"Disappearing" Gun. by blinkings
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Description
This ten inch "Disappearing" Gun was manufactured in 1885 by Elswick Ordnance Coy, England and was sited at Eagles Nest, Fort Nepean Victoria Australia in 1889. An experimental gun, it weighed 32 tonnes and was the first of its type in Australia. Victoria's defense was the topic of much concern in the mid nineteenth century. The fabulously rich gold discoveries of the 1850s aroused fears of attack from foreign raiders. In the event of war, the Argus warned its readers "We are in a very defenseless state and that the fact of it being known all over the world that we have a few millions worth of solid gold within cannon shot of the Bay is a circumstance which renders us peculiarly liable to attack". Fears of a war between Britain and Russia prompted the Victorian government to appoint a team of advisers from the Royal Engineers to report on Victoria's coastal defenses. Their report, submitted in 1877, recommended that Port Phillip be defended by a battery at Queenscliff, a fort at Point Nepean and batteries at Swan Island and South Channel Island, with mines in the South and West Channels. Construction of the defenses at Point Nepean commenced in 1882.
Comments (18)
Fascinating.
I think you would disappear if you were on the end of that!! Great shot and info Andrew.
Yes we have one something like that in our local gardens, the kids love climbing on it, & getting their photo take.
A pretty formidable chunk of iron!
What a whopper!
WOW! What a big gun! I don't think it's hand held! Great photo!
not to be moved around very quickly Great capture and cool history lesson
Very impressive gun mate and a great write up too :)
Great write up mate! Very good read.. Ah! The days when we could afford to spend money on defense.. Great looking gun, super shot.. Cheers for posting.. Rob
Superb capture my friend. God Bless.
Great capture. From From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A disappearing gun (often called a disappearing carriage) is a type of heavy (mainly coastal) artillery for which the gun carriage enabled the gun to rotate backwards and down into a pit protected by a wall (the parapet) or a bunker after it was fired. This retraction lowered the gun from view by the enemy while it was being reloaded.
Disappearing fortification more like it. Sad to see these pieces out of context of a complete facility.
Weesel. The fortification (complete facility) is all still there. The gun has simply been moved and pointed away from the bay!
Imagine trying to load that Big Guy? Hate to be looking down that barrow. Nice shot and interesting info. Aloha
beautiful artifact.
Great information and I like those old long barrel cannons!
Bet that made loud bang!
Well the carraige is doing a good job of disappearing also! ;) Nice shot!