Flotta, Buchanan Battery
Searchlight Battery (20th Century)
Site Name Flotta, Buchanan Battery
Classification Searchlight Battery (20th Century)
Canmore ID 270108
Site Number ND39SE 10.03
NGR ND 37504 93593
NGR Description 37517 93622, 37504 93593, 37510 93547,37508 93361
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/270108
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Walls And Flotta
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND39SE 10.03 37517 93622, 37504 93593, 37510 93547 and 37508 93361
Four concrete searchlight emplacements are siuated immediately above the mean high water mark. Three are of one design, whilst the fourth (ND 37508 93361) differs completely.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE), GS, SW), August 1999
Field Visit (1997)
Located
Buchannan Battery served to provide anti-motor-torpedo-boat cover for Hoxa Sound and boom. It was set up in 1940 with two twelve-pounder guns mounted on temporary emplacements. The construction of a permanent complex, armed with twin six-pounder guns, was completed by 1941.
The battery and its ancillary buildings are well-preserved. There are four searchlight emplacements; one lies to the S of the battery, three lie to the N side. The ancillary buildings comprise an engine room, a directing tower, a magazine, storage lockers and shelters; all of which lie 10m or more form the cliff edge.
Orkney Coastal Zone Assessment 1997.
