COLONIAL DEFENCE 1855 - 1900

How did the colonial governments intend to use their military and naval forces to defend themselves ?

The following is a description of how the naval forces of the Australian colonies, in many cases supporting fixed military defences, were to be used during the 1890s to provide for the local defence of Australia’s major ports and harbours. Whilst much of the information upon which the following is based has been derived from Schemes of Defence and other official sources, the assets accredited to many of the naval forces were not always available of fully functional. The general concepts outlined in these plans, however, remained valid.

Before dealing with the naval forces of the individual colonies, it is worthwhile to examine what the Imperial authorities assessed as the main threats to the Australian colonies.

During the latter years of the nineteenth century. a number of the great powers either possessed colonies in the Pacific basin or had direct access to the Pacific rim. Some of these powers, notably France and Russia, were old adversaries of Great Britain and continued to be viewed with suspicion. Others, such as Germany and Japan, were beginning to come into consideration as future threats to the British Empire and thus to the Australian colonies.

The naval forces maintained in the Pacific area by these powers were not of sufficient strength to challenge openly British forces in the region. Conversely, there was no guarantee that the Royal Navy could cover the naval forces of an enemy or prevent detached forces from carrying out operations in the vicinity of Australia’s ports. These operations could take the form either of attacks against a harbour and its facilities or attacks on merchant shipping in the immediate area of a major port.

It was this possibility of cruiser raids against Australia’s major sea ports and shipping routes, coupled with a general desire by the colonial governments to have some form of local defence force, that resulted in the passage of the Colonial Naval Defence Act of 1865. The naval forces which were established were done so under the auspices of this Act, which permitted self-governing colonies to establish and maintain naval forces for their protection. The last Australian colony to be so empowered was Western Australia.

The colony of Western Australia did not obtain self-government until 1890 and so could not legally establish her own naval forces until then. Even after achieving self government, Western Australia did not establish local naval defences because she had already agreed to contribute to the maintenance of the Australian Auxiliary Squadron, which had been established to provide for the protection of Australia’s floating trade. After paying this contribution, there were insufficient funds available for additional forces to protect Western Australia’s ports.

Fremantle and Albany were the only ports in the colony where there were local military defences. Those ports located in the north were without any protection and very much isolated. The forces at Fremantle consisted of mobile artillery, whilst Albany was defended by two fixed batteries. (1) Even though no local naval forces were established there existed a number of government and private vessels that were capable of being utilised for naval or defence duties at these ports (these are listed at Table 1). There were, however, no established plans or legislation to utilise them for military purposes in an emergency.

The colony of Tasmania was another which did not establish its own naval forces. It did, however, purchase a second-class torpedo boat which arrived in the colony in 1884(2). This vessel was based at Hobart and operated by the Tasmanian Engineers as part of that city’s defences. The purchase of a second torpedo boat was recommended by a commission of enquiry but this was never progressed with.

The torpedo boat was to be used to harass enemy shipping located in the wide channel of the Derwent River, particularly ships out of range of the military coastal defence batteries covering the approaches to Hobart (details of these are contained in Table 2). Also located at Hobart was a 5-inch breech loader mounted on a VCP mounting. This weapon was supplied for possible mounting in a ship for harbour defence. In a return dated 31 December 1895 (see Table 3), listing civilian and government vessels which could be utilised for military purposes, the tug WYBL4 was annotated as the possible recipient for this gun.

Like Tasmania, the colony of South Australia acquired a single vessel, the light cruiser Protector (3). Protector was designed to operate in the waters of St Vincent Gulf and Spencer Gulf and protects the various ports, including that of Adelaide, located in this area. The port of Adelaide was considered, by defence experts, to be especially vulnerable to bombardment by cruisers closing the coast between Fort Largs and Glanville (see Table 4). Should the area have been threatened in this manner, it was intended that Protector be positioned in the shallow water between Fort Glanville and Fort Largs, threby preventing hostile ships closing the coast to bombard the capital. Whilst she was in this position, the two forts could protect the cruiser’s flanks.

