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| South Shields - Lawe (Park) Battery |
The Lawe (Park) Battery in South Shields was built in 1940 as an Emergency Battery for two 6-in guns and manned by the Royal Marines.
In March 1941 the Royal Marines were replaced by 348 Coast Battery of 508 (Tynemouth) Coast Regiment RA (TA) . Two
6-inch Mk XI/VI guns were moved from Frenchman's Battery, to the south, to equip the battery . For a time in
1941-3 the guns were removed, and only a searchlight remained, while new
emplacements were constructed.
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| 5.25 in Coastal / Air Defence Gun |
In 1943
three 5.25-inch Anti-Aircraft/coast defence
guns were installed. They had radar control, a horizontal range of 24,7000m and
a rate of fire of 7-10 rounds per minute - probably the best all-round weapon
ever provided for British coast gunners. This was to be the only dual purpose
battery in the UK.
When the Coast Defence role ceased in 1951 the battery was handed over to Anti Aircraft Command and finally, in 1956, the battery was dismantled, and the site landscaped by South Shields Corporation.
Aerial photographs source: P. Bellamy Airfield Information Exchange
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| South Shields - Lawe Aerial photograph showing traces of the battery |
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| South Shields - Lawe Aerial photograph with guns superimposed |
Very little can be seen of the battery today
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| South Shields - Lawe Battery Then & Now |
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| South Shields - Lawe Battery Now |