could be employed as mobile coastal artillery. Initially, the Centurion turrets used were those armed with the 20pdr (84mm). These were later upgraded with the L7 105mm gun.


MISSILES

RBS-15M
Procured to replace the land-based Harpoon. See Swedish entry for more details.

RGM-84 Harpoon
Truck mounted anti-ship missiles taken from decommissioned Peder Skram class FFs. Placed in reserve following the acquisition of the RBS-15M.


FINLAND

GUNS

130 53 TK
A 130mm fixed gun of Finnish origin. In 2005 it was the main weapon of Finland’s coastal artillery.

130 K 90-60
Eighties’ vintage Finnish-designed 130mm towed gun in use with coastal defence units. In limited use due to weight issues. To be replaced by the 155 K 98.

130 K 54
Soviet (M 1954 (M-46))130mm gun employed as coastal artillery. Once one of the longest-ranged artillery systems (27 km). Scheduled to be replaced by the 155 K 98. The later weapon is in limited service with the army, but not yet with the Coastal Artillery.

100 56 TK
This gun is a modified T-55 turret used as coastal artillery. The turret was up-armoured and camouflaged to look more like a rock formation.

MISSILES

MTO 85M
The Finnish designation for the RBS-15SF-III missile. The Coastal Artillery operated them from Sisu trucks.

Rannikko-ohjus 2005
Finnish designation for the EuroSpike LR, used by the Rannikkojääkäriti (Coastal Rangers) for short range coastal defence.


GERMANY, Federal Republic

The FRG entrusts coastal defence to a variety of sea mines, Naval Air Wings 1 and 2, coastal submarines and missile-armed attack craft. However, Territorialkommando Schleswig-Holstein’s Panzerartilleriebataillon 630 and 640 have the (nominal) secondary task of providing coastal defence services should the need arise. Both are equipped with PzH 2000.

During the introduction of the RBS-15 ASM into the Federal German Navy, the formation of a (heavy) coastal defence missile unit as part of the Amphibische Gruppe was discussed and partly planned out but so far, nothing has come of it. Especially the source of personnel was and is a controversial issue. [NOTE 1]


JAPAN

Type 88
Anti-ship missile in service with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. Deployed on truck based TEL, each carrying six missiles.

Type 96
Fibre optically guided anti-landing craft and anti-tank missile in service with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.


NEW ZEALAND

In common with Australia and most other nations, many old NZDF properties were again re-occupied, including (like Australia) nearly all the surviving coastal defences, observation positions and fortresses. A variety of old artillery was already installed (mostly for illumination but also for public morale) and these old facilities were being refurbished and upgraded. Then the NZ Army heard via the trans-Tasman grapevine that another good way to keep soldiers busy was to convert totally obsolete guns already in place into illumination guns where that could assist the local MCM forces.

Mining was already a serious problem in NZ waters, and Auckland had very serious problems, with heavy losses among their auxiliary minesweepers. Good illumination was required.

Rumours that the New Zealanders were returning rifled muzzle-loaders to service were never correct. All that occurred was that in locations where such guns remained, they were refurbished over time as a way of keeping any idle men busy. This was done in the same way old fortifications and buildings were refurbished and upgraded, a routine occurrence wherever old military infrastructure was re-occupied.

GUNS

BL 6-inch (relined 8-inch) gun Mk VII (Designated 8(6)x25.5 MkVII* Illumination Gun in ADF and NZDF service)
The rearmed Auckland (North Head and Mt Victoria forts) had two truly ancient 1880s-vintage Mk VII 8-inch guns, complete with mounts and in reasonable to excellent condition. A third was at the re-activated Fort Jervois on Ripapa Island off Christchurch. All were on hydraulic disappearing mounts. All could be and were refurbished, mostly by soldiers at the forts themselves, and local industry helped with much enthusiasm. Modern hydraulics made them far more reliable and efficient than they had ever been. Even the guns themselves were so light (just 12 tons) as to be easily removed for refurbishment and relined down to 155mm to enable use of common illumination rounds.
Despite their age and utter obsolescence, all provided good service in this simple, mundane but useful and occasionally life-saving role. Their low elevation was improvable and their slow rate of fire in their archaic disappearing mounts was no disadvantage in an illumination role.

