Maunsell Forts

The Maunsell Sea Forts were small fortified towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during World War II to help defend the United Kingdom, named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. They were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities. One became the Principality of Sealand; boats visit the remaining forts occasionally, and a consortium called Project Redsands is planning to conserve one at Redsand.

Write Up Referenced From

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts

Red Sands Maunsell also designed forts for anti-aircraft defence. These were larger installations comprising seven interconnected steel platforms, five carried guns arranged in a semi-circle around the control centre and accommodation while the seventh, set further out than the gun towers, was the searchlight tower.

Write Up Referenced From

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts

Shivering Sands Maunsell also designed forts for anti-aircraft defence. These were larger installations comprising seven interconnected steel platforms, five carried guns arranged in a semi-circle around the control centre and accommodation while the seventh, set further out than the gun towers, was the searchlight tower.

Write Up Referenced From

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts

Fort Knock John The design was a concrete construction; a pontoon barge on which stood two cylindrical towers on top of which was the gun platform mounting two 3.75-inch guns and two 40 mm Bofors guns. They were laid down in dry dock and assembled as complete units. They were then fitted out — the crews going on board at the same time for familiarisation — before being towed out and sunk onto their sand bank positions in 1942.

Write Up Referenced From

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts

Lots more information at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts http://www.project-redsand.com/

Trips to the Sea Forts:

http://www.bayblast.co.uk/the-maunsell-forts.htm