Brackenbury Battery facts for kids

Brackenbury Battery was a small coastal artillery fort. It was located just north of Felixstowe in England. When it first opened, it was called Felixstowe Battery. This fort was built to protect the coastline. It helped guard the important Haven ports by providing powerful gunfire towards the north.

Brackenbury Battery: A Coastal Fort

Brackenbury Battery opened in October 1915. Its main job was to replace older, less powerful guns. Before Brackenbury, only one large gun at Landguard Fort could fire north. The new battery was built to fix this problem. It made the east coast much safer.

Powerful Guns and Defenses

The fort was equipped with two very strong guns. These were the newest 9.2-inch Mk IX guns. This made Brackenbury Battery the most powerful fort on the east coast at that time. The guns were placed on concrete bases. These bases had shelters underneath them. An earthen wall and a ditch surrounded the guns for extra protection.

Later, between 1929 and 1930, the guns were made even better. They were upgraded to Mk. X versions. When World War II started, more defenses were added. These included trenches and strong points around the battery. In 1941, two searchlights were placed on the nearby beach. These lights helped the battery fight at night.

How it Helped Develop Radar

Brackenbury Battery played an important part in the history of radar. In July 1939, the fort's guns were being tested. At the same time, scientists were testing a new radar system. This was happening at Bawdsey Manor, which was about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the battery.

When the guns fired, their shells hit the water. The splashes from these shells showed up clearly on the radar screens. This allowed the scientists to measure exactly how far away the splashes were. They could also tell the direction of the splashes. This discovery was very important. It helped create Coast Artillery radar. It also led to using radar to guide naval gunfire more generally.

The Battery During World War II

During World War II, different army units manned the battery. First, it was the 176 Battery of Suffolk Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery. Later, the 278 Battery of 515 Coast Regiment took over. The battery was kept ready for action until 1944. It was officially closed down in 1952.

What Happened to the Fort?

After it closed, the land where Brackenbury Battery stood was redeveloped. Today, a housing estate is built on the site. The area is now a green space for people to enjoy. There are no longer any signs of the old fort.