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Appendix No. 4.
SINGAPORE.
(c.) No. 3 gun should have its angle of fire increased 10 degrees on each side. (d) No. 4 gun should have its angle of fire increased 10 degrees on each side.
(e.) No. 5 gun, at present a 64-pounder firing through 180 degrees, should be replaced by an armour-piercing gun mounted on a land service dwarf traversing platform D pivot, so as to fire through 180 degrees, its right extreme range being 8 degrees less than that of the present gun. The left extreme range being thereby increased 8 degrees, the gun will fire over Fort Canning.
(f.) A new gun, a 64-pounder, should be placed in the salient of the demi-bastion, so as to fire over the shipping and Teluk Ayer Bay.
31. The following Table will show the nature of the alterations proposed in the guns:--
At present Proposed
::
64-pr.
7-in.
Armour Piercing
2
3
0
1
3
2
Captain McCallum's proposal to construct
a new fort at Blakang Mati South.
Committee consider it unnecessary.
Advantages of
pro-
posed alterations in Fort Blakang Mati East.
Alterations for pro- tection of Mount Serapong Redoubt.
Blakang Mati East Battery.
32. The Committee, having had under consideration a proposal of Captain McCallum, R.E., that a new fort should be constructed at Blakang Mati South to do away with the dead angle between Blakang Mati East and Mount Siloso, are of opinion that, having in view the proposed strengthening of the artillery at Mount Siloso, the possibility of greatly increasing the power of Blakang Mati East, the advantage of Mount Serapong against a landed force, the disadvantageous nature of Blakang Mati Island for the purposes of landing by an enemy, the isolated position of Blakang Mati South, and the great expense that its construction would involve, are of opinion:-
(1.) That no works should be undertaken at Blakang Mati South.
(2.) That Blakang Mati East should undergo several alterations.
(3.) That some additions should be made to the defences of Mount Serapong.
33. They consider that by increasing the power of the guns at Mount Siloso, and by arranging a fire of three guns from the right flank of Blakang Mati East, the position would be sufficiently protected against any attack of a duration not exceeding two days' siege, which is about the time an attacking force could devote to gain its assumed object.
34. The Committee are satisfied with the utility and importance of such a work as is proposed for Blakang Mati South, but they are of opinion that, having regard to the nature of offensive operations the Colony should be prepared to meet, such a battery cannot be considered as one of urgent necessity.
35. The alterations proposed in Blakang Mati East are as follows:-
(a.) The right flank of the battery to be lengthened so as to allow two extra guns bearing on the south side of Blakang Mati Island to be placed there. One of these to be an armour-piercing gun, the other a 64-pounder. The armour-piercing gun to fire through an are of 165 degrees, having Mount Serapong as its extreme right fire, and St. John's Island as its extreme left.
The 64-pounder to be mounted on C pivot, firing through 120 degrees.
(b.) The present No. 1 gun having an all-round fire, to be replaced by an armour-piercing gun mounted on a land service dwarf traversing platform 1) pivot, so as to fire just clear of the new guns on the right flank (this being the extreme right of the angle of fire), and from there round to the left through an arc of 255 degrees.
(e.) Nos. 2 and 3 guns, at present 7 inches 6 tons, to be replaced by armour-piercing guns, their emplacements to be lowered 4 feet, and the angle of training increased 10 degrees.
(d.) Nos. 4 and 5 guns, at present 7 inches 6 tons, to have their emplacements lowered 4 feet, but otherwise to remain unchanged.
(e) No. 6 gun, at present a 64-pounder with an all-round fire, to be replaced by an armour- piercing gun mounted on a land service dwarf traversing platform D pivot firing through an angle of 270 degrees from Peak Island on its right round to the south of Blakang Mati, extreme left fire to be in the direction of Middle Island.
(f) Some alterations will be necessary in order to protect the battery against a fire from the southward and also from Mount Serapong. These alterations will consist in raising the gorge and directing the fire of the new guns towards the high grounds in rear, as shown in plan.*
(g) As a musketry fire from Mount Serapong might make it difficult to work the present No. 6 gun, a rifled howitzer should be placed so as to command the redoubt on the mount. A mortar can be used until a rifled howitzer could be supplied.
36. By these changes three armour-piercing guns and one 64-pounder would be brought to bear over the south part of Blakang Mati Island, whilst at the same time two armour-piercing guns and two 7-inch guns would direct their fire over the eastern approaches of the New Harbour.
37. The approaches to Mount Serapong, available for a force which had landed, near Blakang Mati South, would be commanded by two guns from Blakang Mati East, but the redoubt should be strengthened, and supplied with machine guns.
38. The following Table will show the proposed increase of guns, &c., in Blakang Mati East:—
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At present Proposed
::
::
::
Armour
Rifled
64-pr.
7-in.
Piercing. Howitzer.
21
4
2
O 10
0
0
5
* Not printed.
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