Reveal Secrets Of Tower Which Guarded The Thames

Northern Advocate, 3 October 1944, Page 3

Reveal Secrets Of Tower Which Guarded The Thames

LONDON, October 2. Tiie secrets of the strangest fortresses of the war, grotesque concrete steel towers raised on stilts 80 feet above sea-level at keypoints guarding the Thames Estuary, were revealed by a Press visit. Visitors to nearby resorts were puzzled for two years to know the real purpose of the towers which were 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 channels should be kept clear of blockade by wrecks which could have sealed the port and paralysed a great part of the war effort of the nation. The fortresses were designed by a civil engineer, and London was never once closed as a port. The Germans did not even attempt anv serious mining of the vital channels. The engineer designed a huge fiat-bottomed concrete boat in which were built two hollow concrete towers. The whole structure was towed out to the site, where fhe plug was' knocked out of the bottom of each boat, which flooded it and made it sink solidly on the sandy bed. Large steel platforms were built on the towers, on which were mounted heavy and light anti-aircraft guns and other armament.