Ordnance QF 25-pounder
Obtained from similar sources as Australian guns. Employed in the same role. Famously, two 25pdrs were sent to guard Waitangi after the Soviet raid on the Chatham Islands. These were manned by members of the revived New Zealand Home Guard, recruited locally.

105 mm M101A1 howitzer
Used as illumination batteries to support the navy’s MCM force.

L119 ‘Hamel Gun’
As above, although few ‘Hamel Guns’ were used in this role, as they were needed for overseas deployments. These weapons were also issued with HE once it was clear that there was a disguised Soviet raider in New Zealand waters.


NORWAY

GUNS

75mm Tornpjäs m/57
See Swedish entry for more details.

12cm m/70 ERSTA
See Swedish entry for more details.

105mm/45 SK C/32
WW2 era German naval rifle used as coast defence artillery. Guns were mounted in casemates or “mushroom” shields.

127mm/45 SK C/34
WW2 era German naval rifle used as coast defence artillery. Guns were mounted in casemates or “mushroom” shields.

150mm SK C/28
WW2 era German naval rifle used as coast defence artillery. Guns mounted in casemates.

76.2mm ???
Ex-USN 3” guns employed as coastal artillery at a single HV-manned fort.

105 mm M101A1 howitzer
Used in ‘mobilisation batteries’, manned largely by the Home Guard.

MISSILES

Rb 17
Swedish version of the Hellfire missile adapted for coastal defence. Used by the Norwegian Coastal Rangers. Can be fired from the shore or from CB90 boats.

Naval Strike Missile
Used by the Royal Norwegian Air Force and navy, as well as the Coast Artillery Branch of the navy. An NSM coastal battery consists of three missile launch vehicles, one battery command vehicle, three combat command vehicles, one mobile communication centre, one mobile radar vehicle with TRS-15C radar, one transport and loading vehicle, and one mobile workshop vehicle.

TORPEDOES

Norway kept a small number of underwater coastal torpedo launch sites as a last line of defence located in narrow approaches such as the famous Oscarsborg fortress in the Oslofjord. The modernised sites use the Swedish Torped 613 (TP613), American Mark 37 and the West German DM2A3 torpedo. [NOTE 2]


PORTUGAL

GUNS IN FIXED FORTIFICATIONS

BL 9.2-inch Mark IX and X
Portugal has a single operational battery of 9.2inch guns, the Bateria da Raposa, near Fonte da Telha. Although they were maintained in a mothballed status (‘care and maintenance’) between 10 December 1998 and the onset of mobilisation.

BL 6-inch gun Mark VII
A single battery of three guns at Outão remains operational (the 7th Coastal Artillery Battery). Like the Bateria da Raposa, the battery was maintained in a mothballed status (‘care and maintenance’) for most of the late 1990s until mobilisation.

MOBILE COASTAL ARTILLERY – GUNS

155/52 APU SBT
Used by six batteries of the Coastal Artillery Regiment. See Spanish entry for more details.


SPAIN

GUNS IN FIXED FORTIFICATIONS

38.1 cm/45 Model 1926
Also known as the Vickers-Armstrong 38.1 centimetres (15.0 in) Mark B, which was originally intended as the main armament of the Brazilian battleship, Riachuelo which was cancelled in 1914. Between 1929 and 1935, Spain purchased eighteen of these guns for use as coastal artillery, where they were employed in active batteries for about seventy years. A battery at Paloma Alta, equipped with four guns, with three of these in working condition, remained in service in 2005. As modernised, these emplacements were equipped with radar, infrared and laser range finders for fire control. Six other guns survived in non-operational capacity at abandoned batteries.

MOBILE COASTAL ARTILLERY – GUNS

155/52 APU SBT
Spanish designed and towed 155mm howitzer. It is currently only used by the Mobile Coastal Artillery Group.

MOBILE COASTAL ARTILLERY – MISSILES

Spain is currently studying the formation of an Anti-Ship Missile Group. What this group will be armed with, if created, has not yet been decided. It is believed that the NSM and Rb 15 KA are front-runners.


