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Originally built in 1939 as an [[World War II]] concrete coastal gun battery with three 6" MK 7 guns mounted on MK 2 Shielded Barbette mounts. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform level by hoists and from the platform to the gun by hand.
Originally built in 1939 as an [[World War II]] concrete coastal gun battery with three 6" MK 7 guns mounted on MK 2 Shielded Barbette mounts. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform level by electric hoists and from the platform to the gun by hand.


Each emplacement had a separate underground magazine which were all connected by an underground tunnel. Each magazine had an emergency exit.
Each emplacement had a separate underground magazine which were all connected by an underground tunnel. Each magazine had an emergency exit.

Revision as of 10:09, 10 June 2014

Point Grey Battery (1939-1948) - Point Grey Battery was a Canadian reinforced concrete 6 inch coastal gun battery on Point Grey in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Deactivated in 1948.

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Point Grey Battery Gun Emplacement #1
Point Grey Battery Gun Emplacement #1, Museum Building on the Right.

World War II (1939-1945)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Vancouver in British Columbia.

Originally built in 1939 as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery with three 6" MK 7 guns mounted on MK 2 Shielded Barbette mounts. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform level by electric hoists and from the platform to the gun by hand.

Each emplacement had a separate underground magazine which were all connected by an underground tunnel. Each magazine had an emergency exit.

The support buildings for the battery included messing and recreation facilities for some 249 officers and men along with the necessary ammunition and supplies for the guns.

Point Grey Battery Plan from the Interpretive Sign


The battery also had a 6 pounder Hotchkiss gun used as an examination gun. The examination gun was used to remind ship masters who did not properly identify themselves when they entered the harbor to do so immediately.

Two 60" coast defense searchlights with concrete shelters were also put in place at Grey Point Battery. These searchlights were numbered #9 and #10 out of a total of 10 searchlights for the harbor defense of Vancouver.

By 1944 the threat of enemy attack was greatly reduced and the battery was placed in caretaker status. Even after the end of the war the 15th Coast Regiment RCA continued to train on the battery up until 1948 when the guns were removed.

With the closure of the battery the buildings were turned over to the University of British Columbia for use as student housing. The battery buildings and gun emplacement #2 were later removed for the construction of the UBC Anthropology Museum.

Current Status

The remains of two of the three gun emplacements (#1 & #3) are outside the UBC Museum of Anthropology at either end of the building. The third emplacement (#2) has been incorporated into the the interior of the museum as a centerpiece and is used to display exhibits. The two outside emplacements are sealed but in good shape, no period guns or mounts in place. An underground magazine entrance also remains next to emplacement #1, no public access. Emplacement #3 is adjacent to the main museum entrance while emplacement #1 is at the opposite end of the building in back of a delivery dock. Public access to the exterior of both emplacements, excellent interpretive signage at emplacement #1 and the rooms of that emplacement are stencil marked. Emplacement #3 is uninterpreted and unmarked. The remains of the two concrete searchlight enclosures (#9 and #10) can still be seen on the beach in front of the battery


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Location: UBC Anthropology Museum, 6393 NW Marine Dr., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Maps & Images

Lat: 49.27007 Long: -123.25946

  • Multi Maps from ACME
  • Maps from Bing
  • Maps from Google
  • Elevation: Gun #1=237.48', Gun #2=239.49', Gun #3=244.48'

See Also:

Sources:

Links:

Visited: 2,9 Jun 2014

Point Grey Battery Picture Gallery

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