The requirement to position Protector between the two forts was to have ceased with the construction of Fort Glenelg, mounting two 9.2 inch guns. Unfortunately, this fort was never built. Given the limited arcs of fire of her main battery, Protector would have been in a precarious position had she ever been called upon to execute this coast defence function.

The other area in which it was intended to employ Protector was in the mouths of both Spencer and St Vincent Gulfs. Patrols here was intended to intercept any ships forcing their way in. There were, however, two approaches to these gulfs and for Protector to cover both was quite impractical.

To support Protector and her small permanent crew of 17, there existed a Naval Reserve of approximately 150 men and a list of local craft suitable for use as naval auxiliaries was also maintained (see Table 5). Largest of these vessels was the South Australian government steamer Governor Musgrave. This vessel was intended to act as an auxiliary cruiser armed with at least two 5-inch 5-ton BL guns. These weapons were acquired during the mid-1890s and held on charge by the naval forces. So armed the Governor Musgrave would provide the South Australians with a second cruiser for patrol duties. A return of naval ordnance in the late 1890s alludes to the possibility of arming two vessels with these guns, thus freeing Protector from patrol duties. Also available to the South Australians were a number of Whitehead torpedoes, originally purchased for the Protector. There were, however, neither torpedo tubes nor dropping gear available for fitting to boats.

The need to have ships capable of operations in shallow water was not unique to South Australia. The major geographical features which impacted upon the type of vessels acquired by the Queensland Government were the shallow waters of Moreton Bay and the number of ports to be defended. These ports were:

* Southern Military District: Brisbane and Maryborough.

* Central Military District: Rockhampton.

* Northern Military District: Townsville, Cairns, Cooktown and Thursday Island.

To provide for the defence of these ports, the Queensland Maritime Defence Force consisted of the following vessels (technical details of the regular naval units are contained in Table 6):

* Gunboats: Paluma and Gayundah.

* Second-Class Torpedo Boat: Mosquito.

* Turnabout Torpedo Boat: Midge.

* Armed Tender: Otter.

* Five Hopper Barges (capable of being armed with a 5-inch BL gun):

In addition there were several small government and private craft available and, should the situation arise, they were planned for deployment to assist in the defence of Queensland’s ports as follows:

* Thursday Island. Because of its location, Thursday Island was considered to be of strategic importance. Thus, the Imperial Government provided three 6-inch BL guns, mounted on Green Hill, and four 9 pounder RML on field carriages for its defence. There were no regular naval craft allocated for the defence of Thursday Island, although the government launch Albatross was intended for use for defence purposes in the area. A Naval Brigade was established in the locality in the late 1880s or early 1890s but this had ceased to exist as early as 1894.

* Cooktown. One of the hopper barges would be deployed to Cooktown and, if required, armed with the 5-inch BL gun located there. This weapon was the only form of fixed defence at Cooktown and was normally located at Grassy Hill. The gun was transferred to Townsville in about 1894 or 1895.

* Cairns. A second hopper barge was detailed off for the defence of Cairns and the area around Trinity Inlet. As at Cooktown, the 5 inch BL gun which was to be the main armament of this vessel was located ashore. In the case of Cairns the gun was sited so that it could sweep the approach channel and thereby provide covering fire for the defensive minefield which the Naval Brigade at Cairns had the additional responsibility of laying and maintaining. These mines were stored in the naval depot at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. How they were to be moved from Brisbane to Cairns was not addressed.

* Townsvilie. The gunboat Paluma and an armed hopper barge were allocated for the defence of Townsville Harbour and Cleveland Bay. In this they had the support of two 6-inch BL and two 64-pounder RML guns located at Kissing Point and two 6-inch guns and one 0.45-inchNordenfelt MG mounted on Magazine Island. Townsville may have received Cooktown’s hopper barge in emergencies after the relocation of the Cooktown 5-inch by 1895.

* Rockhampton. The city of Rockhampton, located on the Fitzroy River, was also allocated a hopper barge for its defence. As with the two northern ports, the associated 5-inch gun was mounted on land.

* Maryborough. Whilst there was a Naval Brigade of 53 personnel located at Maryborough, there were no naval vessels specifically allocated for the defence of the city. There were, however, three government vessels listed as being available for patrol duties. Two of these vessels could have been armed with the 6 pounder guns used by the Naval Brigade.