SWEDEN


GUNS IN FIXED FORTIFICATIONS

15.2 cm kanon m/98 – 15.2/98
Naval gun by Bofors, used as secondary guns on the Äran-class and HMS Dristigheten coast defence armourclads. When those were decommissioned, the guns were given to the coastal artillery – in coastal artillery service, they seem to have been considered effective out to 12 000 meters. Some were still maintained in readiness by the 1990s (for instance the Gråberget fort in Norrland was decommissioned in 1997).

15.2 cm kustartilleripjäs m/40 – 15.2/40
16 Bofors guns – they had originally been ordered by Poland and the Netherlands, were requisitioned by the Swedish government and used to build four forts.

10.5 cm tornautomatpjäs m/50 – 10.5/50
First Swedish post-war coastal artillery system, automatic guns in fully enclosed, dispersed mountings. Maximum ROF variously given as 15 or 36 rounds per minute. The project used relatively new and untested technology, resulting in delays and reduced reliability. Three two-gun batteries were constructed. In @ service until coastal artillery was disbanded.

15.2 cm kustartilleripjäs m/51
12 guns developed by Bofors for Thai cruisers, but were instead taken over by coastal artillery. Deployed in two forts each of three twin turrets, one at Bungenäs at North Gotland, the other at Hemsöbat near Härnösand in Västernorrland.

7.5 cm tornpjäs m/57 – 7.5/57
Coastal artillery guns mounted in turrets in fixed fortifications, developed in the 50s as a cheaper alternative to the 10.5/50. Sliding wedge mechanism, fixed ammunition. A total of 30 three-gun batteries were built 1957-75, in three series. An additional 16 guns were exported to Norway. MLU implemented the 90s saw improvements to camouflage and signature reduction, water fog defence against laser-guided weapons, improved ventilation systems, and fire control upgraded with the ARTE 727 system from the mobile battalions, which in turn got ARTE 740.

12 cm tornautomatpjäs m/70 – 12/70
System ERSTA (ERSättning Tungt Artilleri – Heavy Artillery Replacement) was designed to replace older 15,2 cm guns in fixed forts, following a study to determine whether guns or heavy missiles would be more suited for the purpose. Fully automatic, water cooled, sliding wedge mechanism, fixed ammunition – ROF up to 25 rounds/minute. Built in three gun batteries which were designed to be very survivable against modern threats (although cost-cutting saw EMP-protection reduced, crew quarters made smaller, and fully equipped kitchens skipped in favour of less comprehensive galleys). Six batteries were initially constructed, another four were cancelled due to the high cost of the installations. However, these batteries were later built in the 1990s to the same standard of the Norwegian forts. The older forts were upgraded to bring them as close to the modern standard as possible. In addition, 8 guns were exported to Norway – Norwegian forts got the full level of EMP protection, full size crew quarters and facilities, and also had 10 years newer electronics. Another six guns were exported to Norway in the 1990s, although only three were installed in Russevik Fort by the start of war in 2005.


MOBILE COASTAL ARTILLERY – GUNS

15.2 cm kustartilleripjäs m/37 and m/37B – 15.2/37, 15.2/37B
An initial series of nine 15.2cm m/37 mobile coastal artillery guns entered service in 1939-40, followed by a series of fourteen M/37B (originally ordered by the army) in 1943-44. Ogival interrupted-screw mechanism. Gun carriage and barrel were transported separately and assembled at the firing position. Most had been replaced by the 12/80 during the 80s, but one 3-gun battery remained in service on Gotland until disbanded without replacement in 1991, however the guns were placed in storage on the island.

21 cm kustartilleripjäs m/42 – 21/42
Guns of a Skoda-design originally ordered by Turkey. When Germany took over Czechoslovakia, they adapted the gun-type themselves as the 21 cm Kanone 39. In 1942 Sweden ordered a series of nine guns for delivery in 1944, for use as mobile coastal artillery. Interrupted screw action. Relatively low road speed, and would take between 1 and 4 hours to make ready for action once arriving at the firing site. Left active service in 1972 and were placed in mobilisation reserve, being finally taken completely out of service in 1982.

7.5 cm kustartilleripjäs m/65 – 7.5/65
“7.5 cm tornpjäs m/57” mounted on a reinforced version of the gun carriage for the “75 mm luftvärnsautomatkanon m/54” AA gun. Employed as part of six mobile coast defence battalions, one three-gun battery to each battalion. Had a flat trajectory, and limited range, so it had to be deployed close to shore, and could only be used for direct fire. To protect the crew, a splinter proof gun house could be mounted when the gun was deployed, but the gun carriage was not strong enough to be moved with the gun house mounted. Phased out of use 1985-92, as the mobile coast defence battalions changed role and mode of operation to amphibious battalions.

