Horse Sand Fort
Encyclopedia
Horse Sand Fort is one of the larger Royal Commission
sea forts in the Solent
off Portsmouth
, Hampshire
, England
. It is 240 feet across, built between 1865 and 1880, with two floors and a basement, armour plated all round.
The original armament was to have been 45 10-inch
and 44 12.5-inch
rifled muzzle-loading (RML) guns on the gun floors and 10 12" RMLs on the roof in five turrets. In fact the turrets were never built and the limited space meant the 12.5-inch guns had to be operated with less than full charges of powder. In 1882, 12-inch rifled breech-loading guns
were placed in alternate bays.
Other sea forts include Spitbank Fort
, St Helens Fort
and No Mans Land Fort
. During the second world war extensive submarine defences were built in the form of large concrete blocks running about 2 metres below sea level from the fort to the shore at Southsea
. With only a single narrow gap to allow small craft to pass through, this barrier (and a much shorter one running south from No Mans Land Fort towards Ryde Sands) remains as the cost of demolition is deemed too high.
Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom
In 1859 Lord Palmerston instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom because of serious concerns that France might attempt to invade the UK...
sea forts in the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
off Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is 240 feet across, built between 1865 and 1880, with two floors and a basement, armour plated all round.
The original armament was to have been 45 10-inch
RML 10 inch 18 ton gun
The RML 10 inch guns Mk I - Mk II were large rifled muzzle-loading guns designed for British battleships and monitors. They were also fitted to the Bouncer-class flat-iron gunboats.-Design:...
and 44 12.5-inch
RML 12.5 inch 38 ton gun
The RML 12.5 inch guns were large rifled muzzle-loading guns designed for British battleships and were also employed for coast defence.-Design:The gun originated from a desire for a longer 12-inch gun than the existing RML 12 inch 35 ton gun...
rifled muzzle-loading (RML) guns on the gun floors and 10 12" RMLs on the roof in five turrets. In fact the turrets were never built and the limited space meant the 12.5-inch guns had to be operated with less than full charges of powder. In 1882, 12-inch rifled breech-loading guns
BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I - VII
The BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I was Britain's first attempt to match the large breech-loading naval guns being installed in rival European navies, particularly France...
were placed in alternate bays.
Other sea forts include Spitbank Fort
Spitbank Fort
Spitbank Fort or Spitsand Fort or Spit Sand Fort or simply Spit Fort is a sea fort built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission. The fort is located in the Solent, near Portsmouth, England....
, St Helens Fort
St Helens Fort
St Helens Fort was built between 1867 and 1880 as a result of the Royal Commission, in the Solent close in to the Isle of Wight to protect the St Helens Road anchorage, it suffered badly from subsidence which forced many changes to the plans, ending up with two 10-inch 18-ton rifled muzzle loading ...
and No Mans Land Fort
No Mans Land Fort
No Man's Land Fort was a fort built in the Solent as part of the Palmerston Forts. It is 2.2 kilometres off the coast of the Isle of Wight and built between the years 1867 and 1880 to protect Portsmouth. It was built for a cost of £462,500, a considerable sum if adjusted for inflation*...
. During the second world war extensive submarine defences were built in the form of large concrete blocks running about 2 metres below sea level from the fort to the shore at Southsea
Southsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
. With only a single narrow gap to allow small craft to pass through, this barrier (and a much shorter one running south from No Mans Land Fort towards Ryde Sands) remains as the cost of demolition is deemed too high.
External links
- Plan of Horse Sand Fort Upper Gun Deck at Palmerston Forts Society
- Detailed description, history and plans of Horse Sand and No Man's Land forts at Palmerston Forts Society
- Horse Sand Fort on Google Maps
- Map of Portsmouth Defences