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AA Emplacements Revealed at Mumbles Head

By John Powell

Header: Round Emplacement number two, view towards Swansea

More: Anti-Aircraft Guns of Mumbles Head >

Uncovering and recording the Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery

Edited by John Powell

Mumbles Hill, now a Local Nature Reserve, was the obvious location for Naval Coastal Defence guns and an Anti-Aircraft battery for the protection of Swansea and the Bristol Channel.

Mumbles Local Nature Reserve today

Somerset House (its name on the plans) is at the lower centre of this photo.
Please note that it stands on a private part of the hill.

Surprisingly, many of the anti-aircraft gun emplacements still remain for walkers to view and explore and an on-going project has cleared the vegetation from several of the emplacements and bunkers, and helping to assist in their preservation.

Command Bunker or Control Post

The battery (troop) of four 3.7 inch Heavy Anti-Aircraft Guns was controlled from this bunker, by around a dozen ATS personnel on each night shift. More details of the control and firing of the guns, can be found at: Anti-Aircraft Guns of Mumble >s Head

Clearance work by the volunteers begins

In January 2010, work at Mumbles Hill Nature Reserve revealed anti-aircraft emplacement number three (counting from the left while standing at the control bunker). It was found to be of the same design and construction as the two emplacements cleared in previous years.

ROUND EMPLACEMENTS

The fourth emplacement was left uncleared as it is situated on private land

In the centre of the third emplacement, this puzzle was revealed

A concrete 'puzzle' was found at the centre of the 'round' gun emplacement. In the background can be seen the information board and steps situated in front of the Control Bunker. They have now been removed for safety reasons.

In the normal position for the ‘hard-standing’ which held the 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun at the centre of the emplacement, a jumble of concrete segments was revealed, the nature of which is still under investigation. A brick-lined cable trench was partially exposed which, according to the previous sites examined, would have connected the gun position to the Control Bunker.

All below-ground disturbance is being avoided to ensure the long-term survival of any unknown buried features.

Emplacement number three, the puzzle & shell racks

The previous photo explained.

The shells would be be stored ready for action on racks, within the 'shell carriers.'

The crew ‘Ready Room’ on the back left of this photo, was found to be in an excellent state of preservation, with the original tin roofing still intact after seventy years, but unfortunately this had to be removed for safety reasons.

Another view of the 'puzzle'

The brick-built ready-to-use ammunition storage bays here, still survive to a good height, whereas on the opposite side of the emplacement they have collapsed.

Work to clear the emplacements was actually begun on emplacement number two, as it had a public footpath running through the middle and it was the most obvious. At this time, research was at an early stage and as the other five were still covered with undergrowth, their existence was still unknown.

Round Emplacement number two, view towards Swansea

This gunsite is on a public footpath and is always available to view.

The clearance work uncovered several of the cable trenches leading from the control bunker to the guns and noted that at the 'round' hard standing, they may have been added into the concrete base of the gun after construction.

Another view of the cable trench at round emplacement number two, which leads to the command bunker in the background.
The original Information Boards have now placed into store, as the stands became unsafe.

The City Council will replace these as funds become available

The emplacements are designed so the C/O can see each of the four guns from his position at the bunker.

Round Emplacement number two: The shell storage area.

Photo: Kate Jones

The shells would be stored here on racks, each pair within protective cases.

Another view of the passage behind the shell racks, after the area was cleared.

We would welcome details of similar installations and their function.

The passage was revealed behind the shell racks and may have been a place for personel to stand, while they 'fused' the shells. This would be before an automatic shell fuse machine was installed as part of the weapon in the square gunsite.

Note: The later the shell is fused, then the more accurate the fire, as the shell fuse can be set to explode at the latest recorded height of the target.

On the other hand, in the two new 'square' emplacements, the brick-lined cable trenches, below, seemed to be a part of the complete design.

SQUARE EMPLACEMENTS

Two 'square' emplacements were installed in 1944 and designed for guns fixed to the ground using static mountings.

Two 'square' emplacements were installed in 1944, for guns with a static mountings

Legend: 1 - Four 'round' emplacements. 2 - Two 'square' emplacements . 3 - Officers Mess. 4 - Command Bunker or Control Centre. 5 - Barracks.

[The interpretation boards mentioned above as being installed in the exposed, 'round' emplacement number two, wereremoved for repair and are being returned].

The new 'square' emplacements and the remains of the shell racks which can be seen in the background.

The second of the new 'square' emplacements.

Sometime in early 1944, the four AA guns on mobile mountings, installed in the 'round' emplacements were removed. and 3.7 inch guns on static mountings were installed, on the 'square' emplacements.

There were more guns supplied on static mountings, ad they were less complicated and therefore easier and quicker to produce than the mobile mountings used in the earlier emplacements. They were also the standard design for naval weapons.

A more advanced gun layer radar, predictors and automatic fuse setters, were used which increased the rate and accuracy of firing by home defences.

When these were first revealed in 2005, the reason for the two extra gun emplacements was not at first understood. Eventually, we discovered that they replaced the four earlier gun emplacements, because of the continual development of gun, fuse, shell and control systems.

Volunteers begin the clearence under supervisition of GGAT & The City & County of Swansea.

This City & County of Swansea project is under the supervision of Glamorgan Gwent Archaeology Trust Ltd., with assistance from Mumbles Development Trust and Oystermouth Historical Association.

Clearance work on Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve took place near Thistleboon Drive car-park.

For more details contact: Sean Hathaway 01792 635749 or 07974 760980

The Nature Conservation Team, Environment Department,

City and County of Swansea, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PH

nature.conservation@swansea.gov.uk

Mumbles Development Trust: Green Team - 01792 405169

Oystermouth Historical Association - Contacts

Clearence work had also taken place overlooking Mumbles Lighouse, at the site of the 6 inch Gun emplacement.

INTERPRETATION BOARDS have been installed at both of the Second World War battery sites on Mumbles Hill. They contain photographs, maps and details of the history and weapons available for its defence.

The sites have picnic tables and good views of the bay.

Mumbles Hill Map The Google satellite map of Mumbles Hill Nature Reserve.

This shows the gun emplacements, control bunker, footpaths, viewpoint, access points and car park, including disabled, which can be found on Thistleboon Drive, Mumbles and Bracelet Bay.

Toilet facilities may be found at Bracelet Bay, adjacent to Castellamare Cafe & Restaurant.

Author and website editor John Powell - 01792 520540 Contact Website Editor

Publications Many leaflets including:- Mumbles at War, 623 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery and Mumbles at War, Coastal Defences 299th Battery,

are available to order at Oystermouth Historical Association meetings which take place at the Ostreme Centre, Newton Road, Mumbles