* Moreton Bay. As would be expected, the greatest number of vessels were allocated for the defence of Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River area. These vessels included the Gayundah, Mosquito, Midge and Oaer, whilst there were also one hopper barge and about six requisitioned steam launches available.

The administrative function of the naval vessels in the Moreton Bay area was to patrol the bay and control the movement of shipping in the area during hostilities. Should any hostile craft enter the Bay they would initially be confronted by the gunboats and the torpedo boats. The naval vessels would harrass the enemy ships and prevent them from making a landing so as to bypass Fort Lytton (4). This fortification had been built at the mouth of the Brisbane River in order to prevent ships from steaming up the channel to attack the city and port. The shallow draft of the Queensland ships would allow them to operate over most of the bay whilst attacking ships would need to remain in the main shipping channels.

The major ports in the colony of New South Wales were Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney. Other minor ports were located on the north and the south coasts of the colony but were not defended by fixed fortifications or naval vessels.

* Newcastle. The fixed defences consisted of guns mounted at Fort Scratchley, Torpedo Point and Sheperd’s Hill (see Table 8). These guns were complemented by a defensive minefield of about twenty four 250 pound ground mines which was to be laid across the harbour entrance. There were no regular naval vessels based on the port but there was a Naval Brigade consisting of about 52 personnel with three government vessels which could be utilised for defence purposes (5). This local Naval Brigade was responsible for operating the examination anchorage and manning the guns which protected the minefield. These weapons were the two 80-pounder RMLS at Fort Scratcbley in the casemate there and 1.5-inch Nordenfelts at Torpedo Point, currently serving as the Newcastle Pilot Station. The Naval Brigade was also equipped with two 9-pounder RML guns on field carriages which could also be utilised to cover the minefield.

* Wollongong. The defences at Wollongong consisted of batteries located at Signal Hill (one 6-inch BL on HP mounting) and Smith’s Hill (two 80 pounder RML and one 1.5-inch Nordenfelt QF). Located at Wollongong was a small detachment of 25 personnel from the Naval Brigade. These men were responsible for the manning and operation of the Examination Service. For this task the Brigade was allocated the pilot steamer Thetis.

* Sydney. The Sydney area was divided into two districts for defence purposes, Port Jackson and Botany. The major functions of the naval forces in these two districts were the manning of some of the ordnance mounted at the forts, operation of the Examination Service and manning of the second class and auxiliary vessels (see Table 9).

The Botany District was located on the flank of Sydney and was connected to the city by tram and train. Because of this proximity a fort was constructed at Bare Island (see Table 10) in the hope that it would prevent an enemy landing and attacking the city from seaward. Units of the Naval Brigade and Naval Artillery stationed at Bare Island were given responsibility for manning the muzzle loading ordnance mounted at the Fort and, as elsewhere, operating the Examination Anchorage. There were no naval vessels specifically allocated to the Botany District, although the launch Dayspring was allotted for use by the Naval Brigade in operating the Examination Service.

The Port Jackson District was based on the harbour and its approaches. In this district the naval forces formed part of the second line of defence, the first line being the fortifications (see Table 11) around the Heads and along the coast. The inner line of fortifications was generally manned by the Naval Artillery and Naval Brigades. These fortifications consisted of the casemate battery at Middle Head and the guns mounted at Steel Point to cover the harbour minefields. Members of the naval forces were also responsible for manning the 80-pounder RML guns at South Head.

The torpedo boats (see Table 12), both second-class and auxiliary, were manned by members of the Naval Artillery Volunteers and the Naval Brigade. These vessels were to wait in Chowder Bay and attack any enemy vessel which managed to force the forts and minefields.

Naval personnel who were unallocated were used as part of the colony’s reserve. When fully mobilised the naval forces of the colony were under the command of the General Officer Commanding the NSW Military Forces.

The colony of Victoria possessed the largest forces of any of the Australian colonies. These units (see Table 13) were to be utilised to defend Port Phillip Bay only. Although the gunboats Victoria and Albert, the torpedo boat Childers and, if available at the time, the Countess of Hopetoun (6), supported by the auxiliaries Gannet and Lady Loch, could be deployed to the other ports to assist in their defence. These ports, Portland, Warrnambool and Port Fairy, were each defended by a battery of two 80-pounder RML guns.

