8-inch Mk-VII Disappearing Gun

Bore: 8-inch

Range: 10,000 yards

In service: 1885-1925

Number in Service: 10

Purchased in response to the 1885 war scare, the eight inch disappearing gun was an unusual size and not seen much in the British Empire outside of New Zealand and Australia. Of the 10 ordered, four were emplaced in Auckland, three in Wellington and two in Lyttelton. Plans to emplace the tenth in Dunedin never went ahead. The tenth gun was eventually taken to Mount Cook in Wellington, where the carriage was eventually scrapped and the barrel buried. The guns were abandoned in 1925.

Three guns are presently intact to varying degrees at North Head, Mt Victoria and Ripapa Island. Pieces of a further three presently exist (from Fort Gordon, North Head and Ripapa Island), with two more known to still be buried (Kau Point and Mt Cook).

Click the images to enlarge.

Description: Gun for Fort Victoria being unloaded, 1899

Reference: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections D-GW-0019 (https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/28297)

Copyright status: No known copyright

Description: Gun being winched up to Fort Victoria, 1899

Reference: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T2270 (https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/29098)

Copyright status: No known copyright

Description: Gun being installed at Fort Victoria, 1899

Reference: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T2306 (https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/29808)

Copyright status: No known copyright

Description: Not confirmed, but this is possibly Fort Gordon, circa 1920.

Reference: Wairarapa Archive https://masterton.spydus.co.nz/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/ARCENQ?RNI=654127

Copyright status: No known copyright

Description: Not confirmed, but this is possibly the breech of the gun at Fort Gordon, circa 1920

Reference: Wairarapa Archive https://masterton.spydus.co.nz/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/ARCENQ?RNI=654135