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Fly Point Battery.
This battery has an armament of 1-10-in. B.L. gun.
The ground in front of the battery should be as little disturbed as possible, and should be thickly planted with prickly pear, and also with the same description of fir tree as is growing on the neighbouring hill.
Stonecutter West.
The armament for this work consists of—
2-10-in. B.L. guns on barbette carriages.
disappearing carriages.
2-6
29
""
The designs for this battery are satisfactory, with the following exceptions:- There is no communication between the casemates and the gun emplacements, except by means of the covered passage, at the sides of which are placed the shell and cartridge stores. Reliefs would consequently have to be moved through this passage, and would interfere with the ammunition supply.
To remedy this defect an outside passage should be made round the fort, communicating with the casemates and gun emplacements.
The shell stores should be converted into artillery stores, the shells being stored in the passages near the lifts, where there is ample space.
The slopes of this fort are very steep, and as their outlines have been made quite straight the fort is very conspicuous. It is doubtful whether these steep slopes will withstand the heavy rains of summer, whilst a short exposure to bombardment would bring them down.
We recommend that the slopes should be strengthened, not by a more gradual and smooth slope all round, but by modifying the glacis so as to assimilate it more to the configuration of the ground.
It has been proposed to cut a ditch round the greater portion of the hill on which the fort stands, but not to revet the excavation at first. This course appears unwise, as there is little doubt that the first rains would bring down the earth above it, and it would be difficult to limit the area of damage. Also, unless proper flanking defence is provided, a ditch is most objectionable; whilst the cost of constructing caponiers with proper underground communication between them and the interior of the fort, and of revetting the walls with masonry, would be very considerable.
We are of opinion that if an efficient chemin des rondes be made and the glacis in front of it thickly planted with prickly pear, not in small breadths of 8 or 10 yards, but in broad areas of 50 to 100 yards, that this with the addition of land mines will make the work secure against any attack by landing parties.
Attached is a diagram showing the dead water at different angles of depression below Stonecutter West Fort. The carriages for the guns mounted on this fort should be arranged to allow of at least 7 degrees depression being given. The dead water should be mined.
Stonecutter West, Central.
Fly Point Battery.
Stonecutter West.
It was at first proposed by the War Office to place 1-10-in. B.L. gun on Stonecutter the hill now being cut down, whilst a 6-in. B.L. gun was to be mounted on the West,
Central. pointed hill on the eastern side of it, but we understand that it is now intended that both guns shall be placed on the former hill.
This is certainly the better arrangement.
The designs for this work have not yet been received at the station.
Stonecutter East, Central.
The cartridge recess of No. 1 gun should not be used as it is much Stonecutter exposed to fire. The earth on top of the magazine should be sloped off all East, round.
Central.
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