Hawkins Battery is a former coastal artillery battery, built to defend the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport. The battery was originally built between 1888 and 1892 to mount four 9-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) guns on high angle mountings, which were all mounted. These guns could provide high angle, plunging fire onto more lightly armoured decks of enemy warships attempting to enter

Plymouth Sound Plymouth Sound, or locally just The Sound, is a deep inlet or sound in the English Channel near Plymouth in England. Description Its southwest and southeast corners are Penlee Point in Cornwall and Wembury Point in Devon, a distance of abou ...

. The battery is enclosed by concrete walls, with three small caponiers, built like pill boxes to provide enfilading fire along the ditches. The gun positions were served by underground magazines. The battery was built with caretaker's accommodation and crew shelters for the gun detachments who would man the battery in time of war. The battery was upgraded with newer armament after 1910 when the battery was re-modelled for two 9.2-inch Breech Loading (BL) high angle fire guns. These remained in place until 1922 when they were dismounted. The battery was used for further military purposes during the Second World War, but was sold by the War Office in 1959.The National Archives WO192/120, Fort Record Books, Southern Command. Hawkins Battery, 1903-1928 The battery remains complete and is now run as a camping and holiday park.

References

Bibliography

* *{{cite book, first=Freddy, last=Woodward, title=The Historic Defences of Plymouth, publisher=Cornwall County Council, year=1996, isbn=978-1898166467

External links

Victorian Forts data sheet
Forts of Plymouth, Devon Military history of Cornwall