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Kowloon Dock Battery.
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Kowloon Dock Battery.
The armament of this battery at present consists of-
1-9-in. R.M.L. gun.
2-7-in. " guns.
2-8-in.
howitzers.
Proposed battery
above Kow- loon Dock,
Eastern defences.
Lyemun West Battery.
The 8-in. R.M.L. howitzers are on travelling carriages, arranged for central pivots, and are mounted en barbette. It is proposed to substitute 9-in. R.M.L. guns for 7-in. R.M.L. guns.
We recommend that the armament remain as it is, with the exception of the 8-in. R.M.L. howitzers. These should be removed, as they are of no use mounted as they are, and are more required elsewhere.
A small alteration is necessary to the 9-in. R.L.M. gun emplacement, the revetment wall at the back of the emplacement is too high, and 3 ft. might with advantage be taken off it, the earth on top being sloped down.
This battery is also very conspicuous. The planting, already carried out, is not likely to improve this defect, since bamboos, of which there are none in the neighbourhood, are planted in lines along the edge of the counterscarp, whilst others are placed on the parapets.
Proposed Battery above Kowloon Dock.
This battery should not be proceeded with. The heavy B.L. gun proposed for it is much more required for the outer defences.
EASTERN DEFENCES.
After a close examination of the batteries at the Lyemun Pass, we are forced to the conclusion that the defence on this side is insufficient.
Lyemun West Battery.
Of the 2-9-in. R.M.L. guns in this battery, one bears up the harbour, and could only be of use in the event of a vessel having forced the minefield; the other, although bearing across the Pass, cannot strike the water nearer than three-quarters the distance across, consequently a ship could pass in under the battery without being hulled.
Lyemun Central.
Lyemun Central.
Lyemun East, Reverse.
Lyemun Redoubt.
Recommen- dations as to increase
The 2-64-pr. R.M.L. guns in this battery are arranged to command the opposite hill only, and not to bear upon the water.
Lyemun East, Reverse.
This battery consists of 3--9-in. R.M.L. guns, but they have so small an are of fire that not more than one round per gun could be fired at a passing vessel. These guns could not be used for the defence of the minefield, as their fire would prevent an efficient guard boat defence.
Lyemun Redoubt.
The 2-6-in. B.L. guns in this redoubt are the only guns which have a sufficient range. They bear on the water outside as well as inside the Pass. There is, however, a considerable amount of dead water in which ships could lie without being touched by any fire, except from the two howitzers in the proposed battery on Sywan Hill.
From the above it will be seen that a vessel attempting to force the Pass would only be exposed to the fire of the 2-6-in. B.L. guns, and to three rounds at close range from the 9-in. R.M.L. guns in the Reverse Battery. ments and This is clearly inadequate to stop an enterprising enemy.
of arma-
new works.
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