Port Moresby Australian Gun Batteries
New Guinea's capital city, it was
the target of Japanese ambitions during both the Battle
of the Coral Sea, and the overland Kokoda
Trail campaign. A
total of five batteries were build during the war years.
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Paga
Hill
Begun in 1939, it was the first
of the Port Moresby batteries to be completed in mid-February 1942.
It consisted of two gun mounts, bunkers, support buildings and
a service tunnel. Also, US Army manned radar set RS 412. |
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'C' Battery (Bootless Bay Battery)
This battery's construction began in September 1942. The
battery relocated three times, from the beach, to Stokes / maata
Ridge and finally to Kuri Beach / Drysdale Ridge. |
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Gemo Island
In mid-April, 1944, the Australian 8th Army
Troops Company / Royal Engineers built a gun battery facing east.
It accomidated two 6 pound guns, wuth a concrete ammunition storage
area and bunker behind it. |
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Boera
Battery
On the coastal hills immediately behind Boera village.
These guns were the American 155mm mobile guns and had slightly different
structures built to emplace the guns. |
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Basilisk Battery at Idlers Bay
Largest
of the batteries. Emplacements for 3 x 6” guns
but only two were installed. An observation post is on the hill
top and the three gun positions on the coastal flank, overlooking
Fairfax Harbor and Idlers Bay.
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Tuaguba Hill 3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
Australian Heavy 3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft battery atop Tuaguba hill, installed in early 1942.
References
The 'Letter' Batteries for
dates and information related to this battery.
John Douglas' The
Coastal Gun Batteries of Port Moresby - Then & Now |
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Last Updated
March 4, 2009
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