+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Oliver Hill 9.2" battery Rottnest Island (pic heavy)

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 11:01 AM
    Location
    South West Western Australia
    Posts
    7,734
    Real Name
    CINDERS
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:53 PM

    Oliver Hill 9.2" battery Rottnest Island (pic heavy)

    Returned to Rottnest after a fair while so the family decided we would visit the Oliver Hill 9.2" battery which was built just prior to the outbreak of WWII.
    Its purpose along with the 2 x 6" Bickley Hill battery's was to protect the approaches to Fremantle Harbour and the Gage Roads channel.
    The gun could fire its projectiles 29 klm's with the CBD of Perth city being just 19 klm's away the 2 x 6" guns could only fire 17 Klm so would only have just gotten inland a small amount.

    The gun was purchased from Britainicon from a cruiser the guide told us, is dated 1906 it never fired a shot in anger, fired half charges or used a sub caliber arrangement so as not to wear out the barrel.
    It was quite an engineering feat as it is on top of a sand dune which they had to remove to build all the infrastructure to support the gun, magazine, shell room and power equipment as well as casualty clearance.
    All they had was a very small gauge rail system and brute force the base bolts for the gun mount are 4 meters long the base is in 3 cast sections.
    I have taken a few pics from my I-phone as our camera went south but came good later!! so bear with me on the quality.
    As a note ~ There are only 5 of these intact and mounted 9.2" guns remaining in the world today so they along with the 6" barrels also on the island are very rare part of West Au's history.


    After the war it was to be cut up for scrap but the RIA (Rottnest Island Authority) purchased the whole 9.2" gun battery for 1 pound from the army.
    It then became Non-Military property so the Army could never claim it back, as for the 2 Bickley Battery 6" guns they were discovered buried in the sand dunes years later.
    As at the time scrap iron prices were so low it was deemed to expensive to remove them plus they were to heavy so they turfed them and buried them.
    Thankfully they were purchased as well and now remain on pedestals for tourists to look at another important part of our military's history.

    At its height Rottnest was home to 2,400 service personnel that served the battery's and various posts throughout the island.
    I will post pics of one of the 6" gun barrels later on as well as the BOP's (Battery Observation Posts) which were manned by the women plotters to guide the battery's.
    Took those whilst doing an off road Segway tour.
    Cheers
    Pic 1 The battery in situ, 2) 9.2” projectile, 3) Charge canisters, 4) Recuperator, 5) Dummy charge bag, 6) 9.2” projectile minus driving band (copper was in short supply post WWII), 7) 9.2” projectile on loading tray pre ramming, 8) Ditto, 9) Rear of breech, 9-10) Oblique views, 11) Silk charge bag and dummy charge at bottom, 12) Gun breech with gun crew members circa WWII, 13) Projectiles the 9.2” fired, 14) Charge canister in the magazine room @ 40’ under main gun, 15) Sand cupboard sign WWII vintage on wall near magazine, 16 – 17) WWII emphera, 18) WWII sign near motor room, 19) Empty motor room the generators and motors were removed after the war to help power isolated areas in the state @ 60’ underground
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Last edited by CINDERS; 03-22-2017 at 05:26 AM.

  2. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to CINDERS For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 12:49 AM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,839
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:53 PM
    Did you get that projectile for your collection?
    Regards, Jim

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 11:01 AM
    Location
    South West Western Australia
    Posts
    7,734
    Real Name
    CINDERS
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:53 PM
    Thread Starter
    I tried Jim but I could not zip up the case!

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. "Mud Hill" Mac
    By Bill Hollinger in forum Vintage Military Vehicles and Aircraft
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 10-02-2016, 12:50 PM
  2. "Parris Island, Inspection"
    By Bolo Badge in forum Pattern 1913/1914 and M1917 Rifles
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 07-21-2011, 04:24 PM
  3. 1896 oliver frog
    By bayonet in forum Edged Weapons Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-20-2011, 01:16 PM
  4. Battery for PVS-2
    By Terrylee in forum FNFAL Rifles
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 11-17-2009, 01:57 PM
  5. Barrel for 1903 "Rock Island" Springfield Armory 30-06
    By Rinald in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-12-2009, 06:24 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks