Coastal fortifications in Scotland

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Coastal fortifications in Scotland played a vital role during the World Wars, protecting shipping as they mustered to convoy. New fortifications were built and old defences were also rebuilt or strengthened around the Scottish coast in case of invasion. [1] [2] New technologies like Radar were also deployed. [3]

Contents

First World War (1914-1918)

There were over forty seven coastal defence locations in Scotland during the First World War. [4]

Ayrshire

Clyde Defences

Dee Defences

Torry Battery - geograph.org.uk - 840042 Torry Battery - geograph.org.uk - 840042.jpg
Torry Battery - geograph.org.uk - 840042

Forth Defences

Charles Hill Battery - geograph.org.uk - 42789 Monks' Cave - geograph.org.uk - 42789.jpg
Charles Hill Battery - geograph.org.uk - 42789
The spine of Inchmickery - geograph.org.uk - 2713491 The spine of Inchmickery - geograph.org.uk - 2713491.jpg
The spine of Inchmickery - geograph.org.uk - 2713491

Highland

North Sutor Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4094816 North Sutor Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4094816.jpg
North Sutor Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4094816

Easter Ross

Orkney

Shetland

Tay Defences


Second World War (1939-1945)

Many of the First World War coastal fortifications were reused in the Second World War. These defences listed below, were newly built for the Second World War.

Clyde Defences

Fife

Constructing beach defences at Tentsmuir H5493 The Polish Army in Britain, 1940-1947 H5493.jpg
Constructing beach defences at Tentsmuir H5493

Highland

Wester Ross

Orkney

Rocket Silos (geograph 2297457) Rocket Silos (geograph 2297457).jpg
Rocket Silos (geograph 2297457)
Flotta, Buchanan Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4714877 Flotta, Buchanan Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4714877.jpg
Flotta, Buchanan Battery - geograph.org.uk - 4714877

Shetland

Tay Defences


Chain Home Low

Chain Home Low (CHL), a new aircraft detection and tracking system, Radar, operated by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. There were about thirty coastal stations around the coast of Scotland. [46]

Aberdeenshire

Highlands

Wester Ross

Easter Ross

Fife

Orkney Islands

Scottish Borders

Shetland Islands

West Coast Islands

World War II The old radar station, Tiree - geograph.org.uk - 1458870 World War II remains near Carrastaoin - geograph.org.uk - 1458870.jpg
World War II The old radar station, Tiree - geograph.org.uk - 1458870

Coastal Defence U-Boat

Dunnet Head - geograph.org.uk - 14728 Dunnet Head - geograph.org.uk - 14728.jpg
Dunnet Head - geograph.org.uk - 14728

Coastal Defence U-Boat (CDU). A new experimental system, Radar, for submarine detection and tracking. First introduced in the Second World War. There were six experimental stations, two located on Fair Isle. [73]

See also

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References

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