Talk:Maunsell Forts

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John Bray is copying this information from his website www.forts.org.uk

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Fort_Charlotte

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I've added quite a bit of material, mainly derived from books and websites (main source cited). I've got various books and records about the history of the fort-based pirate stations, but they're all safely stored away where I can't find them (sigh). Lee M 01:16, 13 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Contents 1 Radar 2 M/S Baalbek 3 Maunsell Forerunners 4 == Map, please! ==

[edit] Radar

As well as their role in hindering German air raids, the Naval forts have also been credited with extending radar coverage in the Thames Estuary, allowing the Navy to pinpoint the positions of newly-laid enemy mines and avoid them.

This paragraph is confusing and needs a little explanation. (1) Was radar installed on the forts? This is implied but should be made clear. It's an interesting question because the military certainly would not have wanted a radar transmitter to fall into German hands, and these forts were pretty easily capturable. The risk/reward formula must have been interesting. (2) Does the latter part of the sentence mean that the radar was only used to spot German minelayers?
Tempshill 00:24, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

(1) Both styles of Forts mounted radar for target search and aquisition, as well as fire direction. Note that Chain Home radar arrays were openly installed in 1939, and operated at a time of far greater risk. Air defence of Britain was considered to be paramount, and the Allies were well aware that Germany had far superior operational Radar technology prior to this date. There would seem to be a very fair risk/reward formula there.

NB. Military equipment installed on the Forts consisted of 3.7” guns Mk 2c with automatic loaders by Mollins of Deptford. Radar No 3 Mk 2 subsequently updated and modernised to Radar No 3 Mk 7. Sperry Predictors No 11 and Searchlight No 2 Mk 2.

Thames forts shot down 22 planes, 30 flying bombs, and were instrumental in the loss of one U-boat, which was scuttled after coming under fire from Tongue sands tower.^[1]

Fire Control Radar No.3 MkVII (Yellow River)^[2]
Modified Sperry Gyroscope Company Fire Solution Predictor ^[3]
(2) Saying something is allowed suggests unique or additional capability, not the exclusion of prior inherent capability. EWAD radar looks "up and out" and has a blind zone "under the radar" that cannot be monitored, thus may be exploited. The sea-based tactical tranceivers were farther out, and could scan lower, allowing for surface searches of their operating areas.

(Pardon my messiness, still trying to learn the command system here. Rakkasan 05:28, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] M/S Baalbek

[1] [2]

[edit] Maunsell Forerunners

Great War M-N Towers at Shoreham Harbour, Victorian-era Spithead Forts in the Solent
Should these additional and lesser known offshore fortifications be mentioned in the article, or linked as being relevant to the topic?
http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/Solent/Solent.html
http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/nab_tower.html
http://www.forelands.demon.co.uk/Nab.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Sand_Fort Rakkasan 07:30, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] == Map, please! ==

A map of the locations of these would be very helpful. Especially to readers not highly familiar with UK geography for whom "Thames Estuary" is a bit vague.

68.40.41.33 11:49, 13 June 2007 (UTC)