Coastal Defense Gun in Bora Bora by junge1
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Description
Yours truly posing with a 7-inch Coastal defense guns on the slope of Mt. Otemanu, Bora Bora.
In early 1942, with the United States still shaken by the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, and much of the Pacific fleet out of commission, the Pentagon had to reappraise the perimeter that could be defended until a counter-offensive against Japan could be launched.
The arc 3,200km south of Hawaii to the Free French Society Islands (now French Polynesia) westward through Samoa and Fiji to New Zealand was believed to be defensible. Bora Bora, 6,400km along the direct route from Panama to New Caledonia and Australia was selected to be the first of a chain of refueling bases across the South Pacific. It was code-named 'Bobcat'.
'Bobcat' was a joint Army-Navy operation. It was composed of a 4,000-man army garrison force, made up of Army National Guard, a Navy seaplane squadron of eight OS2U single-engine float planes, a 250-man naval construction detachment (Sea bees) and a naval base command for harbour defence, waterborne services and fuel depot.
Several of the 7-inch guns were part of 'Bobcat'.
We reached this gun, overlooking the lagoon with the cruise ship 'Paul Gauguin"' visible in the middle distance, with a Land Rover, a real one. Not the fancy ones they sell in the US as status symbols.
It must have been incredibly difficult to haul these guns halfway up the mountain. The guns were never fired in earnest, since the Japanese never advanced this far south.
This picture was taken in April 2001 and later scanned.
Thanks for visiting,
Sig...
Comments (47)
lizzibell
Great capture...
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
casmindo
Nice shot Sig and great history
bebert
impressionnant !
Faemike55
Wonderful capture and very impressive history
T.Rex
Thanks for sharing. I knew we tried setting up a Pacific defence perimeter, but had NO idea it included naval guns of this size! As you say, how did they get it up there? But the high location increased its range quite a bit.
lyron
Very cool shot!!
farmerC
Shining Shot.
bmac62
Hmmmm. Good bit of history unknown to me. Excellent photo...lush place:)
lior
Superb story and excellent capture!
dragonmuse
That gun seems so at odds with the paradise it sits in.
tennesseecowgirl
What a fantastic photo.. Great to see you, I can see you have the camera back close by .. :)
junge1
I usually don't have my picture taken - I am usually behind the lens. But someone suggested it, and I think it gives a nice perspective as to the size of that gun. How they got it up there I don't know!
annie5
Wow! Impressive shot..glad to see you Sig! :)
flaviok
Magnifica foto, informações excelentes meu amigo, aplausos (5)
emmecielle
great shot! :)
carlx
What a big gun!!! Excellent colos, light and capture!!!
flavia49
wonderful capture!! Great info. I knew nothing about WW2 in Bora Bora!
unstart
Excellent photo as always!
psyoshida
Wonderful bit of history! The contrast of that monster gun against the idyllic background it stunning. What an absolutely beautiful place and matching photo. Just wonderful.
sandra46
GREAT CAPTURE!
jeroni
Splendid composition and colors my friend
drifterlee
What a beautiful place!!
blinkings
That ship out there seems to have a target printed on it!!!!!!!!!
Osper
Good shot!
watapki66
Great shot and information!
MrsLubner
Amazing gun! The view is also.
bazza
Nice shot of this gun its a big one, great info too.
renecyberdoc
impreesive wheenie.
dbrv6
Excellent capture - great urgancy indeed has caused many heavy a heavy cannon to show up in odd places.