Sydney Harbour defences

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The British aircraft carrier HMS Formidable passing through the anti-submarine boom in Sydney Harbour in 1945

Sydney Harbour was protected by coastal batteries and other fixed defences from the early 1800s until the 1960s. These defences were constructed to protect the city of Sydney from attack by enemy warships and submarines.

1 Pre-Federation defences
2 World War II
3 The end of coastal defence
4 References

[edit] Pre-Federation defences

Sydney's earliest fortifications were built around Sydney Cove to protect the new colony of Sydney from attacks from non-British ships or convict uprisings. More permanent fortifications were built during the first half of the 1800s in response to feared foreign attacks. These defences were concentrated on protecting the inner Harbour and appear to have been given a low priority. Construction of Fort Denison began in 1841, though the fort wasn't completed until 1857.

Sydney's defences were expanded following the withdrawal of British soldiers from Australia during the 1870s. In 1871 a series of forts were built to defend the outer harbour, though these were of an outdated design. Sydney's defences were expanded over the last decades of the 19th Century and eventually incorporated a fort on Bare Island to defend the approaches to Botany Bay.

[edit] World War II

Sydney's defences were not expanded from their pre-Federation condition until the 1920s. During the 1920s a number of well-constructed fortifications were built to protect Sydney. Sydney's defences were further expanded following the outbreak of World War II and were considerably augmented once Japan entered the war. While Sydney's anti-submarine defences were not yet complete at the time of the attack on Sydney Harbour on the night of 31 May 1942 they were successful in sinking at least two of the three Japanese midget submarines which attempted to enter the Harbour.

[edit] The end of coastal defence

Following the end of the Japanese threat to Australia Sydney's defences were reduced from 1944. The last fortifications were not decommissioned until the 1960s, however. While Sydney is no longer protected by fixed defences, a high proportion of the Australian Defence Force is based within the greater Sydney region and could be called on to protect the city during an emergency. During the 2000 Sydney Olympics security for the Harbour was provided by Special Forces, Navy Clearance Divers and warships.