1. The History
Heavy anti-aircraft battery (HAA) sites were permanent sites consisting of four guns mounted in the centre of their own circular earthen embankment, each of which had concrete lockers for storing ammunition. These four emplacements were evenly positioned in a semi-circular ‘C’ shape around a central battery command post with the bulge of the ‘C’ pointing roughly in the opposite direction to the area being defended so as to cover the approach to the target.
The command post housed a spotter’s telescope, rangefinder and predictor computer. This equipment was used to calculate the distance, speed and height of approaching hostile aircraft. This information was then passed to the guns where it would be used to set the fuses on the projectiles and tell the gunner where to aim.
The 4.5 inch and later 3.7 inch guns that HAA batteries were equipped with were used to engage high altitude bombers and fired high explosive projectiles designed to explode underneath or above a bomber, causing damage as hundreds of hot metal fragments flew through the air around it.
In terms of this battery code-named Scunthorpe H2, there is little information about it, and it doesn’t appear to have listed status.
2. The Explore
A very relaxed explore. Easy access and just a few minutes’ walk from the road. What struck me about this AA battery (and I’ve done a few over the years) is just how ‘flat-pack’ and relatively flimsy this one was. One of the four emplacements has gone completely (it was demolished apparently), the command centre is flooded and the whole site is really overgrown. So, not the most spectacular site of this ilk I’ve explored but well worth twenty minutes in the March afternoon sun.
3. The Pictures
The first thing you come across is the munitions store. Definitely the sturdiest building of the site:
i
Loving this bit of graff:
On to the three remaining gun emplacements:
And looking over towards the command centre:
Heavy anti-aircraft battery (HAA) sites were permanent sites consisting of four guns mounted in the centre of their own circular earthen embankment, each of which had concrete lockers for storing ammunition. These four emplacements were evenly positioned in a semi-circular ‘C’ shape around a central battery command post with the bulge of the ‘C’ pointing roughly in the opposite direction to the area being defended so as to cover the approach to the target.
The command post housed a spotter’s telescope, rangefinder and predictor computer. This equipment was used to calculate the distance, speed and height of approaching hostile aircraft. This information was then passed to the guns where it would be used to set the fuses on the projectiles and tell the gunner where to aim.
The 4.5 inch and later 3.7 inch guns that HAA batteries were equipped with were used to engage high altitude bombers and fired high explosive projectiles designed to explode underneath or above a bomber, causing damage as hundreds of hot metal fragments flew through the air around it.
In terms of this battery code-named Scunthorpe H2, there is little information about it, and it doesn’t appear to have listed status.
2. The Explore
A very relaxed explore. Easy access and just a few minutes’ walk from the road. What struck me about this AA battery (and I’ve done a few over the years) is just how ‘flat-pack’ and relatively flimsy this one was. One of the four emplacements has gone completely (it was demolished apparently), the command centre is flooded and the whole site is really overgrown. So, not the most spectacular site of this ilk I’ve explored but well worth twenty minutes in the March afternoon sun.
3. The Pictures
The first thing you come across is the munitions store. Definitely the sturdiest building of the site:
Loving this bit of graff:
On to the three remaining gun emplacements:
And looking over towards the command centre:
Last edited:
