Victoria Battery (one of two identically-named batteries named after Queen Victoria) was an artillery battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It was built in the 1840s on top of the earlier Princess of Wales Batteries following a report by Major-General Sir John Thomas Jones on Gibraltar's defences. The battery was located on the west side of Gibraltar and was one of a number of "retired" batteries in the territory, constructed to improve the coastal defences between Europa Point and the town.[1]
The battery was completed by 1843 and was nicknamed "Snake in the Grass Battery" due to its irregular undulating shape, measuring about 200 yards (180 m) long. It mounted fifteen 32-pdr. guns in 1850, seven of which were replaced in 1863 by 68-pdrs. In 1868 Colonel W.F.D. Jervois wrote a report into the defences of Gibraltar which recommended installing larger rifled muzzle loader (RML) guns. Two 9-inch RMLs were installed in the south flank with iron casemates providing protection. This reduced the space available for the other guns to seven emplacements, of which three were occupied by 80-pdr. RMLs by 1888. The 9-inch RMLs were later replaced by 10-inch RMLs but all of the 80-pdrs. were removed in 1892, followed by the 10-inch guns in 1900.[1]
In 1878 a new battery, also called Victoria Battery, was constructed on the right flank of the earlier battery to house a 100 ton gun. It was completed in 1883 but fell into disuse within only five years, by which time the gun was already obsolete.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abHughes, Quentin; Migos, Athanassios (1995). Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar. Exchange Publications. p. 369.
^Hughes, Quentin; Migos, Athanassios (1995). Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar. Exchange Publications. p. 370.
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victoria, battery, identically, named, batteries, named, after, queen, victoria, artillery, battery, british, overseas, territory, gibraltar, built, 1840s, earlier, princess, wales, batteries, following, report, major, general, john, thomas, jones, gibraltar, . Victoria Battery one of two identically named batteries named after Queen Victoria was an artillery battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar It was built in the 1840s on top of the earlier Princess of Wales Batteries following a report by Major General Sir John Thomas Jones on Gibraltar s defences The battery was located on the west side of Gibraltar and was one of a number of retired batteries in the territory constructed to improve the coastal defences between Europa Point and the town 1 Victoria BatteryPart of Fortifications of GibraltarGibraltarby Thomas Colman DibdinVictoria BatteryCoordinates36 07 56 N 5 21 08 W 36 132171 N 5 352193 W 36 132171 5 352193TypeArtillery BatterySite informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceSite historyBuilt1883The battery was completed by 1843 and was nicknamed Snake in the Grass Battery due to its irregular undulating shape measuring about 200 yards 180 m long It mounted fifteen 32 pdr guns in 1850 seven of which were replaced in 1863 by 68 pdrs In 1868 Colonel W F D Jervois wrote a report into the defences of Gibraltar which recommended installing larger rifled muzzle loader RML guns Two 9 inch RMLs were installed in the south flank with iron casemates providing protection This reduced the space available for the other guns to seven emplacements of which three were occupied by 80 pdr RMLs by 1888 The 9 inch RMLs were later replaced by 10 inch RMLs but all of the 80 pdrs were removed in 1892 followed by the 10 inch guns in 1900 1 In 1878 a new battery also called Victoria Battery was constructed on the right flank of the earlier battery to house a 100 ton gun It was completed in 1883 but fell into disuse within only five years by which time the gun was already obsolete 2 References edit a b Hughes Quentin Migos Athanassios 1995 Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar Exchange Publications p 369 Hughes Quentin Migos Athanassios 1995 Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar Exchange Publications p 370 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victoria Battery Gibraltar nbsp This article about a building or structure in Gibraltar is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This military base or fortification article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Victoria Battery amp oldid 1172301276, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
