The Naval Sea Forts

Initially there were four Naval Sea Forts constructed at the Gravesend Red Lion Wharf site, towed down river and sunk in the Thames Estuary between February and August 1942. Two were sited off the Essex coat and two off the Kent Coast.

Each had a crew of 120 men and they lived in the two towers that held the main platform. Each tower was divided into 7 floors. Crews did a six week tour of duty before being relieved for 10 days ashore. Conditions on board were extremely stressful and resulted in many men suffering from mental disorders and being taken off to mental institutions. It was not a very welcoming posting.

The Forts saw much wartime action and were positioned solely to deter German ships and aircraft from deploying Magnetic influence mines, a role in which they were very successful. The four Naval Sea Forts were maintained by the Military until 1956 when they were abandoned to the elements. The 3.7" (9.5 cm) guns remained in situ until June 1992. The period between 1964 and 1967 saw all of the Naval Sea Forts occupied at some time by the Radio Pirates until the Government introduced the Offshore Broadcasting Act making it illegal to operate after August 1967. Of the original four Forts, only two remain today, Roughs Tower and Knock John Tower (above).

The Tongue Sands Naval Fort was located 6 miles off the coast of Margate (see map). It was placed on 17th June 1942 and is pictured here in June 1992 before the removal of the guns. Note the listing of the right "leg" which was the result of storm damage in December 1947, the leg and platform finally slid into the sea in February 1996 during a Force 11 gale.

Roughs Tower situated off Harwich, is still occupied by "Prince" Roy Bates and his wife "Princess" Joan, having declared the tower an independent state in 1967. Known as the Principality of Sealand, it issues its own Passport, stamps and coinage, all of which are much sort after by collectors. The story of the fort and the Prince and Princess was featured in the Daily Mirror (Sat 22nd May 1999).

Knock John, situated 11 miles off Herne Bay, once the home of Radio Essex and B.B.M.S Radio remains unoccupied and a silent memory of the past.

If you would like more information on the Naval Sea Forts the following publications are available post free from Frank R Turner, Glendale House, Marling Cross, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 5UE, ENGLAND.

Book Title	ISBN	Price (Overseas)
The Maunsell Sea Forts, Part 1, Navel Sea Forts	009514303-0-4	£17.50 (£20.00)
The Maunsell Sea Forts *	01901132-06-4	£4.50 (£5.00)
The Sealand Story *	01901132-07-2	£4.50 (£5.00)
The Radio Pirates onboard the Offshore Forts *	01901132-08-0	£4.50 (£5.00)

* Buy all three publications for just £11.00 post paid or £12.50 outside the UK.

Sea Fort Home | The Army Forts | The Navy Forts | Maps
© Frank R. Turner 1998