Australian Heavy Battery (Boera Battery)

Australian Army

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Justin Taylan 2003

 

Location
Lat 9° 24' 0S Long 147° 1' 0E  Located west of Port Moresby, on the coast.

Construction
One of the Port Moresby Gun Batteries. Built on the coastal hills immediately behind Boera village. Construction began in late January - May 1943. After 'A' Australian Heavy Battery at Gill Gill (west of Alotau, Milne Bay) ceasted to function on May 20, 1943 all equipment was transfered to Boera. Spread over several hills, the battery also had search light and support buildings nearby.  The water supply well was dug down 50 feet on June 11, 1943 under the supervision of Major Butterworth.  Firing excercises were carried out on March 3, 1944 by Boera and Bootless Batteries. The battery was disassembled (guns, ammunition) were returned to Port Moresby and camp buildings demolished.

Gun Pit No 1
American 155mm guns were emplaced at this location in gun pits with a trolley to rotate each gun. Triangulation for fire was laid out on July 6, 1943 and the guns test fired on the following day with the first round fired from this gun at 15:07 hours.

Today, this turret is empty, but has a metal carriage for the rear of the gun to be rotated around. The gun pit is made from large stones and concrete to make up the walls. Several covered bunkers are located behind the gun for shell storage.

Gun Pit No 2
American 155mm guns were emplaced at this location in gun pits with a trolley to rotate each gun. Triangulation for fire was laid out on July 6, 1943 and the guns test fired on the following day.

Today, this turret is empty, but has a metal carriage for the rear of the gun to be rotated around. The gun pit is made from large stones and concrete to make up the walls. A covered bunker is to the side of the bunker, for shell storage. The metal carriage for the rear of the gun is still present in the pit.

Tower & Fortifications
A two story 'tower' is located between the two guns, with covered bunkers to each side. On the second story of the tower is a pedestal, probably for mounting an anti-aircraft weapon, or binoculars, etc. Nearby, there is a concrete air raid trench with stairs for entry.

Buildings & Shelters
There is an underground building built into one of the hillsides, probably for shell storage, with a metal I beam roof, and holes for ventilation. A second building is only partially built into the hillside, its roof (presumably metal sheets) is missing. 

Shells
In the nearby village of Boera, villagers have collected the projectile portions of the 155mm shells, complete with detonators still attached. Probably, the copper cases were sold for scrap value long ago.

Today
This too is a remarkable site, well preserved in its entirety. The supporting search light positions are all easily identified and the gun emplacements seemingly need only the guns to be reinstalled to make them effective once again.

References
The 'Letter' Batteries for dates and information related to this battery. John Douglas' The Coastal Gun Batteries of Port Moresby - Then & Now

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Techincal Info155mm

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