Coastal fortifications in Scotland explained

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]

First World War (1914-1918)

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

Ayrshire

• Ardeer Battery, Ardeer, North Ayrshire^[5]

Clyde Defences

• Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom, Firth of Clyde^[6]
• Ardhallow Battery, Dunoon, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute^[7]
• Dunoon Battery, Castle gardens^[8]
• Portkil Battery, Kilcreggan, Roseneath peninsula^[4]
• Cloch Point Battery, Gourock, Inverclyde^[9]
• Fort Matilda Battery, Greenock, Inverclyde^[10]

Dee Defences

• Torry Battery, Aberdeen^[11]

Forth Defences

• Firth of Forth Anti-submarine Booms, Firth of Forth^[12]
• Charles Hill Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife^[13]
• Hound Point Battery, South Queensferry, West Lothian^[14]
• Leith Docks Battery, Leith, City of Edinburgh^[15]
• Braefoot Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife^[16]
• Cramond Island Battery, Cramond Island, Firth of Forth^[17]
• Downing Point Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife^[18]
• Inchcolm Battery, Inchcolm Island, Firth of Forth^[19]
• Inchmickery Battery, Inchmickery Island, Firth of Forth^[20]
• Kinghorn Battery, Kinghorn, Fife^[21]
• Pettycur Battery, Kinghorn, Fife

Highland

Easter Ross

• Cromarty Firth Anti-submarine Boom, Cromarty Firth^[22]
• North Sutor Battery, Cromarty Firth^[23]
• South Sutor Battery, Cromarty Firth^[24]

Orkney

• Scapa Flow Anti-submarine Booms, Scapa Flow^[25]
• Ness Battery, Stromness, Scapa Flow^{[26] [27]}
• Innan Neb Battery, Flotta Island^[28]

Shetland

• Score Hill Battery, Bressay Island^[29]
• The Knab Battery, Lerwick^[30]

Tay Defences

• Broughty Castle Battery, Broughty Ferry^[31]

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

• Toward Battery, Toward, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute^[32]

Fife

• Tentsmuir coastal defences, Tayport^[33]
• Roseisle WWII defences, Roseisle Beach, Kinghorn^[34]

Highland

Wester Ross

• Cove Battery, Loch Ewe^[35]

Orkney

• Churchhill Barriers^{[36] [37] [38] [39]}
• The Buchanan Battery, Flotta Island^[40]
• Gate battery, Flotta Island^[25]
• Neb Battery, Flotta Island^[25]
• Golta Z Battery, Roan Head, Flotta Island^[41]
• Balfour Battery, South Ronaldsay^[42]

Shetland

• Hill of Setter Battery, Bressay Island^[43]
• Ness of Sound Battery, Yell Island^[44]

Tay Defences

• Stannergate Battery, Dundee^[45]

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

• St Cyrus Station (CHL), St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire^[47]
• Rosehearty Station (CHL), Rosehearty^[48]

Highlands

• Leirinbeg Station (CHL), Leirinmore, Highland^[49]
• Wick Station (CHL), Wick^[50]

Wester Ross

• Point Of Stoer Station (CHL), Assynt, Wester Ross^[51]

Easter Ross

• Cromarty Station (CHL), South Sutor, Cromarty, Easter Ross^[52]

Fife

• Anstruther Station (CHL), Anstruther, Fife^[53]

Orkney Islands

• Crustan Station (CHL), Orkney Islands^[54]
• Deerness Station (CHL), Deerness^[55]
• South Ronaldsay Station (CHL), South Ronaldsay^[56]
• Sanday Station (CHL), Sanday^[57]

Scottish Borders

• Lamberton Station (CHL), Lamberton, Scottish Borders^[58]
• Coldingham Station (CHL), Coldingham^[59]
• Cockburnspath Station (CHL), Cockburnspath^[60]

Shetland Islands

• Skaw Station (CHL), Unst, Shetland Islands^[61]
• Noss Hill Station (CHL), Shetland Islands^[62]
• Wats Ness Station (CHL), Shetland Islands^[63]
• Compass Head, Grutness Station (CHL), Sumburgh, Shetland Islands^[64]
• Ward Hill Station (CHL), Fair Isle^[65]

West Coast Islands

• Tiree Station (CHL), Tiree^[66]
• Islay Station (CHL), Islay^[67]
• Harris Station (CHL), Harris^[68]
• Barra Station (CHL), Barra^[69]
• Eorodale, Lewis (CHL), Lewis^[70]
• Islibhig, Lewis (CHL), Lewis^[71]
• Skye Station (CHL), Skye^[72]

Coastal Defence U-Boat

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]

