Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for leaving a comment ?? But this was outlawed by the Marine Broadcasting Act in 1967. Ships passing in the English Channel. This was the home for a pirate radio station in the mid 60s, called Radio City. There was always a freshly boiled kettle for the never ending cups of tea. Three more were placed at the mouth of the River Thames: It was reckoned that, during World War Two, the Thames estuary forts shot down 22 German aircraft and around 30 V-1 flying bombs. But I greatly admire the fighting spirit! Secondly, enemy bombers were using these rivers as landmarks to navigate themselves into the center of these cities. But don’t let this put you off. Verlassene OrteAbandoned BuildingsMaunsell FortsMilitärs BilderKriegsmaschine The Maunsell Forts are armed towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom.They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. Outnumbered 10 to 1: German Paratroopers Took Down Belgian Fortress Eben-Emael. This WW1 Battle was like Something out of a Horror Movie, Live Like a Bond Villain, 3 Remote Napoleonic-Era Forts For Sale, Eleven Military Uniforms That Got Soldiers Killed, French Couple Discovered WWII Cache of Weapons Hidden in Their Home, The Highest-Scoring Female Fighter Ace Ever: The Short but Daring Life of Lydia Litvyak, Exploring the wreck of the Bismarck – and it is in remarkable condition, RIP ‘Wild Geese’ Star and Battle-Hardened Veteran Ian Yule. Red Sands Tower – another Maunsell army defence Fort which looks a bit like the Shivering Sands one. Red Sands is one of two remaining Maunsell sea forts built by the army in the Thames estuary, and during World War II it housed six anti-aircraft guns. Today, the forts are abandoned and … He told us how he frequently used to give shout outs to the passing container ships. Given that there are 11 structures on just Shivering Sands and Redsands, it seems like a valiant but futile battle against entropy. There’s no way to climb on to them unless you’re willing to do some volunteer work through Project Redsand CIO. This allows army trainees and film companies to access on a regular basis. Already in the late 50-ies of the last century the structures were out of order and stopped being used. These buildings were the beginnings of what we would come to think of as traditional castles. P.S. His well organised galley kitchen impressed me. He had served in the Royal Engineers in World War One. The company is affiliated to Project Redsand CIO, a registered charity which aims to preserve the Forts in the future. But perhaps their true value was more as a deterrent, as well as serving as useful intelligence-gathering posts. . The supposedly impregnable Belgium fort of. The Army forts were vacated in 1945 but maintained until 1955. They are truly bizarre looking structures, which look like they belong in a sci fi film. In this post I will show you how to safely view them with the help of a local boat tour company, X-Pilots. Designed by Guy Maunsell the fort was put in place on the Rough Sands to guard the approaches to the Thames Estuary and the entrance to Harwich harbor, some eight miles away. Army Forts. With regards to the Liverpool Bay series of forts, there is no record of them inflicting any casualties on the enemy. They were simply abandoned by the military. Most of the Forts were abandoned in the 50s and since then they’ve gradually faded and corroded over time. The Maunsell Forts are armed towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom. He proposed a series of fortified sea towers armed with anti-aircraft guns be built on land and then towed out and placed in strategic positions along the mouth of both estuaries. Description Maunsell Sea Forts. After sailing through Shivering Sands Forts, we made our way to Kentish Wind Farm. Knock John Fort – a Maunsell naval fort built in 1943, located 9 miles off the coast of Essex. It is situated on Rough Sands, a sandbar located approximately 11 kilometres from the coast of Suffolk … They played an essential role in protecting London and its ports during the war. The Maunsell Army and Navy forts were built and placed in the Thames Estuary in 1942 to help protect London from airstrikes and sea raids during World War II. (This isn’t advertised on their website, by the way. The Maunsell Forts are a group of nine WW2 army and navy defence forts located off-shore near the South East coast of England. The idea was to ward off any invading army before they could reach your shore. The Maunsell naval forts were built in the Thames Estuary and were operated by the Royal Navy. Join me as I take a trip out to visit the abandoned WW2 Army Maunsell forts - (Red Sands Fort) in the Thames Estuary on a beautiful, still October day in 2018. Captain Alan was a 72 year old local boy from Kent who runs an extremely tight ship. They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. This new custom Rust monument for your custom maps will bring an amazing new mid-tier monument out in the depths of the newman ocean that will bring you to loot or to death. ... Fort Darnet was built on the other end of the Medway creating a bottlehead defence. They were constructed in dry dock and assemble… They were named: These forts consisted of a steel platform over 100 feet (30 meters) long, that was perched on top of two giant 60 foot (18 meter) reinforced concrete towers. But this never happened. The supposedly impregnable Belgium fort of Eben-Emael and the huge 280-mile long French Maginot line proved that large static defenses could be quickly over-run or bypassed. All rights reserved. Three of these Forts were based in the Liverpool Bay and were called: Originally there were going to be a further three more forts in the Liverpool Bay Area, but they never materialized. There was an unsuccessful attempt to set up an independent nation on one of these remaining forts. Rough Sands (HM Fort Roughs) (U1) 2. The Maunsell Forts were constructed during the second world war