At Port Philip Bay, the defences were centred on the fortifications located at Fort Queenscliff, point Nepean, South Channel Fort and Swan Island (see Table 14). Minefields were also laid to protect the main shipping channels.

The basic defence plan in force in 1890 was that, after mobilisation, the Victorian Naval Forces would make rendezvous in Symonds’ Channel and then be deployed to their defensive positions. The requisitioned ships Courier and Elingamite would be on patrol outside port Philip Heads, each armed with 45-pound QF, 14-pound QF and Nordenfelt guns. Should any hostile vessels be sighted, they would sound the alert and retire to the Cerberus.

Cerberus herself was to be moored near the entrance to Symonds’ Channel. From this position she would cover the West Channel without restricting the arcs of fire of the guns mounted on swan Island. Supporting Cerbems in covering the West Channel would be the gunboat Victoria and the auxiliary naval vessels Batman and Gannet. Also attached to the West Channel Squadron were two armed barges. These two vessels were iron barges capable of holding up to 400 tons of silt. After being planked over and cabins and magazines placed onboard, they would be armed with two 64-pound MLR. One of the barges would be positioned in the bight between Queenscliff and Swan Island, with the second being moored at the entrance to Laelia Channel. Apart from the armed barges and Cerberus, there were no other fixed defences in the area of Laelia and Symonds’ Channels and it was intended that the latter be blocked by the use of hulks.

Should the enemy try and force the South Channel, then Cerbems would be repositioned near the Number 1 buoy in an attempt to intercept the enemy in that position. Other vessels placed along the South Channel were to include two additional armed barges, one located north east and the other north west of the Number 5 buoy while moored opposite South Channel Fort would be the Nelson. The old ship was to be placed in a shallow channel near Number 6 buoy so that her port broadside of 7-inch and 64-pound MLR guns would cover the channel. Her starboard broadside would be available to fire on any vessels which force their way past the South Channel Fort.

Located to the east of Nelson would be the gunboat Albert and the auxiliary vessels Lady Loch and Fawkner. The latter was also equipped with an air compressor for charging the torpedoes of the Eastern Division of torpedo boats, namely Gordon, Commissioner and Customs No.1. These units would all be acting under the orders of the Commanding Officer of HMVS Nelson. The remaining torpedo boats formed the Western Division and operated from Swan Island where a naval depot had been constructed.

This depot at Swan Island would be the major operating base for the forces at the Heads. Supplies for the naval units would be ordered by the recruiting officers located at Williamstown and Sandridge (Port Melbourne) and then despatched to the Heads. Victoria appears to be the only colony which made some form of provision for the logistic support of its forces.

Apart from deploying the naval forces as indicated, other steps would be taken in aid of the defence of the entrance to Port Philip Bay. These included: extinguishing all leading lights at night; moving channel markers; and removal of pile lighthouses. The removal and movement of navigation markers would not have hindered the movement of the Victorian vessels as all bar Nelson could pass over the shoals. Defensive minefields would also be laid across the channels. These minefields would be protected by regular boat patrols supported by the guns mounted at the Heads. Should an enemy force penetrate all these defences then the naval forces would harrass the hostile ships as they made their way up the bay.

From the mid 1890s, as the complexity of the fixed defences increased, the deployment of the naval forces was modified’ from that previously mentioned. The general concept which was then applied was for the ships to be deployed in the open waters of the bay so that they could engage any vessels which had passed the forts and minefields. Acting on the advice of the Defence Committee, the Victorians paid off and put up for disposal the gunboats Victoria and Albert and deleted the armed barges from the order of battle. The old Nelson was also paid off by this time.

As with the naval forces of all the colonies but South Australia, the Victorian units were designed to support the fixed defences of the colony and operate within the confined coastal waters. To provide naval protection at a greater distance from the coast, the colonial governments entered into an agreement with the Imperial Government.

