Newfoundland Forts

Canadian Forts

NEWFOUNDLAND

Last Update: 20/MAY/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - й2007 American Forts Network

дд HARBOR DEFENSES of ARGENTIA

дд Fort McAndrew
(1940 - 1946/1994), Argentia
Originally called the Marquise Military Reservation until 1942. Gun batteries located here were Battery 281 (guns, carriages, and shields removed in 1994, sent to Fort Columbia in Washington State); Battery 282 (guns still here) on Hill 195; Isaac's Head Battery (aka AMTB Battery 955) (composed of a 3-inch gun and a 90mm gun) located across the sound from the airfield; two unnamed two-gun 6-inch naval gun batteries (temporary) at Shalloway Point and Latine Point; two 155mm guns on 180-degree Panama mounts (location ?); a 90mm AMTB battery at Roche Point (covered); and another 90mm AMTB Battery 954 at Ship Harbour Point, site of the Atlantic Charter Memorial NHS. An SCR-582 radar was located between Batteries 281 and 282. Several 40mm AA batteries surrounded the airfield. Another 90mm AMTB battery was located south of Placentia at Black Point.
This base was a joint U.S. - Canada Air Force airbase after World War II. The U.S. Air Force left in 1955, replaced by the U.S. Navy. The Naval Base and Air Station closed in 1994, and the base was turned over to Canada in 1995. Several of the housing barracks were destroyed in 1999, and the Officers' Quarters was destroyed in 2000. The site is now becoming an industrial park. A website of Argentia Naval Air Station with photos | Another website on Geocities | Argentia Management Authority

д Forts of Placentia
(Castle Hill National Historic Site) || PHOTOS

NOTE: The French settlement of Plaisance was renamed Placentia by the British upon taking control by treaty in 1713. The colony was attacked and looted by the British in February 1690, and bombarded by ship attack in September 1692.

д Fort Plaisance
(1660, 1662 - 1680's), Placentia
A stockaded fort with four guns was originally here in 1660, but the settlement failed. The second French fort here, supposedly on the same site, was a polygonal log and earth 18-gun fort with five bastions. In 1667 there were 32 guns reported. Eventually fell into disrepair. Admission fee.

д Le Vieux Fort
(1680's), Placentia
Ruins of an irregular four-point star-shaped work. Right next to this fort was built Fort Louis (1691 - 1713), a wooden stockade with seven guns. Both sites are located east of the town, outside of the main park.

д Gaillardin Redoubt
(1692), Placentia
Built on the main summit of Castle Hill next to Fort Royal. A log or timber work. Guarded against land attacks from the rear.

д Fort Royal
(1693 - 1811), Placentia
Built on Castle Hill overlooking Fort Louis, it was a square fort with four half-bastions, with stone revetted walls, and a blockhouse. The original blockhouse was removed by 1701. The ruins contain the remains of barracks, a powder magazine, a guardhouse, and a later blockhouse (1762).

д Fort Frederick
(1717 - 1811, 1813), Placentia
Stones from the French Grevecour Battery (1695) below this work were used in the construction of this British fort commanding the sea lane into the harbour. In 1721 this was a semi-circular redoubt with 12 guns, reduced to eight guns in bastions in 1744. It was abandoned in 1811. A temporary earthwork battery was built in 1813 to defend against the Americans.

Ferryland Fort
(1621 - 1629, 1638 - 1673), Ferryland
Originally built to defend from the French. The second fort was destroyed by the Dutch in 1673. Markers are at the site for two British gun batteries from the 1740's located offshore at the Isle of Bois. This was the Colony of Avalon. The settlement was again attacked by the French in 1696.

Bay Bulls Fort
(1638 - unknown), Bay Bulls
Located south of St. John's. It was originally built for defence against the French. It was attacked by the French in 1696 and 1705.

Bay Bulls Harbour was the alternate port to St. John's Harbour during World War II. Coastal defence batteries may have been located here.

St. John's Agency
(1918 - 1932), St. John's
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

д COAST ARTILLERY DEFENCES, ST. JOHN'S HARBOUR
and Older Forts || PHOTOS

д Fort Cape Spear
(Cape Spear National Historic Site)
(1941 - 1949), Cape Spear
Located southeast of St. John's. There were two coastal defence batteries (1941 - 1945) here used during World War II. The batteries included two US 10-inch M1888 guns on M1894M1 disappearing carriages, transferred from Fort Mott, New Jersey. In 1946 all removable military structures were ordered removed from the park. The old lighthouse was built here in 1835, and is the oldest remaining lighthouse in Newfoundland. The new light was built in 1954. Admission fee to the lighthouse. The Ghosts of Fort Cape Spear

д Blackhead Dummy Battery
(1940's), Blackhead
A dummy (decoy) battery was located here, a few miles west of Cape Spear.

д Fort Amherst
(1775 - 1870, 1914 - 1945), St. John's
Located opposite Signal Hill across The Narrows, at South Head. A casemated stone tower with an eight-gun barbette battery was the first construction. A lighthouse was built on one emplacement in 1813. In 1941 two casemated 4.7-inch guns were installed here from Signal Hill, replacing two 75mm guns which were sent to Fort Chain Rock, and they are still here. This battery helped to protect the minefield outside of the Narrows. An American SCR-296A radar installation was nearby. The second lighthouse was built here in 1954.

