Coastal Defence Scala Battery
The Coastal Defence system spanned all round the South African Coastline to protect ports and other strategic areas during the 2nd World War. There are three areas round Cape Town each with three 9.2 inch gun emplacements.
These are namely:
1. Scala Battery Red Hill Simon’s Town
2. Apostle Battery Llandudno
3. Robben Island
The strategic placement of these guns was that they were able to defend and support each other. The Red Hill battery could fire clear over the mountain to defend Cape Town and visa versa.
On my first visit to Scala Upper North Battery it was open and one could go inside and clamber around. The ammunition hoist and the lower levels was creepy to walk around not knowing what to expect around the next corner. Unfortunately loads of rubbish filled the passages of past visitors behaving badly and unable to tidy after themselves. Sadly later on it was all welded shut but the plus side is that it was repainted and restored to look grand and mighty as if ready for battle.
The Upper North is the only one that is easily accessible and has no gates nor is it inside a SADF area with security and big signs that say ‘No Camera’s Allowed’. When standing facing the sea to your left is Scala Battery and the 2nd gun is visible and a little lower down is Middle North Battery where the 3rd gun can be found. See image below.
On closer inspection you can see the rifling in the barrel and all the engineering that went into building these beasts back in the day. I believe the guns came from WW1 naval ships and were modified to turn them into a coastal defence weapon.
Below you can see the part of the round base on which the gun rotated.
The Amount of concrete used in the construction of these placements must have been huge especially when you take the lower levels into account.
I would highly recommend a visit as you can drive right up to the battery and when standing in front of the emplacement, the view over Simon’s Town and False Bay is amazing.
The View from Scala Upper North
On the top of the mountain behind you is what appears to be a very old look-out point with a second building just below and behind it which could have been the accommodation. I have walked up in the past and the path is visible but a little overgrown due to little traffic.
Here is the location
Scala Battery
Simon’s Town
Cape Town
-34.176879, 18.419288
Links To Google Maps
1.Scala Battery Red Hill Simon’s Town
2. Apostle Battery Llandudno
3. Robben Island
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