During the Colonial Conference of 1887, it was agreed to establish a special squadron for service on the Australia Station. The capital cost of these ships was to be borne by the Imperial Government while the colonies paid for their operating costs, up to a maximum amount of £91,000, and an annual interest charge of 5% of the capital cost, provided that this did not exceed £ 35,000 per year. For their money, the Australian colonies obtained a naval squadron consisting of five Third-class Cruisers, two to be placed in reserve in Sydney, and two torpedo gunboats, with one to be maintained in reserve in Sydney.

These ships were under the control of the Commander-in-Chief on the Australia Station, but could not be removed from the Station without the agreement of the colonial governments. As far as the colonies were concerned it was this proviso that the ships could not be removed without their consent which was particularly attractive.

The ships making up the Auxiliary Squadron were to be in addition to the warships normally based in Australian waters, with the idea that they would contribute primarily to the defence of floating trade in Australian waters, as well as assisting in the seaward defence of ports. During the life of the Australian Auxiliary Squadron from 1891 to 1901 the Australian colonies were to pay a total of £1.2 million.

Payment of this levy to the Imperial Government started at a time when the Australian colonies were reeling under the burden of a major economic depression. This slump not only prevented the colonies from expending larger amounts of money on naval defence but also resulted in the overall deterioration of the colonial naval forces. During the 1890s the only warship acquired by the Australian colonies was the First-class torpedo boat Countess of Hopetoun. The fact that this rundown of naval forces may have made the Schemes of Defence impractical to implement does not appear to have been of major concern to the colonial administrations. Perhaps they no longer believed the official threat assessments of marauding cruisers and were, in reality, more concerned with political survival than long term defence planning.

The other disadvantage faced by the colonial naval forces was the purely supporting role assigned them. In general, they existed either to man fixed military fortifications or to act in place of such fixed defences. The colonial naval forces, with the exception of those in South Australia, did not possess ships which could be utilised to intercept hostile forces operating on the high seas. This ascendancy of the "bricks and mortar" school of defence over the "naval" school resulted as a consequence of the reliance on British warships in the region and the Admiralty’s preference for an Imperial navy under its control rather than see the Australian colonies operate and maintain their own ocean going navies.

The establishment of fixed defences with supporting naval forces located at the major ports may have ensured the adequate defence of these points and provided politicians of the day with monumental works demonstrating their concern for the defence of the colony, but they did little to protect the coastal shipping around Australia. Even supported by the Australian Auxiliary Squadron, the colonial naval forces would have had great difficulty in providing adequate protection to coastal shipping or the many island communities around the coast and on offshore islands.

Notwithstanding these shortcomings, however, there was a growing realisation during the 1890s that the future security and prosperity of the Australian was dependent upon secure communications by sea and that this required an Australian navy capable of more than the support of fixed defences around the major ports. The seeds for such an Australian navy lay in the various colonial forces which, small and under financed as they were, provided the training ground for many of the personnel who were to- serve their nation with distinction in the First World War and beyond.

1. The two batteries consisted of Princess Royal Battery (Mount Adelaide), mounting two 6-inch BL guns, and Plantaganet Battery (King Point) mounting one 6-inch BL gun.

2. The 191 was never officially named and retained her builders’ number throughout her career. She was 63 feet long and displaced 12 tons, with a top speed of 16 knots. Her armament was either a 1-inch twin-barrelled Nordenfelt MG or torpedoes. TB 191 was a sister ship to the Victorian boats Lonsdale and Nepean.

3. The 920 ton Protector was launched in 1884. She was 188 feet in length with a 30 feet beam and a draught of 12.5 feet. Her main armament consisted of one 8-inch 12-ton BL, five 6-inch 4-ton BLs, four 3-pounder Hotchkiss QF and five 0.45-inch Gatling MG.

4. Fort Lytton mounted two 6-inch BL guns on HP mountings, two 12 pounder BL guns, two 6-pounder QF on cone mountings, three 0.45-inch 10 barrel Nordenfelt MG and two 64-pound RMLS.

5. These vessels were the Barossa, displacing 12 tons, the Custom House Launch, displacing 7 tons and the pilot steamer Ajax displacing 344 tons.