Nearby was the site of British Fort Charles (1796 - 1815) (nine guns, rebuilt 1811 with seven guns), previously the site of the (South) Castle Battery (1665 - 1697, 1705 - 1762) (six guns in 1744), and Frederick's Battery (1777 - 1780's) (nine guns and magazine, with barracks). It defended the town from the Dutch in 1673, the French in 1696 and 1762 before it was captured. The site was abandoned in 1852.

д Signal Hill (National Historic Park)
(1696 - 1945, intermittent), St. John's
Several batteries were located here including: Battery Waldegrave (built on the site of the old North Castle Battery) a two-gun battery complementing Chain Rock Battery; Queen's Battery (1796 - 1870) above North Head; Wallace's Battery; Duke of York's Battery (site); and Carronade Battery. All of these were built during the Napoleonic Wars (1800 - 1815). French forces from Placentia captured St. John's in 1696, 1705, and 1709. The French briefly held the town again in 1762. The British (who may have called it Fort St. John's) captured and used the hill to bomb the French-held Fort William. This was the last battle of the French and Indian / Seven Years' War in North America. The British viewed the Hill as a final retreat for Forts William and Townshend. A blockhouse was built here in 1795. It was demolished in 1810 to plan for a Martello Tower, which was never built. New barracks were built on the hill and at Queen's Battery in the 1830's. The Hill was refortified during the American Civil War. British forces left in 1870. The Cabot Tower was built in 1897 for Queen Victoria's birthday celebration. It is not a defensive structure, but may have been used as a lookout.
Fort Waldegrave (the old battery dismantled 1868, rebuilt 1916) was used in World War I (1916 - 1920). The barracks became a dance hall, but were eventually torn down. The two 4.7-inch guns that were here were transferred to Fort Amherst in 1941. The gun area is now a parking lot.

The Americans built two coastal defense batteries here in 1941, each consisting of an 8-inch M1888 gun on a M1918 barbette carriage, located at the present-day parking lot for Cabot Tower. The two guns were removed and relocated to Redcliff Head in 1942. A battery of four 155mm guns on Panama mounts was located here, until moved to Middle Cove and Manuels. This position was considered a subpost of Fort Pepperrell (see listing below).

д Fort Chain Rock
(1673 - 1945, intermittant), St. John's
Located at the Narrows below Queen's Battery at Signal Hill, at North Head. This was the city's first defence, known then as "The Battery". In 1941 a two-gun 75mm AMTB battery was located here, transferred from Fort Amherst. One of the guns may still be here. This battery helped to protect the minefield outside of the Narrows.

д Fort Pepperrell
(1941 - 1946/1961), Pleasantville, St. John's
The Headquarters of all American defenses in Newfoundland during WWII. Located along the north shore of Quidi Vidi Lake. Camp Alexander was the cantonment area before the fort was finished in 1941. Became a US Air Force base in 1946. The Canadian Military Headquarters for Newfoundland was transferred here from Buckmasters Field in 1961 after the Americans left. Now used by the RCMP and the Fisheries Canada Centre. White Hills area website. (See also listing for Redcliff Head Battery below.)

д Fort William
(1697 - 1713, 1745 - 1867), St. John's
Built on the site of an earlier British fort (1680 - 1696). The French captured the fort in 1709, and again in 1762, but lost it that same year after the British bombarded it from Signal Hill. It was rebuilt again in 1790. British forces withdrew in 1867. A railroad station was here from 1870's to 1903. A hotel was built on the site in 1926.

д Fort St. George
(1697 - 1713 ?), St. John's
Built adjacent to Fort William for support of that work, and connected by an underground passage. Captured by the French in 1709. It was torn down after 1713 to build houses.

д Fort Townshend
(1775 - 1867), St. John's
An earthwork fort built out of range of the guns on Signal Hill, should it be captured. Completed in 1781, it defended the harbour better than Fort William did. The ramparts were leveled in 1867, and the remaining barracks were used by the local police force. They were finally destroyed in 1947, and the old magazines were destroyed in 1958. Also spelled Townsend.

д Quidi Vidi Battery
(1762 - 1870), St. John's
Located to the north of Signal Hill. Built by the French, then captured. It was abandoned, then rebuilt in 1779 by the British. Occupied by the French in 1780. Abandoned again in 1783. Some repairs made in 1791, and rebuilt in 1793. Abandoned a third time in 1805. Rebuilt again in 1811 with a guardhouse, powder magazine, and new guns. A skeleton crew remained here from 1814 to 1870. It has been restored to its 1812 appearance.

Another sea battery was located at Cuckhold's Cove in 1779.

д Redcliff Head Battery
(1942 - 1946), Redcliff Head
Located near Flagstaff Hill, the American 8-inch guns at Signal Hill were relocated here, probably known as Battery San Juan, which was under direct command of Fort Pepperrell. A fire-control observation post was also located here. The battery's magazine still exists. In the 1950's this site became a radar installation (part of the PINETREE system), the ruins of which still remain. A US Navy satellite communications center operated here from 1975 to 1982.

