Ness Battery

10" x 8" image printed on A4 paper - Archival pigment print

Ness Battery’s two 6-inch guns once dominated Hoy Sound, covering the western entrance to Scapa Flow. Each weapon was mounted on a circular steel bed, bolted into the concrete with heavy threaded studs. These bolts absorbed the recoil and fixed the gun to its platform with absolute precision. The guns sat on the lower circular holdfast (with the studs securing the mounting). Around and slightly above this, a raised concrete platform gave the gun crew level footing and space to handle and load shells. Ammunition lockers or recesses were often built into the sides of the emplacement at this level.