6. The first-class torpedo boat Countess of Hopetoun was launched in 1891 and displaced 120 tons. She had a maximum speed of 21 knots and carried two 1-inch twin-barrel Nordenfelt MG and three 14-inch Whitehead torpedoes.

Albany

Escoa 25 tons, 8 knots, 10 tons coal, endurance: 10 days.
Jessie 20 tons, 7 knots, 5 tons coal, endurance: 5 days.
Loch Lomond 8 tons, 6 knots, 2 tons coal, endurance 2-3 days.
Grace Darling (topsail schooner) and two flat bottomed lighters.

Fremantle

Dolphin 147 tons, 10 knots, 30 tons coal, endurance: 6 days.
Rescue 62 tons, 7 knots, 8 tons coal, endurance: 4 days.
Cygnet 5 tons, 9 knots, 0.75 tons coal, endurance: 1.5 days.
Cleopatra 5 days, 6 knots, 1 ton coal, endurance: 1 day.
Swan 5 days, 6 knots, 1 ton coal, endurance: 1 day.

Alexandra Battery: two 6-inch BL (HP mounts), two 7-inch RML, one 70-pounder RML.

Queen’s Battery: two 70-pounder RML, four 64-pounder RML.

Kangaroo Bluff two 8-inch RML, two 80-pounder RML, one 5-barrel 0.45-inch Nordenfelt MG, one 6-pounder QF.

Alexandra Redoubt: one 5-inch BL (HP mount), one 5-barrel 0.45-inch Nordenfelt, one 6-pounder QF.

Rotokino 2003 tons, 10 knots, 300 tons coal, 6 days endurance
Talme 2000 tons, 13 knots, 210 tons coal, 5.5 days endurance
Oonah 1757 tons, 14i~ knots, 240 tons coal, 51/2 days endurance
Pateena 1212 tons, 14 knots, 150 tons coal, 6 days endurance
Tambo 732 tons, 14 knots, 150 tons coal, 15 days endurance
Belinger 225 tons, 9.5 knots, 50 tons coal, 6 days endurance
Glenelg 1210 tons, 11 knots, 50 tons coal, 41/2 days endurance
Banks Peninsula 177 tons, 11.5 knots, 40 tons coal 3 days endurance
Nubeena 138 tons, 9.5 knots, 7 tons coal, 18 hours endurance
Warrentina 145 tons, 9 knots, 34 tons coal, 7 days endurance
Devon 191 tons, 11 knots, 30 tons coal, 3 days endurance
Koonya 119 tons, 9 knots, 50 tons coal, 9 days endurance
Centennial 89 tons, 12 knots, 2 days endurance
Cambria 86 tons, 81/2 knots, 9 days endurance
Dorset 69 tons, 9 knots, 9 days endurance
Huon 69 tons, 9 knots, 5 tons coal, 12 hours endurance
Silver Crown 67 tons, 9 knots, 7 tons coal, 1.5 days endurance
Victory 67 tons, 9 knots, 7 tons coal, 1.5 days endurance
Star 59 tons, 8 knots, 9 days endurance
Taranna 39 tons, 7 knots, 3 tons coal, 12 hours endurance
Tarinna 36 tons, 10 knots, 2 days endurance
Silver Queen 18 tons, 5.5 knots, 2 tons coal, 36 hours endurance
Pinafore 17 tons, 6 knots, 2 tons coal, 24 hours endurance
Agnes 11 knots, 2 days endurance
Coria 7 knots, 2 days endurance
Ecljpse 7 knots, 2 days endurance
Wybia 129 tons, 13 knots, 60 tns coal, 10 days endurance (tug, can carry 5-inch BL gun)

Fort Lags two 6-inch BL (HP mountings), two 9-inch RML (barbette mountings)

Fort Glanville two 6-inch BL, two 64 pounder RML (guns mounted)

Fort Glenelg two 92-inch BL, two 6-inch BL (all proposed installations only, not yet taken in hand)

Movable two 64-pounder RML, 816-pounder RML, three Whitworth 12- pounders, two .303 " Maxim Machine guns, two .45-inch Nordenfelt five-barrel Machine guns

