The Great Nore Tower
Issue : 10 Updated: 27th November 2022
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Better known as the Nore Fort one of the three WWII Army Forts of the Thames Estuary constructed & sunk on site in 1943
Little material exists on the Nore Fort but the following gathered over many years with the help of our listeners & readers
The Nore Lightship LV86 at St Katherine's Dock (1985)
The first Lightship in the world was stationed at the Nore from 1732
The LV86 served at numerous locations from 1931 - 1974 including the Nore
Owned by St Katherine's Haven as an exhibit from 1974 - 1996 when she was sold into private hands moored on the River Medway at Port Werburgh, Hoo, Rochester
Island Wall, Whitstable by Reeves Beach a number of cottages around the region take their name from 'The Nore' (2007)
The Great Nore and Little Nore were first famed as a rendezvous point for ships going into battle long before the concept of building and sinking Fort Towers
A major anchorage of the North Sea Fleet in the confluence of the River Thames and Medway, it was used by the ships heading in and out of Chatham, Woolwich & Deptford to blockade Dutch ports and again in the Great (1st World War) and Second World War
The Great Nore, about half a mile wide and 4.5 miles long is located off the main stream of the Thames
The Little Nore, a much smaller anchorage is just off Sheerness
Thames Estuary Army & Navy Forts
Thames Estuary Army Fort Plans
Cruciform
& Leg Section |
Nore
Sands diagram of Depths |
Army 3.7" Gun Tower Assembley at Red Lion Wharf, Gravesend
Army 3.7" Gun Tower between Barges ready for lowering to sea bed
Towing out one the Bofors Gun Tower to the Great Nore Sandbank ( 20th May 1943)
Sunk in position they were by a smidgen closer to Essex (Shoebury) than to Kent (Eastchurch)
Nore Fort (1943)
Nore Gun Towers 3 & 4 from the Searchlight Tower
The SB (Sailing Barge) 'Henry' off the Nore Fort (1943)
The SB 'Henry' goes about to the West leaving the Nore
Nore Fort Searchlight & Gun Tower 2 (1943)
Nore Fort NCO's Muster Ratings (1943)
Gun Tower 1 viewed from Gun Tower 4
Nore Fort Gun Towers 3 & 4 (1943)
Nore Fort: Bofors Tower Gun practice with Gun Towers 4 & 1 in the background (1943)
Nore Fort Gun Tower 3 & 4 viewed from Searchlight Tower (1943)
Heavy Anti-Aircraft 3.7" Gun ready to fire
Principle Fort Armament the Armstrong 3.7 Anti-Aircraft Gun
Nore Fort Catwalk (1943)
Supply vessel alongside the Bofors Tower
Note how much lower in the water the Nore Towers are in comparison to Red & Shivering Sands
Passing ship viewed from Supply Vessel between G3 & 4
Lifeboat drill at Nore Fort as supply ship approaches
Viewed from centre staging of G2 looking through Control Tower
Thames Forts crews & supplies came from HMS Wildfire tendering was with small armed trawlers from R.A.S.C. Water Transport Company, Sheerness
A supply ship pulls closer to G1
Viewed from centre staging of G2 looking through Control Tower
Nore Fort with Ratings on Control Tower walkway, note proximity of shoreline (1943)
Supply vessel making her way home, rounds the Forts passing the North Searchlight Tower of Nore Fort (1943)
Nore Fort (Undated)
Great Nore Fort Gun Towers (Undated)
Could be anytime from 1945 Army training flag flying warning of Gun action
The wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery (1985)
The SS 'Montgomory' sunk in 1944 on the edge of the Nore close to the sea lanes thus becoming a hazard to this day
On 31st January 1953 the East Coast of England was hit by Floods which swamped large parts of the Essex and Kent Coasts
The Nore Fort was damaged with the extreme high water washing away some military equipment
The MV 'Baalbek'
On Sunday the 1st March 1953 the 2,160 Ton Norwegian pulp carrier the 'Baalbek' ran into the Bofors and G4 Gun Towers killing four civilian crew
The Bofors Tower collapsed and sank, part of the Forts Catwalks became lodged on the ships foredeck deck, she safely docked with the remnants still hanging from her bow
The MV 'Baalbek' with the Control G4 Tower Catwalk on deck
It was reported at the time the Searchlight Tower which contained the generators had toppled!
The loss of power was due to G4 toppling & severing the power lines from the Searchlight Tower where the generators were housed to the rest of the Fort Complex
The Glasgow Herald report the collision
On 22nd June 1953 the Admiralty advised A-A Command that should the Fort be abandoned, it was anticipated the Port of London Authority would require the removal of the remains of the wrecked Tower and probably the remaining five
A detailed examination of the Fort revealed that the defensive role of the complex couldn't be fulfilled unless restored to its original state
Consideration were given to a temporary arrangement using the remaining layout and rejoining the Searchlight Tower, converting the Control Tower for FC (Fire Control) Radar and Prediction converting G1 for Bofors and TC (Acoustic & Weather) Radar
Other proposals included leaving the Searchlight Tower and re-arranging the remaining four Towers to suit
Chalk was dumped around the Nore Fort and essential repairs made before disaster struck again ...
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