д Middle Cove Battery
(1942 - 1945), Middle Cove
A battery of two 155mm guns on Panama mounts, transferred from Signal Hill.

Bell Island Battery
(Bell Island in WWII)
(1940 - 1945), Bell Island
Two 4.7-inch quick-firing guns are located at Beach Hill, at the top of the cliff above the ferry terminal. The battery is now a memorial to WWII. Bell Island was the location of strategic iron ore deposits. On 5 September 1942 two ore boats, the S.S. Lord Strathcona and the S.S. Saganaga, were in anchorage and sunk by the German U-boat U-513, which had slipped into the bay during the night. The shore battery, manned by the Newfoundland militia, didn't see or hit the submarine but did manage in the confusion to kill a cow in St. Philips. Bell Island has the distinction of being the site of the only coast artillery guns fired in defence of North America during the Second World War. Remembering 1942 - Lance Cove

Manuels Battery
(1942 - 1945), Manuels
A mobile battery of two 155mm guns on Panama mounts, transferred from Signal Hill.

Conception Bay Battery
(1942 - 1945), Conception Bay
A mobile battery of two 155mm guns on Panama mounts, an alternate site to Manuels.

Fort Carbonear
(1696, 1740's), Carbonear Island
An early British post. Attacked by the French in 1696 and 1705. Listed as a garrisoned post in 1745.

Peter Easton's Fort
(unknown dates), Harbor Grace
A pirate fort from the early 1600's. Site is located at the Community Museum (former Customs House).

Trinity Fort
(1700 ?, 1744 - 1762, 1812 - 1870), Trinity
Town was attacked by the French in 1705. Two batteries (14 guns and four guns) were built in 1744 on Fort Point covering Salvage Cove and White Point. Storehouses and magazines were built in 1748, and another three-gun battery was built at the point. Attacked and destroyed by the French in 1762. Rebuilt in 1812 with six guns to defend against the Americans. Ruins remain. The lighthouse was built here in 1871.

Bonavista Fort
(unknown dates), Bonavista
An early fortified British settlement. Attacked by the French in 1696 and 1705.

д COAST ARTILLERY DEFENCES, BAY OF EXPLOITS
Botwood Seaplane Base

д Phillip's Head Battery
(1940 - 1945), Phillip's Head
Built to protect the "runway" of the Botwood Seaplane Base during World War II. It was armed with two casemated 4.7-inch quick-firing guns. Some restoration has been done to the battery and an observation tower on the hilltop nearby. Town of Botwood Attractions - WWII Battery

д Wiseman Head Battery
(1940 - 1943), Laurenceton
Located north of town at Wiseman Head, it was armed with two US 10-inch M1888 guns on M1893 barbette carriages. Access by unmaintained trails, or by boat.

Lewisporte Battery
(1940 - 1945), Lewisporte
A two-gun 75mm AMTB battery was located here at the ferry terminal.

L'Anse aux Meadows (National Historic Site and World Heritage Site)
(circa 1001 - 1015 ?), L'Anse aux Meadows
No fort was here but this site is very significant. This is the earliest known European settlement site on the North American continent, possibly known either as Straumfjord (Stream Fjord) in "Erik's Saga", or Leifsbudir (Leif's Booths) in the "Greenland Saga". It was a seasonal camp for the Norse Vikings from Greenland, and was finally abandoned sometime before 1020. The site was discovered and excavated from 1961 - 68. Another Norse settlement was established somewhere further south at a land-locked bay or estuary, known as Hєp, but that site has never been found by archaeologists. Newfoundland Island was known to the Norse Vikings as possibly the northern part of Vinland (Wine Land or Grass Land, depending on the pronunciation and the source). Modern-day New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were more probably Vinland proper. References of voyages to Vinland occur sporadically thereafter in the sagas, but the last recorded Norse voyage from Greenland to Markland (Labrador) occurred in 1347. PHOTOS

Harmon Field
(1942 - 1966), Stephenville
A US Army Airfield from WWII, later used by the US Air Force. One four-gun 3-inch AMTB / AA battery was installed, as well as two 155mm guns on 180-degree Panama mounts, and positions for two 81mm batteries. Several 40mm AA batteries were located around the airfield. Camp Morris was also here during WWII. The airfield is now used as an alternate to both Gander and St. John's international airports. A PINETREE radar installation was built in the 1950's nearby at Port au Port, the ruins of which still remain.
USAF Base photos

Newfoundland was a British colony/dominion until 1949. However, Canada provided and manned all local defences during WWII. The U.S. Government gave Great Britain 50 warships to gain use of bases in Newfoundland and other areas during World War II. Other U.S. military installations were located here, but none with coastal defence batteries, and hence will not be listed here.

NEED MORE INFO: Cupids, near Bay Roberts, was the first English settlement (1610) in the province.
Towns: Petit Forte.

Special thanks to Robert D. Zink of the Coast Defense Study Group for providing info on the Coast Artillery Defences of Argentia, St. John's Harbour, Bell Island, Bay of Exploits, Lewisporte, Stephenville, and Rigolet.