Rubha Nan Sasan, Cove Battery

NG89SW 4.00 81495 92101

NG89SW 4.01 NG 81488 92143 and NG 81526 92126 Gun-emplacements

NG89SW 4.02 NG 81496 92101 Observation post

NG89SW 4.03 NG 81621 92058 and 81452 92171 Searchlight Battery

NG89SW 4.04 NG 81473 92142 Engine House

NG89SW 4.05 NG 81418 92094 Building

NG89SW 4.06 NG 81644 92031 Building (Possible), Platform (Possible)

NG89SW 4.07 NG 81609 92032 Anti-Aircraft Gun; Rocket Projector Battery

NG89SW 4.08 NG 81585 92029 Engine House

NG89SW 4.09 NG 81580 92057 Building

NG89SW 4.10 NG 81511 92026 Engine House

NG89SW 4.11 NG 81516 92080 Magazine

NG89SW 4.12 NG 81461 92124 Magazine

NG89SW 4.13 NG 81456 92150 Rocket Projector Battery

NG89SW 4.14 NG 81489 92137 Machine Gun Post

NG89SW 4.15 NG 81468 92058 Building

NG89SW 4.16 NG 81455 92071 Building Platform

NG89SW 4.17 NG 81489 92047 Platform

NG89SW 4.18 NG 81500 91921 Triangulation Station

NG89SW 4.19 NG 81526 91936 Building

NG89SW 4.20 NG 81540 91943 Building

NG89SW 4.21 NG 81529 91957 Building

NG89SW 4.22 NG 81542 92005 Building

NG89SW 4.23 NG 81554 92018 Building

NG89SW 4.24 NG 81494 92006 Coal Store

NG89SW 4.25 NG 81485 92014 Building

NG89SW 4.26 NG 81496 91999 Building

NG89SW 4.27 NG 81488 91997 Building

NG89SW 4.28 NG 81497 91985 Building

NG89SW 4.29 NG 81471 91987 Building

NG89SW 4.30 NG 81378 92081 Building

NG89SW 4.31 NG 81399 92063 Building

NG89SW 4.32 NG 81371 92049 Building

NG89SW 4.33 NG 81435 92046 Building

NG89SW 4.34 NG 81444 92042 Building

NG89SW 4.35 NG 81450 92036 Building

NG89SW 4.36 NG 81453 92028 Building

NG89SW 4.37 NG 81457 92018 Building

NG89SW 4.38 NG 81450 92013 Building

NG89SW 4.39 NG 81464 92002 Buildings

NG89SW 4.40 NG 81444 91983 Building

NG89SW 4.41 NG 81430 91971 Building

NG89SW 4.42 NG 81399 91975 Outfall Sewer; Settling Tank

NG89SW 4.43 NG 81432 91946 Buildings

NG89SW 4.44 NG 81462 92058 Weapons Pit

NG89SW 4.45 NG 81476 91913 Weapons Pit

NG89SW 4.46 NG 81575 92015 Building

NG89SW 4.47 NG 81395 92046 Building

NG89SW 4.48 NG 81410 92062 Building

NG89SW 4.49 NG 81486 91878 Weapons Pit

NG89SW 4.50 NG 81493 91896 Military Roads

NG89SW 4.51 NG 81418 92094 Outfall Sewer

NG89SW 4.52 NG 81428 92085 Building

NG89SW 4.53 NG 81426 92067 Building

NG89SW 4.54 NG 81433 92071 Building

NG89SW 4.55 NG 81433 92056 Building

The extensive remains of a Second World War emergency coast battery, built in 1941. Surviving structural elements include two gun houses in each of which a 6" Mark 7 (naval) gun would have been mounted, two searchlight emplacements, a battery observation post, engine houses or generating rooms, magazines and two emplacements for (possibly 20mm Oerlikon) anti-aircraft guns.

From January to September 1942 the site was manned by 308 Independent Coast Battery (Royal Artillery) and from September 1942 until April 1944 by 154 Independent Battery, after which date it was placed on a care and maintenance basis. There is no record of the battery ever firing in anger.

Information from Historic Scotland, June 1992.

This coast battery is situated at Rubha nan Sasan, at the end of a track from Cove. The battery observation post, two gun-emplacements, two searchlight emplacements, engine rooms, magazine are all extant. In an area some 100m to the SW are many hut bases which formed the accommodation camp for those serving at the battery. The battery was armed with 2 x 6-inch MkVII guns on Naval mountings from HMS Iron Duke which were installed in July 1941. The battery was placed on care and maintainance in April 1945. It has been suggested that the gun barrels from the mountings were rolled into the sea, but there is no evidence for them now.

J Guy 2000; NMRS MS 810/10, Vol.1, 57, Vol.3, 28-31

The coast battery is spread over the headland at Rubha nan Sasan, which is split by Geodh Mor. Most of the remaining upstanding structures are constructed of brick and concrete and are now situated within a new fence which has recently been erected to deter visitors encroaching on to the site.

The two gun-emplacements have steel reinforcing made by Dorman, Long and Cold of Middlesborough and the 'bolt ring' for the gun mounting is visible in both. The steelwork at the front is supported by 'ACRO' supports and is now believed to be in a dangerous condition. There are various compartments and ready-use ammunition lockers to the rear of both emplacements.

The Battery Observation Post (NG89SW 4.02; NG 81496 92101), which has a single compartment to the rear is also supported on brick pillars and a central brick pedestal suggesting it is in an unstable condition.

An unrotating projectile (UP) mounting or light anti-aircraft position was noted at NG 81492 91919 .

The coast battery is visible on RAF vertical air photographs (CPE/Scot/UK182, 1343-1344, flown 8 October 1946) and they show that all of the hutted accommodation camp had been removed by this date. At least ten hut bases were noted on the date of visit, but the bases of 27 can be seen on the air photographs.

No evidence was found of the light anti-aircraft gun-emplacement recorded in the Public Record Office (PRO) at this location (WO 166/7309) and it is not visible on the air photographs.

Visited by RCAHMS (DE, GS, JG), August 2000