for defense. X-Pilot’s Grand Forts Tour is a 7 to 8 hour boat trip departing from Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. He had served in the Royal Engineers in World War One. ... They’re named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. Bear in mind it’s a 7 to 8 hour trip on the North Sea, which can be rough at times. (I found out that The Prodigy filmed a video here in 2008. From there we sailed over to Shivering Sands Fort. I’m not going to lie to you – these Forts are not easy to access… there are no Instagrammers at dawn here! The 30 enormous wind turbines made a gentle wooshing noise in unison. These hill forts were primarily earthworks with embankments, ramparts, and ditches. They were very much larger than the Navy Forts. X-Pilot is the Project Redsand CIO, UK registered charity No.1172590, Official Supply Vessel. Become location independent through remote work or online business. Shivering Sands Fort – a Maunsell army defence Fort, built in 1943. With two sailing trainees he could afford to take a little post lunch nap, propped up against the window of the wheelhouse . 1035 Rising from the water like rusty invaders out of H.G. The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities including pirate radio broadcasting. 27 May 2015: Canterbury Times - "Red Sands sea forts off Whitstable coast could be converted into luxury hotel and spa complex" Further links about the location: » Project Redsand - Plans on how Red Sands Sea Forts will be redeveloped. Read another story from us: Total Surprise! ... One of the forts is managed by the unrecognised Principality of Sealand; boats visit the remaining forts occasionally, and a consortium called Project Redsands is pl… Maunsell Sea Forts Located off shore on the Thames estuary, the Maunsell Sea Forts are some of the most bizarre-looking structures. As a result, he had a good understanding of an integrated approach to design and construction coupled with a comprehension of the unique needs of the military. Nore Fort was demolished in 1959 … Three sets of Maunsell Forts, named after their designer Guy Maunsell, were built in the Estuary to this design: the Nore forts off Sheerness, now … and the huge 280-mile long French Maginot line proved that large static defenses could be quickly over-run or bypassed. They now make a great target for aerial photography sorties. I found myself wondering what I would have said if I was in the younger Bob’s shoes: “Shout outs to the Maersk mothership coming up on starboard – this one’s for you fellas – On a Ragga Tip by SL2.”, (That’s me by the way, pretending to be a pirate radio DJ on Shivering Sands Forts. Tongue Sands (U3) 4. By 1943, Maunsell designed a new concept fort system consisting of several interconnected steel platforms in a defensive array around a central control tower. X. I’m so happy you like it Fariba. So for most people, the 7 to 8 hour Grand Forts Tour with X-Pilot is the best way to access the Maunsell Forts. If there’s no one else around except a container ship, I can afford to go in hard with a 90s rave classic, right?). The Fort is incredibly beautiful with layers of rust and green lichen decorating its study legs. All three Liverpool bay forts were demolished by 1955 as they were deemed to be a hazard to shipping. After the war, the forts became the headquarters for pirate radio stations. There was talk of constructing more of this type of fort off the Humber estuary as well as in the seaports of Portsmouth, Rosyth in Scotland, and Belfast and Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The Maunsell Forts are a group of nine WW2 army and navy defence forts located off-shore near the South East coast of England. The tour was excellent value considering the experience. The Red Sands Sea Forts were built in the Thames Estuary in 1943, off the coast of Whitstable, Kent. However I found it cheaper to use Airbnb. For those that love off-beat travel, they provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to some surreal, awe-inspiring structures. They were built during the Second World War at the mouth of the Mercy and Thames rivers. Captain Alan took the time to speak to everyone on board the sailing. In the 11th Century, these earthworks began to evolve into wooden motte and bailey forts, which eventually were rebuilt or fortified with stone. As for the Army ones, five of the six forts still exist today in various states of disrepair. Sunk Head (U2) 3. The forts had a very short but intense life during World War II when Great Britain faced serious attacks from the Luftwaffe. By the early 1950s, all the forts in both locations had been decommissioned by the Ministry of Defence. The Maunsell sea forts in the Thames estuary were originally built as anti-aircraft defences during the Second World War. After the war the forts were placed on ‘care and maintenance’. Four of the new structures became Navy Forts run by the Admiralty. Their role was to detect, deter, and report German air raids and military movements around the River Thames, such as attempts to lay water mines along the estuary and sabotage this important shipping channel. The energy supply goes directly to households in Kent. X-pilot can organise local accommodation for you to enable you to make the 8.45am sailing. The Maunsell Forts are offshore defence forts which protected the UK from aircraft attack during WW2. The 40mm could fire at a rate of 120 rounds a minute up to a height of 23,500 feet (7,162 meters). The sea forts are located about 11 km from the Suffolk coast and there are boat tours organized with departure from Whitstable Harbour. Guy Maunsell was a civil engineer and an expert in the new field of prestressed concrete. The sea forts of Maunsell are one of the most unusual military installations, that are by fate in ruins. It’s inhabited by a family who have claimed it as an independent state, which they’ve called Sealand. It look like a strange oil painting against the sea. Everything was tied down to stop it slipping