THAMES FLAK TOWERS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 7, 3 October 1944, Page 5

THAMES FLAK TOWERS

How Port Was Kept In Operation GROTESQUE STRUCTURES (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 2, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, October 2. Secrets of the strongest fortresses of the war —grotesque concrete and steel towers raised on stilts 80 feet above sealevel at key points guarding the Thames estuary—have been revealed by a Press visit. Visitors to nearby resorts were puzzled for two years to know the real purpose of the towers, which are seen from miles away. The fortresses were built to keep the port of London open for shipping. The primary task was to shoot down and beat off enemy planes laying mines in the narrow, navigable Thames waters. It was essential that the channels should be kept clear, as blockages by wrecks could nave sealed the port and paralysed a great part of the war effort of the nation. , . The fortresses were designed by a civil engineer. London was never once closed as a port, and the Germans did not even attempt any serious mining of the vital channels. The engineer designed a huge flat-bottomed concrete boat in which were built two hollow concrete towers. The whole structure was towed out to the site, where a plug was knocked out of the bottom of each boat, which sank solidly ou the sandy bed. Large steel platforms were built ou the towers, on which were mounted heavy and light anti-aircraft guns and other armament.