6 Inch Gun Mark VII at Spike Island

This Breech loading (BL) Mark VII 6 inch gun was manufactured in the UK. It was used both as a naval and land gun and it was the main coast defense gun on Spike Island (Ireland) with a maximum range of up to 12 miles (19.3 km). The initial location of the gun was in an exposed position on the top of No.3 Bastion of Fort Mitchell facing south. It was positioned there by the British Army in 1902. On 11 July 1938 the Irish government gained control of the coastal forts in Cork Harbor and the armaments were handed over to the Irish Defense Forces. The 6 inch gun was manned around the clock from 1939 during World War II. In 1943, due to the risk of enemy bombardment, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed this new underground emplacement protected by concrete, and relocated the gun. To allow testing it was fired from here just once by the Irish Army. This gun was never fired in anger.