Coastal Defence Guns

[David Dunlop]

Were coastal defence guns in Canada during WW2 modified naval guns, modified field guns or a unique category of gun all their own?

[alamotex]

Halifax Aerial view.jpg

Your best bet would be to borrow a copy of GUNNERS IN CANADA by Nicholson. I recall that he covers this topic. Hopefully aerial image of 9 inch gun emplacement attached.

Brian

[Bob Carriere]

Only two left at the mouth of the Gaspe basin..... not sure but believe they were naval guns.

Bob

[Robert Bergeron]

Bob,

Are those in Fort Prével near Gaspé Québec ?

Been there.

Robert

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Were coastal defence guns in Canada during WW2 modified naval guns, modified field guns or a unique category of gun all their own?

David;

The following well give you an idea of what was used on Canada's Pacific coast: Army Headquarters (AHQ) Report No. 1 - Fixed Coast Artillery Defences on the Pacific Coast, dated 8 May 1944, located here: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-...qga/ahq001.pdf, which was compiled by the staff of the General Staff Historical Section, National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

David;

Further reading on Canadian coastal defences (Atlantic and Pacific), can be found in Chapter 5 - Defending the soil of Canada, 1939-1945, of the Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume I: Six Years of War, which is located here: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-...s/Sixyrs_e.pdf

Cheers

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

David;

The following well give you an idea of what was used on Canada's Pacific coast: Army Headquarters (AHQ) Report No. 1 - Fixed Coast Artillery Defences on the Pacific Coast, dated 8 May 1944, located here: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-...qga/ahq001.pdf, which was compiled by the staff of the General Staff Historical Section, National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa.

Cheers

The above report was re-worked and published last year in the Weapons of War series. Available from www.servicepub.com

[Bob Carriere]

Yes they are........ small display but very impressive. Not well advertised and as usual played down.

I never realized that the Gaspe basin was intended to be used as a back up refuge for the Royal Navy fleet should England be invaded..... shared with Halifax Bedford basin.

They had anti submarine steel nets controlling access to the basin..... a seaplane base....... saddely most of the original installations have been leveled for urban development.

ships coming in had to stop in a holding area, well within range of the shore guns, ships IDed, searched and cleared for entrance in the basin. Even local folks remember very little of that period.

Bob

[Mike Cecil]

Bag Loading (BL): 'BL' is Breech Loading.

The weapon type uses bag charges, ie does not use a complete cartridge case (as in QF: Quick Firing).

Mike C

[Bob Carriere]

Muzzle loading................

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by servicepub

The above report was re-worked and published last year in the Weapons of War series.

. . . I knew that . . .