around in rough seas. The construction on these forts started a little earlier than the Navy ones, the first one beginning in October 1941. Two of the four Navy forts in or around the Thames still survive today. The Maunsell Sea Forts: The Maunsell Forts were small fortified towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom. All the forts proved the feasibility of the proposed Mulberry Harbours used off the Normandy beaches after D-Day in 1944, which were suggested and worked on by Guy Maunsell. Destinations / October 6, 2019 by Samantha / 4 Comments. I thought they would make really good old military locations, I don't know the back story for the island but they could add them around the island as old WWII installations constructed similarly to the ones built to defend the UK. Imagine holding your very first radio show on one of these monster structures out in the middle of the sea!! There was no attempt to destroy or dismantle them. Not a l, The white cliffs of Dover, luminescent on the ferr, Untitled, from the L’Impasse series. Sealand has its own passports, currency and stamps (despite not being recognised by the UN). Three of the Maunsell Forts are accessible via a Grand Forts boat tour with X-Pilot. It felt good knowing that my cash was going to support the charity which looks after the Forts, too. Every single structure on each Fort site will take at least £1m of investment to make safe again. In the end, he developed two distinct designs, and the resulting constructions were simply called “Navy” or “Army” forts, depending on which service was running them. Although things are no longer that simple, which as always we will get to later. Now whilst Roughs became its own country and Red Sands has a group trying to preserve it, Knock John is not only the most “Sealand” type, as in far out to sea, it is also unclaimed. The fort was also aided by a large and complex radar installation perched on the very top of a tall central bunker which housed the following: The whole structure weighed around 4,500 tonnes and had a crew of 120 sailors. Wells, the Maunsell Army Forts in the Thames Estuary are decaying reminders of the darkest days of World War II. One of the Forts on this site is now accessible with the help of a winch. When I … The location of this spectacle are former defense platforms of the now rusty Maunsell Forts, which at a height of 25 meters are located a few miles off the coast of Great Britain. Built seven miles off the Kent coast near Whitstable, they later hosted pirate radio stations in the 1960s, transmitting pop hits deemed too risque for Britain's then-monopoly broadcaster the BBC. Copyright © 2021 Samantha Brown | GenerationXit. Learn from others who have done the same. The 6 hour tours of the Thames estuary commence at Whitstable Harbour, just seven miles north of Canterbury. The Maunsell forts are small sea forts built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during WWII. Their purpose was to provide anti-aircraft fire within the Thames Estuary area. They also visited another favourite location of mine, Dungeness, for the same video). But sea fortifications were going to prove their worth, particularly around the Thames (London) and the Mersey (Liverpool) estuaries, where there were two main problems. The 94mm could fire around 15 rounds a minute up to a height of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters). #chronoco, From the series L’Impasse. It’s a wonderful place. This may of all seem ineffective considering how much time, effort, and resources were put into the Maunsell project. Built in 1892 the Greta explores the Maunsell Forts at a very leisurely pace. Two were placed in the Thames estuary in south-east England, while the other two were placed nearby, slightly further up off the Essex coast. It was strangely peaceful and calming to watch from the boat. In the 1960s, several of the Forts were used as bases for pirate radio stations. Red Sands had had some investment thanks to the charity’s efforts to restore it. Firstly, there was the danger of German aircraft mining the entries to these ports, thus disrupting a significant amount of shipping that was bringing in vital war material. Live a life of freedom and purpose on YOUR terms. At various stages during the 1960s, both types of forts were used as pirate radio stations. Maunsell Forts. They housed a crew and garrison of 400 soldiers. For those that love off-beat travel, they provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to some surreal, awe-inspiring structures. Guy Maunsell was a civil engineer and an expert in the new field of prestressed concrete. Non-regular services are also offered by X-Pilot but you need to call to inquire about the dates the boat goes to … Finally, make sure you pack enough food and water for the entire trip because meals are not provided. Four are still standing off the South East coast of England, in the estuary of the River Thames. The initial requirement was for a set of Naval Forts further out to sea than the Army forts. These forts were the idea of Guy Anson Maunsell, a highly innovative civil engineer who had worked on a range of civil engineering projects in the UK and abroad, including in 1931, the widening of Putney Bridge. All the Forts are in quite a dangerous state of disrepair. These towers were 24 feet (7 meters) in diameter and were divided into seven floors each consisting of: On the steel platform itself, there were two heavy 94mm and two light Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns. They also achieved one naval victory: the sinking of a Kriegsmarine E-boat (a fast torpedo armed light attack craft). Maunsell Forts: The full story behind the bizarre abandoned structures off the east Kent coast; ... Medway was an important military location for the country with Chatham Dockyard then in its prime. This 4,500 ton artificial naval installation is similar in some respects to "fixed" offshore oil platforms. 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