12 cm rörlig kustartilleripjäs m/80
Based, in part on the Haubits 77, this weapon was developed as part of the KARIN (Coastal Artillery's Movable Defence Invasion) project. The gun and its supporting equipment are highly mobile and can come into action within minutes of taking up position. A Self-Propelled variant of the gun was under development at the beginning of 2005 as part of the KARELIN project and had reached the demonstrator phase.


MOBILE COASTAL ARTILLERY – MISSILES

Robot 08/Rb 08
Swedish anti-ship missile developed in the 60s from the French CT 20 turbojet-powered target drone. Entered service 1968 as the world’s first vehicle based mobile coastal missile system. Replaced by Rb 15 KA in 1995.

Robot 52/Rb 52
Swedish coast-defence version of the French SS.11 anti-tank missile, ordered for use by the mobile coast defence battalions. It had short range – something like 3 km or 2 miles, and as a MCLOS missile was somewhat challenging to use. There was a careful selection to choose which soldiers to train as operators, and each would get the possibility to fire around 20 missiles as part of the training. Experience showed that many missiles went into the waves before reaching the target areas. It was replaced by Rb 17 (Hellfire).

Robot 17/Rb 17
Swedish ground-based version of Hellfire, using an anti-ship warhead developed by Bofors. Laser Guided. Deployed by the amphibious battalions from 1990, the laser-guided missile is launched from a tripod launcher, either from land or from a Combat Boat 90. Was also exported to Norway for use in the Norwegian Coastal Rangers.

Robot 15 KA/Rb 15 KA
Rb 15 is a Swedish anti-ship missile developed in the mid-70s in two versions, Rb 15 M for the Navy and Rb 15 L for the Air Force. In 1989 the Swedish government decided that the shore-based Rb 08-batteries should be replaced by Tungt kustrobotbatteri 90 armed with a shore-based version of Rb 15. Finland already had a shore-based version of Rb 15 M in service, and experience from work with Finland was used in developing the Swedish Rb 15 KA.


TURKEY


GUNS IN FIXED FORTIFICATIONS

BL 9.2-inch Mark X
Supplied in the 1950s from Canada, under the auspices of NATO. The six guns were installed to cover the Bosphorus. They are believed to be operational, although probably mothballed.

MOBILE COASTAL ARTILLERY

Turkey does not have any dedicated mobile coastal artillery, either guns or missiles. However, the Turkish Army does regularly train to use its wide variety of towed and self-propelled guns and howitzers to defend the coast against enemy amphibious attack. Acquiring land-based anti-ship missiles is not considered a priority by the Turkish Government.


UNITED KINGDOM


MISSILES

MM33 Exocet ‘Excalibur’
Between October 1985 and around the turn of the century, a single battery of land-based Exocets, known in British service as ‘Excalibur’, was based in Gibraltar. These were guided by a Type 1006 radar, which is still in place. Not much is known about the deployment, as it seems to have been very secretive.

Naval Strike Missile
Procured to replace ‘Excalibur’, as part of a defence agreement with Norway (which procured the AS90 SPH in return). A single battery is based in Gibraltar. A training battery is based in the UK.

GUNS

L118/L119 Light Gun
Not a coastal gun per se, however, Thomson's Battery (the howitzer battery of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment) do train to use their six howitzers in the coast defence role. The MoD is studying whether it is worth replacing the RGR’s Light Guns with the newer L777 155mm howitzer.
Several Light Guns were also emplaced at UK ports to support the activities of the RN’s MCM force, especially the boats of the Auxiliary Minesweeping service. These Light Guns were usually taken from those held for ceremonial duties. For example the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle donated all but one L118 each. Whether these guns were issued with anything other than illumination rounds is unknown. L119s used for demonstration, trials and training at Larkhill, were preferred to L118s, as they were not used by frontline units.

