Flotta, Innan Neb Battery

WWI & II Innan Neb, WWII Gate battery and Neb battery: (ND39SW 41, 50) 1915-1918, 1940-1944.

Elements located

The Innan Neb Battery was originally constructed in 1915 to provide cover from the southern approach to Scapa Flow, via Switha Sound. Two 4.7 Quick Fire guns were emplaced and a boom was erected, running from Innan Neb to South Walls o n the island of Hoy. In 1940 it was brought back into use with the temporary emplacement of a 4.7 quick gun. This battery now served as a support for the new batteries at Neb and Gate. It was abandoned in 1944.

Gate battery was set up with the temporary installation of a single twelve-pounder gun in 1940. A second twelve-pounder was added, and later on, both guns were relocated to new concrete gun houses. This battery had the task of guarding the access point through the boom. Operations were ceased in 1945.

The Neb Battery comprised a twin six-pounder emplacement with a directing tower. It became operational in 1940 and continued in use up until the end of the war. It was charged with providing anti-motor-torpedo-boat protection.

All three batteries are located close together, in fact, the two gun emplacements of the Gate battery are located to either side of the Neb battery. This, together with the overgrown nature of the site, makes it difficult to separate the various structures associated with each battery illustrated on the accompanying plan. [Note: There is no plan in the manuscript]

(i)This semi-subterranean rectangular structure is probably a magazine. It measures 10m by 5m, lies 2m form the cliff edge and is much obscured by vegetation.

(ii) Two semi-subterranean rectangular bunkers lie to either side of a raised concrete plinth. This structure served as a temporary gun emplacement for one of the twelve-pounder quick-fire guns supplied to the Gate battery in the early part of WWII. The battery lies 4m from the cliff edge. An earthwork curves from bunker to bunker to the rear of the position. A second, rectilinear earthwork lies 10m to the rear of the first.

(iii)The second Gate battery’s temporary gun position lies 20m W of (ii) and differs only in that it is surrounded by a single rectilinear earthwork. It lies 8m from the cliff edge.

(iv)This twin 4.7” quick-fire battery belongs to the WWI phase of Innan Neb battery. The gun emplacements are located 12m from the cliff edge. A curved rock-cut passage runs from each gun emplacement to a semi-subterranean rectangular concrete magazine building.

(v) Two concrete searchlight emplacements, each with three-slit openings, served both the Neb and Gate batteries. They are set into the cliff edge.

(vi) This complex is one of the two permanent twelve-pounder gun emplacements which constitute the Gate battery. The gun emplacement is surrounded by a graduated metal ring showing 0-360 degrees. A magazine and directing tower are located to the rear. The complex lies 2m from the cliff edge.

(vii) The Neb battery complex comprises an emplacement for a twin six-pounder gun, a directing tower and several ancillary buildings. It is located 2m from the cliff edge.

(viii) This is the second of the permanent emplacements which constituted the Gate battery. A magazine and directing tower are located to the rear. The complex lies 1.5m from the cliff edge.

(ix) An open-fronted concrete searchlight emplacement, which served both the Neb and Gate batteries, is set into the cliff edge.

(x) Two small concrete buildings, probably associated with wartime coastal defence operations, are situated within 5m of the coast edge.

P204 Photos

Orkney Coastal Zone Assessment 1997.

A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.