Governor Musgrave 24 tons, 10 knots, 48 tons coal, 6 days endurance
Edith 5 tons, 10 knots, 5 tons coal, 4 days endurance
Victoria 5 tons, 10 knots, 4 tons coal, 3 days endurance
Mermaid 10 tons, 10 knots, 9 tons coal, 21/2 days endurance
Ethel 10 tons, 10 knots, 5 tons coal, 2 days endurance
Asteroid 7 tons, 10 knots, 4 tons coal, 2 days endurance

Defiance 15 tons, 10 knots, 10 tons coal, 3 days endurance
Blue Bell 7 tons, 9 knots, 3 tons coal, 36 hours endurance
Promise 10 tons, 10 knots, 5 tons coal, 2 days endurance
Petrel 7 tons, 10 knots, 5 tons coal, 2 days endurance

Paluma Twin-screw gun vessels, 360 tons, 10 knots
Gayundah 60 tons coal, 7 days endurance, one 8-inch BL, one 6-inch BL, four Nordenfelt MG
Midge Wooden picket boat, 12 tons, 17 knots, 6 tons coal, 4 days endurance, 2 Nordenfelt MG
Mosquito Second-class torpedo boat, 8.5 tons, 15 knots, 30 hundredweight coal, 2 days endurance, four torpedoes
Otter Armed tender, 290 tons, 12 knots, 60 tons coal, one 64-pounder RML

Albatross 35 tons, 9 knots, government
Victory 61 tons, 10 knots, Burns Philp & Co
Ada Dent 43 tons, 9 knots, Burns Philp & Co
E. Gollan 50 tons, 9 knots, Aplin Brown & Co
Fitzroy 50 tons, 9 knots, government
Dolphin 131 tons, 12 knots, AUSN Co
Llewellyn 40 tons, 8 knots, government
John Young 37 tons, 8 knots, government
Hercules 25 tons, 8 knots, government
Advance 181 tons, 12 knots, government
Laura 47 tons, 8 knots, government
Pippo 35 tons, 81/2 knots, government
President 29 tons, 9 knots, government
Miner 47 tons, 10 knots, defence force (mining vessel)
Garnet 34 tons, 9 knots, Harbours & Rivers Dept
Bonito 450 tons, 10 knots, H&R Dept
Bream 450 tons, 10 knots, H&R Dept
Dolphin 450 tons, 10 knots, H&R Dept
Pumba 450 tons, 10 knots, H&R Dept
Stingaree 450 tons, 10 knots, H& R Dept

Fort Scratchley one 8-inch BL (HP mount), three 6-inch BL (HP mounts), four 80- pounder RML,one 1.5-inch Norfdenfelt MG

Torpedo Point one 1.5-inch Nordenfelt MG

Shepherd’s Hill one 8-inch BL (HP mount)

Movable two 1.5-inch Nordenfelt MG (kept at Fort Scratchley)

Dismounted two 9-inch RML (at Fort Scratchley).

Thetis 327 tons, 10 knots, 168 tons coal, 7 days endurance
Ajax 373 tons, 11 knots, 228 tons coal, 9 1/2 days endurance
Hector 99 tons, 8 knots, 72 tons coal, 3 days endurance
Little Nell 84 tons, 93/4 knots, 18 tons coal, 18 hours endurance
Charybdis 109 tons, 8 knots, 102 tons coal, 4 days endurance
Ceres 154 tons, 10 knots, 96 tons coal, 4 days endurance
Juno 487 tons, 9 knots, 90 tons coal, 3 days endurance
Nemesis 15 tons, 11 knots, 12 tons coal
Orestes 194 tons, 11 knots, 96 tons coal, 4 days endurance
Gladys 9 tons, 11 knots
Carrington 10 tons, 9 knots
Mabel 7 tons, 8 knots
Premier 15 tons, 8 knots
Kate 15 tons, 11 knots
Ena 18 tons, 91/2 knots
Sol 7 tons, 8 knots
Ganymede 9 knots, 10 tons coal, 2 days endurance

Note: Approximately 40 private launches available for emergency.

