WWI – Naval Defences of the Forth

< Military History around the Forth

Rosyth Naval Base and Dockyard

The rise of Germany as a nation-state in 1871, and the subsequent creation of a German Navy raised the spectre of a new threat across the North Sea. This led to the acquisition of land in 1903 to build Rosyth Dockyard creating a new naval base in the Forth.

An initial protective screen

The location was already protected from sea-borne attack by a controlled minefield, operated by the Submarine Mining Service at Port Laing in North Queensferry.

This was complemented by gun batteries and searchlights of Carlingnose Battery, on Inchgarvie and at Dalmeny in 1902.

The guns and lights were manned by Royal Engineers and Royal Garrison Artillery men and officers at Carlingnose Barracks in North Queensferry.

Downstream, new batteries were built on top of the 19th century fortifications on Inchkeith, and at Kinghorn.

Firth of Forth Defences in 1902.

Inter-site communications – 1909

Although aviation was still in its infancy, the first Military Air Station in Scotland was created in 1912 for what became the Royal Naval Air Service at Port Laing, North Queensferry. It moved to Dundee in 1914.

The first use of aeroplanes was for reconnaissance and observation. On the battle field for the army, and in coastal waters, especially to spot submarines, which could creep into an anchorage or estuary and wreak havoc on a fleet at anchor.

Deeper defences

Antisubmarine-nets and booms were created across the Forth, and an integrated command system controlled the movements of ships and managed the guns and searchlights.

Forth Coast Defences in 1914

 
In 1915 HMS Tarlair, an experimental station to test the use of aircraft to spot submarines opened at Hawkcraig Point in Aberdour.

When Rosyth Dockyard opened in 1916, the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet gradually became based in the Firth of Forth, initially with Admiral Beatty’s Battle Cruisers and their supporting anti-submarine Destroyers which were housed in the new Destroyer Pens at Port Edgar. The Grand Fleet was involved in a number of Naval Battles especially the massive engagement at the Battle of Jutland.

After the Battle of Jutland, Kite balloons were flown from warships; they carried observers who acted as long-range spotters for the fleet. The balloons were maintained and filled at shore stations. The fleet in the Forth was serviced from Ferrybarns Kite Balloon Station at North Queensferry.

A third extension

By 1918, antisubmarine defences were strengthened with underwater detectors and controlled minefields. This expanded the area where the fleet could be moored downstream of the Forth Bridge. The Battleships which had been based in Scapa Flow under Admiral Jellicoe were transferred to the Forth, with Beatty in command of the entire Grand Fleet.

Forth Coast Defences in 1918

The signing of the Armistice ended the fighting of WWI and was followed by the Surrender of Germany’s High Seas Fleet in the Forth in November 1918.

 

“The Fortification of The Firth of Forth 1880-1977.” by Ron Morris and Gordon Barclay tells the story of the evolution of the defences of the Forth to accommodate the Grand Fleet in World War I, and the re-armament in 1939 at the outbreak of WWII.

It is available to order HERE.