Tankman
09-08-2009, 10:29 AM
On my to do list!
Hopped a ride out to the Redsands Sea Fort, compliments of the 'Project Redsands Team' who were going out to do a survey on the Docking stage that had been wrecked in a storm, back in February 2009.
Went out to the Fort on a very fast Rib, white knuckle ride:thumb
Rising from the water like rusty invaders out of H.G. Wells, 'The War of the Worlds' the Maunsell Sea/Army Forts in the Thames Estuary are decaying reminders of the darkest days of World War II.
Part of the Thames Estuary Defense Network, the anti-aircraft tower-forts were constructed in 1942, with each fort consisting of a cluster of seven stilted buildings surrounding a central command tower.
When operational, catwalks connected the buildings. Built on land and then transported to their watery homes, the forts were designed by Guy Maunsell, a British civil engineer, later known for innovations in concrete bridge design.
Originally there were three of these forts, but only two are left standing: the Redsands Fort and the Shivering Sands Fort.
After their successful wartime career, the forts were decommissioned in the 1950s. The Nore Army Fort was badly damaged in a storm and by being struck by a ship, and was dismantled in 1959-60. In the 1960s and 70s, the remaining abandoned forts were famously taken over as pirate radio stations.
As with the other offshore platforms, after the war ended, pirate radio operators eagerly boarded the platforms and set up their tall transmitter masts - the configuration of the forts was ideal for such a construction.
First it was Radio Invicta, commencing on 29th July 1964. The station went off air in February 1965 and the fort was soon taken over by KING Radio, transmitting on 238m.
Then on 25th September 1965, Radio 390 took over with a more easy listening kind of programme - light jazz etc., could regularly be heard all over the South East of England on their 35KW transmitter. All stations were eventually closed in 1967 when the UK changed the law with regard to radio broadcasting.
The micro nation of SeaLand occupies a nearby Navy fort of a different design known as the Roughs Tower, also by Maunsell. All of the Army Forts are now abandoned.
In 2003, the Project Redsands organization formed with the aim of protecting and possibly restoring the Redsands Fort, chosen over Shivering Sands due to its better state of preservation.
Access for the men posted to these forts was via an entrance at the base of the platform. Parts of the ladders that the men would have used are still visible today, but are in a very poor condition. I
The forts are now in varying states of decay.
Apologies for some of the blury pics, but they were taken while the boat bobbed up and down in the waves.
Some links on the Forts:
http://www.project-redsand.com/index.htm
Short film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XZvn-KdaOA
More pics here:
http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/?start=all
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/025.jpg
Approaching Redsands at Low water, so that the survey could be done:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/023.jpg
Each tower use to have its own dock, most have now gone.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/067.jpg
The radio transmitter tower.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/042.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/036.jpg
Searchlight Tower.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/034.jpg
Central Command Tower.
Hopped a ride out to the Redsands Sea Fort, compliments of the 'Project Redsands Team' who were going out to do a survey on the Docking stage that had been wrecked in a storm, back in February 2009.
Went out to the Fort on a very fast Rib, white knuckle ride:thumb
Rising from the water like rusty invaders out of H.G. Wells, 'The War of the Worlds' the Maunsell Sea/Army Forts in the Thames Estuary are decaying reminders of the darkest days of World War II.
Part of the Thames Estuary Defense Network, the anti-aircraft tower-forts were constructed in 1942, with each fort consisting of a cluster of seven stilted buildings surrounding a central command tower.
When operational, catwalks connected the buildings. Built on land and then transported to their watery homes, the forts were designed by Guy Maunsell, a British civil engineer, later known for innovations in concrete bridge design.
Originally there were three of these forts, but only two are left standing: the Redsands Fort and the Shivering Sands Fort.
After their successful wartime career, the forts were decommissioned in the 1950s. The Nore Army Fort was badly damaged in a storm and by being struck by a ship, and was dismantled in 1959-60. In the 1960s and 70s, the remaining abandoned forts were famously taken over as pirate radio stations.
As with the other offshore platforms, after the war ended, pirate radio operators eagerly boarded the platforms and set up their tall transmitter masts - the configuration of the forts was ideal for such a construction.
First it was Radio Invicta, commencing on 29th July 1964. The station went off air in February 1965 and the fort was soon taken over by KING Radio, transmitting on 238m.
Then on 25th September 1965, Radio 390 took over with a more easy listening kind of programme - light jazz etc., could regularly be heard all over the South East of England on their 35KW transmitter. All stations were eventually closed in 1967 when the UK changed the law with regard to radio broadcasting.
The micro nation of SeaLand occupies a nearby Navy fort of a different design known as the Roughs Tower, also by Maunsell. All of the Army Forts are now abandoned.
In 2003, the Project Redsands organization formed with the aim of protecting and possibly restoring the Redsands Fort, chosen over Shivering Sands due to its better state of preservation.
Access for the men posted to these forts was via an entrance at the base of the platform. Parts of the ladders that the men would have used are still visible today, but are in a very poor condition. I
The forts are now in varying states of decay.
Apologies for some of the blury pics, but they were taken while the boat bobbed up and down in the waves.
Some links on the Forts:
http://www.project-redsand.com/index.htm
Short film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XZvn-KdaOA
More pics here:
http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/?start=all
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/025.jpg
Approaching Redsands at Low water, so that the survey could be done:thumb
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/023.jpg
Each tower use to have its own dock, most have now gone.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/067.jpg
The radio transmitter tower.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/042.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/036.jpg
Searchlight Tower.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RED%20SANDS%20SEA%20FORT%20KENT/034.jpg
Central Command Tower.