 Table 10: Fortifications at Botany Bay

Bare Island Fort one 6-inch BL (HP mount), one 10-inch, one 9-inch RML, two 80-pounder RML

Henry’s Head two 6-inch BL (HP mounts) (one 6-inch BL at Victoria Barracks for drill purposes, available in emergency)

Bondi (Ben Buckler) one 9.2-inch BL (HP mount)

Bondi-Coogee Sub-Section

Coogee (Shark’s Point) one 9.2-inch BL (HP mount)

Movable (Bare Island) two .45-inch Nordenfelt MG on field carriages

Dismounted (Bare Island) one 9.2-inch RML

South Head one 9.2-inch, two 6-inch BL, two 10-inch RML, three 80-pounder RML, three 1.5-inch Nordenfelt QF

Steel Point three 5-inch BL

Movable three MG

Inner Middle Head two 6-inch BL (not chasehooped)

George’s Heights two 6-inch BL (not chasehooped), 2-pounder RML

Obelisk Bay two MG

Movable one 40-pounder RBL (travelling siege carriage), eight MG (all on carriages)

Acheron Torpedo boats, 82 feet, 24 tons, 14 knots,

Avemus 4 tons coal, two Schwartzkopff torpedoes

Dayspring Screw steamer, 27 tons, 10 knots, one 3-pounder QF

Cerberus Annoured turret ship, 3,413 tons, 10 knots, four 10-inch RML (18 ton guns), four 4-barrel Nordenfelt

Nelson Wooden frigate, two 7-inch RML, twelve 64-pounder RML, boilers condemned

Victoria Steel gunboat, 530 tons, 12 knots, one 8-inch BL, one 6-inch BL, two 13-pounder BL, two 4-barrel Nordenfelt

Albert Steel gunboat, 530 tons, 10 knots, one 8-inch BL, one 6-inch BL, two 9-pounder BL, two 4-barrel Nordenfelt

Gannet Tug, 400 tons, 12 knots, one 6-inch BL, two Nordenfelt, one 6-pounder QF

Batman Dredge, 387 tons, 8 knots, one 6-inch BL, two Nordenfelt , one 6-pounder QF

Fawkner Dredge, 387 tons, one 6-inch BL, 8 knots, two Gatlings, one 6-pounder QF

Lady Loch Screw steamer, 400 tons, 12 knots, two 5-inch BL, two NordenfeltJ

Courier Screw steamer, 17 knots, two 45-pounder QF, one 14-pounder QF, two Nordenfelt

Elingamite Screw steamer, 14 knots, two 45-pounder QF, one 14-pounder QF, two Nordenfelt

Childers First-class torpedo boat, 63 tons, 19 knots, two 1.5-inch Hotchkiss, four 15-inch Whitehead torpedoes, two 14-inch torpedoes

Nepean Second class torpedo boats, 12.5 tons,

Lonsdale 17 knots, two 14-inch Whitehead torpedoes, fittings for spar torpedoes

Gordon Turnabout torpedo launch, 14 knots, two 14-inch Whitehead torpedoes, one Nordenfelt

Commissioner Customs No. 1 Torpedo launches, 9 knots, fitted with spar torpedoes and dropping gear for two 14-inch Whitehead torpedoes

Armed Barges Nos. 1-4 two 64-pounder RML

Crows Nest one 8-inch BL (HP Mount), one 6-pounder QF

Queenscliff two 9.2-inch BL (one on CP mount, one on HP mount), three 6-inch BL (one CP, two HP), two 9-inch RML, one 80-pounder RML (HP) two 14-pounder QF, one 6-pounder QF, one 40-pounder RBL, seven Nordenfel

Swan Island one 6-inch BL (CP mount), four 5-inch (HP), one 9-inch RML, two 80-pounder RML, two 6-pounder QF, two Nordenfelt

Point Nepean two 9.2-inch BL (HP mounts), three 6 inch (one CP, two HP), one 4.7-inch QF, one 14-pounder, one Nordenfelt

Eagle’s Nest one 10-inch BL (HP mount), one 14-pounder QF (not yet mounted)

Point Franklin one 10-inch BL, two 5-inch BL, one 4.7-inch QF

South Channel Fort two 8-inch BL, two 5-inch BL