Interesting, though Wiki - Brennan Torpedo only mentions one at Ricasoli.
The Maine photo (1920s) shows a concrete structure in front of what is now the winch house.
The Brennan Torpedo was based in eight locations in the U.K. and abroad from 1890 to 1906, Cliffe Fort on the Thames, Garrison Point Fort at the entrance to the Medway, Pier Cellars at the entrance to Plymouth Harbour, Fort Albert on the western approaches to Portsmouth, Fort Camden in Cork, Ireland, Lye Mun in Hong Kong, Forts Tigne and Ricasoli in Malta. Manned and operated by the Royal Engineers,the training establishment was at Garrison Point Fort. Interesting about Ricasoli, had not seen that mentioned (...) there is also talk of a shore based winch unit. Victorian Forts.
Well done Phill. I shall have to edit Wiki. That diagram of the shore layout at Plymouth could explain the need for the rooms adjacent to the Tigne winch room.
hi Phill, what a brilliant site the Victorian Forts. Have you been in touch with the webmaster? He might know more and be interested in this chat. He also has a page on the Rinella and Cambridge Batteries, and more Malta forts in the Gallery list. I have dropped him a line (David Moore).
This is the old Tigne Brennan station entrance to the torpedo room. The 18" gauge railway was used to help with the supply of torpedoes. The launching rail was to the right of this picture where you can see the concrete traverse that carried the steering girder. When I visted in 1994 and 1996 the later boom defence gear was still inside. A similar installation was located at Ricasoli. Much of it remains, including the launching slipway.
Yes David the BD winch is still inside (amazingly), am asking Wirtartna if they can preserve it. See other pics. I would love to see inside Ricasoli - do you know the right people??!!
Interesting about the 18" railway, as I can recall a set of rails in the shallows which would have had a gauge of about 18", they were pointing across the narrows at the harbor entrance and were adjacent to the winch blockhouse, things seem to be coming together.
The Palmerston Forts Society site is very interesting though under reconstruction at present, think that is where I first picked up on the Brennan.
Martin: To see the Brennan station at Ricasoli you do not need to go inside the fort. The station is outside the fort proper with the launch rails etc quite acceessible. Only the directing station is inside on the very point of the fort overlooking the harrbour entrance. Phillrose: The PFS site is down but my new site can be easily viewed at www.victorianforts.co.uk. I will add the plans of Ricasoli and Tigne to the Brennan Torpedo page.
The Maine photo (1920s) shows a concrete structure in front of what is now the winch house.
The Palmerston Forts Society site is very interesting though under reconstruction at present, think that is where I first picked up on the Brennan.