BL 9.2-inch Mark X
The RGR was aware that the Australian Army was able to make the two Mk. VII 6-inch guns at Fort Scratchley operational again, which may have been the spur for them to attempt something similar. In their case they chose to first start work on the three 9.2-inch Mark X guns of O'Hara's Battery, Lord Airey's Battery and Breakneck Battery. The gun of O’Hara’s Battery were last fired on 7 April 1976, although it remained operational, along with Lord Airey’s and Spur Batteries (the latter's gun was relocated to IWM Duxford), for some time after that. Ammunition and charges were obtained from Portugal, which still had operational 9.2-inch guns.

6-inch gun Mark VII
The RGR also worked on making the two guns of Devil’s Gap Battery operational. Again ammunition and charges were obtained via Portugal, which had a single battery of three guns still in service.

Ordnance QF 25-pounder
A small number of 25-pounders were taken from a variety of sources for use as illumination batteries. Famously, two guns, which had previously served as the 1 O’Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle (they had recently been replaced by L118s) were used as an illumination battery at the Port of Leith. It is known that two guns sent to Lerwick in Shetland were issued some HE rounds after the Soviet raid on Unst.


UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

GUNS

305mm/52 Pattern 1907
Four triple turrets from the old battleship Frunze were used as coast artillery batteries following WW2. Two were placed near Sevastopol, and two were placed near Vladivostok. The turrets are believed to remain operational.

A-222 Bereg
Self-propelled 130mm coast defense gun in Soviet service. Widely exported to Soviet allies.


MISSILES

SSC-1B Sepal (SPU-35V/4K44)
Shore-based variant of the SS-N-3 anti-ship missile. The SPU-35V is a truck-mounted TEL carrying one missile, while the 4K44 is a single static site in the Crimea.

SSC-2A Salish (FKR1) / SSC-2B Samlet (4K87)
Coast defense variant of AS-1. The SSC-2A was the nuclear-armed variant. Neither remain in Soviet service, though the SSC-2B may linger on with Soviet allies.

SSC-3 Styx (4K51 Rubezh)
Coast defense variant of the SS-N-2. Widely exported.

SSC-5 Stooge (K-300P Bastion)
Truck-mounted anti-ship missile.

SSC-6 Sennight (3K60 Bal E)
Coast defense variant of the AS-20/SS-N-25. Carried in truck-based TEL with 8 missiles.

SSC-7 Sunburn (3M-80MVE)
Shore-based variant of the Kh-41/SS-N-22 anti-ship missile.

***

1) In @, Field Artillery Battalions 630 and 640 (existing only as unmanned “equipment units” to be manned by reservists) were intended for use in coastal defence. Sources are minimal, sadly. Both were dissolved in 1986. With the strengthening of the Bundeswehr in TLW, the task was raised from the dead along with Artillery Command 600.

2) Oscarsborg only got rid of their (modernised) torpedo batteries in 1993. In TLW Norway retained and modernised its coastal defence torpedo batteries, replacing war booty German G7A torpedoes with more modern weapons.

[Bernard Woolley]

SPACE RESERVED

[James1978]

NORWAY

TORPEDOES

Norway kept a small number of underwater coastal torpedo launch sites as a last line of defence located in narrow approaches such as the famous Oscarsborg fortress in the Oslofjord. The modernised sites use the DM2A3 torpedo. [NOTE 2]

As best as I've been able to figure out based on @ plans, Norway would still have six torpedo batteries in TLWverse. At least in @, the order of the day seems to have been to use older torpedoes that were already in inventory.

In @, they used the T1 mod 1 torpedo. The T1s were were war booty German G7A torpedoes that were modernized/rebuilt multiple times over the years and included wire-guidance. At one time, they were used by Norwegian submarines, torpedo boats, and torpedo batteries.
In @, they stuck around until 2001. Apparently they got to the point where they couldn't be rebuilt/refurbished further. How much of that was they really couldn't get anymore life out of them, and how much of that was they shut down the torpedo batteries and it didn't matter anymore, I can't say.

What I can say is that the batteries that were modernized or new build during the 1990s, could also used Torped 613 torpedoes. And part of me thinks that with the continued Cold War, those batteries could also fire Mark 37s. Which isn't to say that in TLWverse they don't use the DM2A3, just that it might not be the only torpedo available.

[Bernard Woolley]

Have made some minor updates to the Norwegian torpedo entry, James. Thanks.