Flotta, Stanger Head, 6-inch Battery
Coastal Battery (Second World War)
Site Name Flotta, Stanger Head, 6-inch Battery
Classification Coastal Battery (Second World War)
Alternative Name(s) World War Ii
Canmore ID 270134
Site Number ND39SE 11.07
NGR ND 3777 9259
NGR Description c.ND 3777 9259
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/270134
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Walls And Flotta
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND39SE 11.07 c.3777 9259
Only one of the two gun-emplacements relating to the World War II 6-inch coast battery survives at the edge of the rubble from the quarry. It is situated immediately SW of the World War I, 4-inch battery.
Constructed of shuttered concrete, the overhead canopy has been deliberately 'caved' in. The structure was not entered on the date of visit.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE,GS, SW), August 1999
Field Visit (1997)
Elements located
Stanger Battery came into being at the outbreak of WWI to guard Hoxa Sound. Initially, the battery was armed with four temporarily emplaced twelve-pounder guns. Later, these were replaced with four 4” quick fire guns in permanent concrete emplacements. In 1915 two 6” quick fire guns were added.
In 1938, in preparation for the war, the Stanger Battery was reopened with the installation of two 6” guns on temporary emplacements. By 1940, a permanent emplacement had been built and was now backed up by an additional 4.7” gun, set on a temporary emplacement nearby. This battery served to guard Hoxa and Switha Sounds.
Little survives of the batteries, due in part to extensive post-war quarrying and land disturbance. Other military remains cover an extensive area, mostly located 100m or more inland. Within the coastal zone there are frequent fragments of earthworks. These possibly represent military training areas and firing ranges. The ruinous footings of concrete and brick buildings which do survive in this area are now very obscured by vegetation.
Orkney Coastal Zone Assessment 1997.