• Ward Hill, Radar Station (CDU), Fair Isle, Fair Isle^[65]
• Dunnet Head, Radar Station (CDU), Dunnet Head, Wick, Highland^[74]
• Ward Hill, Radar Station (CDU), South Ronaldsay, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands^[56]
• Saxa Vord Radar Station (CDU), Unst, Shetland Islands^[75]
• Sumburgh, Radar Station (CDU), Sumburgh, Shetland Islands^[76]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Convoys That Helped Save Britain During The Second World War. Imperial War Museums.
2. Web site: Anti-invasion and Coastal Defences | Historic England. historicengland.org.uk.
3. Web site: How Radar Changed The Second World War. Imperial War Museums.
4. Web site: Portkil Battery, 6-inch gun battery and 4.7-inch Quick Firing Battery, excluding all later sheds and mobile homes, Fort Road, Kilcreggan (LB52486). portal.historicenvironment.scot.
5. Web site: Ardeer, Ardeer Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
6. Web site: Clyde Defences, Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
7. Web site: Ardhallow Battery and Defences (SM13683). portal.historicenvironment.scot.
8. Web site: Clyde Defences, Dunoon, Castle Gardens, Dunoon Battery Canmore . 2024-02-08 . canmore.org.uk . en.
9. Web site: Cloch Lighthouse, coast battery 295m SSE of (SM12803). portal.historicenvironment.scot.
10. Web site: Clyde Defences, Greenock, Fort Matilda | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
11. Web site: Aberdeen, Torry Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
12. Web site: Forth Defences, Inner, Submarine Boom | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
13. Web site: Charles Hill Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
14. Web site: Forth Defences, Inner, Hound Point Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
15. Web site: Forth Defences, Outer, Leith Docks Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
16. Web site: Forth Defences, Middle, Braefoot Point Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
17. Web site: Forth Defences, Middle, Cramond Island, Gun Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
18. Web site: Forth Defences,inner, Downing Point Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
19. Web site: Forth Defences, Middle, Inchcolm Canmore . 2023-10-29 . canmore.org.uk . en.
20. Web site: Forth Defences, Middle, Inchmickery Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
21. Web site: Forth Defences, Kinghorn And Pettycur Batteries | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
22. Web site: Cromarty Defences, Nigg - Cromarty Anti-submarine Boom | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
23. Web site: North Sutor, Coast Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
24. Web site: South Sutor, Coast Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
25. Web site: Flotta, Innan Neb, Neb And Gate Batteries | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
26. Web site: Ness Battery, coast defence battery, Stromness (SM8241). portal.historicenvironment.scot.
27. Web site: Ness Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
28. Web site: Flotta, Neb Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
29. Web site: Bressay, Score Hill, Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
30. Web site: Lerwick, The Knab, Coastal Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
31. Web site: Tay Defences, Broughty Castle Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
32. Web site: Toward Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
33. Web site: Tentsmuir Coastal defences (SM9712). portal.historicenvironment.scot.
34. Web site: Forest Heritage Scotland webpage - Roseisle WWII defences | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
35. Web site: Rubha Nan Sasan, Cove Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
36. Web site: Churchill Barrier No. 1, Mainland To Lamb Holm | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
37. Web site: Churchill Barrier No. 2, Lamb Holm To Glimps Holm | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
38. Web site: Churchill Barrier No. 3, Glimps Holm To Burray | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
39. Web site: Churchill Barrier No. 4, Burray To South Ronaldsay | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
40. Web site: Flotta, Buchanan Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
41. Web site: Flotta, Golta, Roan Head, Z Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
42. Web site: South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, Balfour Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
43. Web site: Bressay, Hill Of Setter, Anti-aircraft Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
44. Web site: Ness Of Sound, Coast Battery | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
45. Web site: Dundee, Stannergate | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
46. Web site: Map of wartime Chain Home Radar Stations in England, Scotland and Wales. anti-aircraft.co.uk.
47. Web site: St Cyrus, Scotston Of Kirkside, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
48. Web site: Rosehearty, Chain Home Low Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
49. Web site: Leirinbeg, Sango Chain Home And Northern Type 7000 Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
50. Web site: Tannach, Thrumster, Chain Home Radar Station; Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
51. Web site: Point Of Stoer, Meall An Sgriobain, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
52. Web site: Cromarty, South Sutor, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
53. Web site: Kingsmuir, Naval Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
54. Web site: Knowe Of Crustan, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
55. Web site: Deerness, The Ward, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
56. Web site: South Ronaldsay, Ward Hill, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
57. Web site: Sanday, Whale Head Chain Home Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
58. Web site: Lamberton Moor, Type 31 And Type 52 Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
59. Web site: Drone Hill, Chain Home Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
60. Web site: Cockburnspath, Hawk's Heugh, Ground Control Intercept Centimetric Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
61. Web site: Skaw, radar station SM13097). portal.historicenvironment.scot.
62. Web site: Noss Hill, Chain Home Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
63. Web site: Wats Ness, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
64. Web site: Compass Head, Grutness, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
65. Web site: Fair Isle, Ward Hill, Coast Defence (C.d.u.) Radar Stations | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
66. Web site: Tiree, Beinn Hough, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
67. Web site: Islay, Kilchiaran, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
68. Web site: Harris, Rodelpark, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
69. Web site: Barra, Greian Head, Ghrein, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
70. Web site: Lewis, Eorodale, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
71. Web site: Lewis, Druim Grunavat, Islivig, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
72. Web site: Skye, Kendrom, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
73. Web site: Secret Scotland - Dunnet Head Radar Station. www.secretscotland.org.uk.
74. Web site: Dunnet Head, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
75. Web site: Unst, Saxa Vord, Royal Naval Chain Home Low Radar Station, | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.
76. Web site: Sumburgh, Chain Home Low Radar Station | Canmore. canmore.org.uk.