HOME WATERS - Defence of British Ports

The British Home Ports had developed since the founding of the Royal Navy under the rule of Henry VIII (1509 to 1547) but it was not until the Acts of Union in 1707 that it started to emerge as a coherent force. Prior to that it had a poor record, particularly against a much more proficient Dutch Fleet. During the remainder of the 18^th Century the Navy was steadily developed, seeing almost continuous action against various foes including the French, Dutch and Spanish.

From 1815 to about 1850 little changed, but the Industrial Revolution saw a rapid advance in technology, from steam powered ships to rifled guns. In a few decades, the Royal Navy had progressed from sail powered ships of the line to coal-fired triple-expansion steam engines. Initially iron clad ships replaced the old wooden hulls, but by the 1870s pre-dreadnoughts with hardened steel armour and heavy guns in rotating turrets were coming into use. These new warships required a similar upgrade in coastal defences, seeing the old smooth bore guns, first replaced by Rifled Muzzle Loaders, then breech loaders. By 1900 the British already used the 9.2-inch and 6-inch guns (with upgrades) that were to remain active until 1956 when the Coastal Artillery were disbanded.

For a 1905 comprehensive list of the British Defended Ports in Home Waters, click on the link button.

Defended Ports in Home Waters

For a 1905 comprehensive list of the British Defended Ports Overseas, click on the link button.

Overseas Defended Ports

Classifications of Ports

The protection of harbour and ports was split down into categories, although in some correspondence, these categories appear to have been rather fluid. For example when a port like Sydney was a naval base, coal station and dockyard. The broad categories from about 1880 were:

Royal Naval Dockyard, such as Plymouth and Chatham
Royal Naval Station, such as Dover and Port Louise, Maritius
Royal Navy Anchorage, such as Lough Swilly
Coaling Station. such as Table Bay and Thursday Island
Defended Commercial Harbour, such as Swansea or Aberdeen

From 1905 Military and Commercial Defended Ports, both at home and abroad, were graded according to the assessed level of attack. This was largely based on the result of the recent Russo-Japanese War (1904-5).

A CLASS ATTACK by armoured battleships. Usually locations with dockyards and large storage areas that can be hit by bombardment.

B CLASS ATTACK by armoured cruisers. Probably on more remoted locations where limited pilotage is required. Essential raids on mercantile shipping.

C CLASS ATTACK by unarmoured ships. Ammunition recommended to be 10% A.P. and 90% lyddite.

There was also a deliberate move toward standardization of guns, removal of old RML guns, and cost cutting where possible.

Chatham (Dockyards) Class A

The Medway included Chatham, and Grain defences. Chatham was the principal Royal Dockyard during the 16^th and 17 Century but silting of the Medway led to it loosing importance. Nevertheless, the dockyard remained in use throughout the 19^th Century with extensive fortifications being built to protect it. For much of the 19^th Century the concentration was on shipbuilding which evolved into specialist submarine construction in the following century. The Dockyard closed in 1984.

Portsmouth (Dockyard) Class A

This was first use by the royal Navy in 1496 and used for building iron clads and has dry docks. A well defended harbour with numerous fortifications, including those on the Isle Whyte and surround approaches. There are three sea forts guarding the inner approaches.

Sheerness (Dockyard) Class A

This dockyard really acted as a support facility for the nearby Chatham Dockyard, and the defences helped supplement the approaches to the mouth of the River Medway.

Plymouth (Dockyard) Class A

First used in 1690 and on a par with Portsmouth. Known as Devonport since 1843 and was used for shipbuilding and steam engineering. Since building warships in 1971. The approached to the Dockyard have numerous fortifications both on the mainland and one sea fort and one Island Fort.

Pembroke (Dockyard) Class A

Also referred to a Milford Haven because the defences cover the whole estuary. Built in 1815 purely for shipbuilding, rather than repair and maintenance. Extensive defences were built during the 19^th Century including two island forts.

Portland (Dockyard) Class B

Portland was used from 1849 primarily for the more modern steam powered warships. There were plans to build dry docks, but this never came to fruition. Extensive defences built around the harbour to protect the anchorage from attack.

Dover Class B

Dover had always been an important harbour but in 1847 the construction of the Admiralty Pier for Royal Navy use began. Work was slow and was only completed in 1898 with the formal opening of Admiralty Harbour in 1909. In 1882 a unique armoured turret with two 16-inch guns was mounted on Admiralty Pier. Extensive fortifications were built around Dover, especially on the Western Heights and improvements to the old Dover Castle area.

Cork (Dockyard) Class B

This is near Cork in the Republic of Ireland and was established in 1811 as a victualling yard. In 1869 it was expanded to include a sizeable Royal Naval Dockyard.

The Forth Class B

The Firth of Forth became an established Royal Naval Anchorage by 1900 and was used alternatively with Scarpa Flow after 1904 to counter the perceived threat from the German Navy. In 1903 approval was given for the building of Rosyth Dockyard on the Forth but it was not completed under the outbreak of World War I.

Alderney A Class then Class C in 1905

Braye Harbour (Alderney Harbour) was built between 1847 to 1864 to provide a base for the Royal Navy. A decision by the British Joint Naval and Military Committee on Defence decided that Alderney Harbour would be a suitable base for the torpedo-craft in time of war. In 1891 the Harbour was designated a defended port, but by 1905 this had been dropped to a Class C location and was intended to be an anchorage for Motor Torpedo Boat Flotillas. Extensive fortification were built over the whole Island during the second half of the 19^th Century.

By 1900 the Royal Navy had two established Naval Anchorages in Ireland. A third Anchorage, developed from 1904, was at Scarpa Flow. The Fort was also used as an anchorage, but from 1903 it also had a Dockyard.

The list below also shows the locations designated as requiring protection from a Class C naval hostile attack. These are primarily commercial harbours.

NAVAL ANCHORAGES

Berehaven Anchorage, Class B

Lough Swilly Anchorage, Class B

Scarpa Flow Anchorage

IRELAND

Dublin, Class C

Belfast, Class C

SOUTH ENGLAND

Bristol, Class C

Falmouth, Class C

Harwich, Class C

Newhaven, Class C

The Thames, Class C

NORTH ENGLAND

Barrow, Class C

Merseyside, Class C

Sunderland, Class C

Humberside, Class C

Tayside, Class C

Hartlepool, Class C

Tyne & Wear, Class C

WALES

Cardiff, Class C

Barry, Class C

Swansea, Class C

SCOTLAND

The Clyde, Class C

Aberdeen, Class C