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World War One Audit of Surviving Remains
Date 7 November 2013
Event ID 966451
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type World War One Audit of Surviving Remains
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/966451
SUMMARY RECORD
"Three 9.2-inch guns formed the main armament of Inchkeith. This calibre of gun was intended to tackle the largest enemy ships that might attack the British coast. The guns were mounted in separate emplacements set along the high central ridge of the island: that originally known as “L” Group was the northernmost, to the north of the lighthouse. The emplacement was originally built in 1893-5 to hold a 4.7-inch Quick Firing gun. The 4.7-inch gun was removed in June 1903 and replaced by the 9.2-inch gun in 1904. The three 9.2-inch guns formed the only heavy armament of the island on the outbreak of the First World War, prior to the reinstatement of the 6-inch guns. [WO 192/251]
By February 1918 what had hitherto been called “L” Group was re-named “H” Group [WO 192/251]. By 1938 the gun’s name had changed again, to “North 9.2” gun”.
The emplacement was originally open but a canopy of brick and concrete with steel supporting beams was added prior to or in the early stages of the Second World War, to provide protection from air attack.
