Visit Holm Battery, Orkney, Scotland

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As with many of the batteries around Scapa Flow, they saw development and use in both World Wars; and Holm Battery is no exception. Early in the First World War four 12-pounder Quick Firing (QF) guns were temporarily mounted here. By early 1916 these had been replaced by three American 4-inch QF guns, along with three searchlights. The battery was further rearmed in the Second World War with the introduction of two 12-pounder emplacements and later a single twin 6-pounder emplacement and Battery Observation Post (BOP). The battery was finally placed into Care and Maintenance in November 1943; access to Scapa Flow from this direction having been blocked by the construction of the Churchill Barriers. Remains of the First World War 4-inch QF battery can be seen extant under the Second World War structures. The two 4-inch magazines lie up the slope, their protective earth bank having been removed, with a BOP for the later 12-pounder battery having been constructed on top of one. 1914-1918: 4-inch QF gun battery consisting of two emplacements and magazines. 1939-1943: 12-pounder battery consisting of two guns, magazines and an observation post. 1940-1943: Twin 6-pounder emplacement, completed September 1940, placed into care and maintenance in November 1943.

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