Cranberry Head Battery

Cranberry Head Battery (1917-1948) - Cranberry Head Battery Battery was a coastal gun battery situated on a rocky cliff overlooking the entrance to Sydney Harbor, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The site experienced two different periods of activity, World War I (1914-1917) and World War II (1940-1948). Last deactivated in 1948.

Cranberry Head Fire-Control and Searchlight Post - September 2014

Cranberry Head Battery History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Sydney.

World War I (1914-1918)

When Sydney was selected as a convoy assembly port in June 1917, its defenses increased in importance. There was also agitation to have the defenses of Sydney harbour improved because of the importance and vulnerability of the steel plant and the coal mines. As a result, a number of coastal defense batteries were constructed in the harbour entrance and its approaches, including a battery at Cranberry Head consisting of two 4.7-inch quick-firing guns on concrete mounts, with a concrete magazine and a wooden battery commander's post. One 4.7-inch field gun was moved here from Chapel Point Battery in May 1917, with a third concrete mount built in August 1918.

No incoming ship could approach beyond the line between Flat Point and Cranberry Head without first establishing its identity to a naval examination vessel. One of primary responsibilities of the coastal batteries at Cranberry Head (and Fort Petrie) was to be ready at all times to open fire, first with warning shots and then for effect, on instructions from the examination staff.

World War II (1939-1945)

During WWII a fire-control observation post and two searchlights were located here, located within the WWI battery site. These were Canadian General Electric sixty-inch, eight-hundred-million candlepower dispersed beam U.S.-type carbon-arc "Coastal Artillery Search-Lights" (C.A.S.L). In clear weather the dispersed beam C.A.S.L.s had a range of five miles.

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  Cranberry Head Fire-Control and Searchlight Post
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  Cranberry Head Fire-Control and Searchlight Post
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  Cranberry Head Fire-Control and Searchlight Post
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  Cranberry Head Fire-Control and Searchlight Post
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  Cranberry Head Fire-Control and Searchlight Post

Current Status

The site is undeveloped private property accessible by a footpath at the east end of Peck Street. The site contains the remains of the fire control station, a concrete barracks and a concrete gun emplacement (or possibly a searchlight shelter). All of the concrete structures are damaged and covered with graffiti. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: The town of Sydney Mines in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Maps & Images Lat: 46.262003 Long: -60.207194 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: ....'

Sources:

• Tennyson, Brian Douglas, 'Sydney Harbour's Contribution To Atlantic Canada's Coastal Defence: An Introduction', NorthernMariner/LeManndunord,I,No.2 (April 1991), pages 23-30
• Donovan, Kenneth Joseph, 'From Fortress Louisbourg to Fortress Sydney: Artillery and Gunners on Cape Breton, 1743-1980 - Peter Moogk', Cape Breton at 200: Historical Essays in Honour of the Island's Bicentennial, 1785-1985 - Cape Breton University Press, Jan 1, 1985 - Cape Breton Island (N.S.) - 261 pages
• Tennyson, Brian Douglas, 'Guardian of the Gulf: Sydney, Cape Breton, and the Atlantic Wars', Brian Douglas Tennyson, Roger Sarty - University of Toronto Press, 2000 - History - 534 pages

Links:

• North American Forts - Cranberry Head Battery

Visited: 13 September 2014

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