Fort McNab
Fort McNab (1888-1960) - A Canadian coastal fort established in 1888 on NcNab Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Abandoned in 1960.
Fort McNab History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Halifax.
Construction on Fort McNab began in 1888 for the first breach loaded gun batteries defending Halifax Harbor. One of the first buildings was a seven casemate building to house the troops and provide support services. Two gun emplacement were constructed, one for a 10" Breach Loaded (BL) gun and one for a 6" BL Gun. The gun batteries were upgraded in 1903-1906 to add a second 6" emplacement and add shell hoists to the original one. A 9.2" BL gun emplacement was added during this period. The original 10" BL gun emplacement was abandoned in 1911.
After World War I the fort was closed down in 1919 and effectively mothballed in 1932.
The post was reactivate in 1939 as World War II began and a new Battery Command Post was constructed 1940-1941. During World War II the 9.2" BL gun emplacement was abandoned and the gun shipped to Devil's Battery in 1942. A Radar facility was built into the abandoned 9.2" gun emplacement in 1945.
The Fort was deactivate after the end of the war in 1945 but reactivated again in 1948 as the Cold War began. In 1953 a 4" Navy gun was emplaced in gun emplacement #2. Fort McNab was decommissioned in January 1960.
In 1965 Fort McNab was designated National Historic Site of Canada. The original 10" BL gun has been relocated back to its original emplacement (minus the carriage) and a 6" MK VII gun on a MK II mount was relocated from Fort Ogilvie to gun emplacement #1.
| Facility | Dates | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gun Emplacement #1, Magazine and Crew Shelter | 1888-1892-1960 | Modified in 1903-1906 Hoist Enlarged | |
| Gun Emplacement #2, Magazine and Crew Shelter | 1903-1906-1956 | Modified in 1938 & 1953 for new guns | |
| Gun Emplacement #3 , Magazine and Crew Shelter | 1888-1892-1911 | 10" BL Gun, abandoned 1911 | Central pivot mount |
| Gun Emplacement #4 , Magazine and Crew Shelter | 1903-1906-1942 | 9.2" BL Gun, abandoned 1942 | Radar Site added 1944 |
| Casemates | 1888-1892-1956 | Seven Casemate Building | |
| Battery Command Post | 1940-1960 | Command Center | |
| Oil Stores and Artificers Shop | 1906-1960 | Only brick building | |
| Searchlight Emplacement Building 6 | 1940-1960 | Searchlight #16 | |
| Searchlight Emplacement #17 | 1940-1960 | Searchlight #17 | |
| Searchlight Emplacement #15 | 1940-1960 | Searchlight #15 | |
| Searchlight Emplacement #14 | 1940-1960 | Searchlight #14 |
Current Status
Fort McNab National Historic Site on NcNab Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Two display guns, one 10" gun on a display mount and one 6" gun on a period mount.
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Location: Fort McNab National Historic Site on NcNab Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada Maps & Images Lat: 44.59999 Long: -63.51526 |
Sources:
- Piers, Harry, The Evolution of the Halifax Fortress 1749-1928, The Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1947, 155 pages
Links:
- North American Forts - Fort McNab
- Canadian Historic Places - Fort McNab
- Parks Canada - Fort McNab
- Friends of McNab Island - Fort McNab
- Chebucto - Fort McNab
Visited: No
Fort McNab Picture Gallery
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