Scanned image of view of hut bases from East

Description Scanned image of view of hut bases from East

Catalogue Number SC 673949

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 66996 CN

Scope and Content World War II hut bases, Hoxa Battery, Hoxa Head, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands In both World Wars coast batteries were built to protect the channels into Scapa Flow and Kirkwall Bay, where there was an important contraband control. The greatest concentrations of firepower were at the main north-western and southern entrances to the Flow, the latter covered by the coast batteries on Stanger Head on Flotta and here on Hoxa Head on South Ronaldsay. This view across Hoxa Sound to the corresponding battery at Stanger Head on Flotta shows the concrete bases of the wooden accommodation huts aligned across the sloping ground at the rear of the battery. The hut superstructures were set on the individual concrete piles which raised them above the surrounding damp ground, and were further tied down against the wind. A major site such as Hoxa Battery would have required accommodation for over 100 operational and support staff [CHECK]. At the heart of the Orkney archipelago, Scapa Flow was the main fleet anchorage for the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Its vital importance led to the creation of one of the most concentrated defence networks in Britain. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/673949

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap