Fort Siloso

Fort Siloso (Chinese: 西乐索炮台) is the sole restored coastal gun battery from the twelve such batteries which made up "Fortress Singapore" at the start of World War II. "Siloso" comes from the word "Seloso", a Filipino word meaning "jealous person".

The Fort is situated on the resort island of Sentosa, restored as a museum, and open for public viewership.

History

From the 1920s, Japan had begun to emerge as a serious threat to British outposts in the Far East. With drastic cuts in their defence budget after World War I, the British could no longer maintain a strong permanent naval presence in the area. Britain therefore decided to implement the "Main fleet to Singapore" strategy, to defend not only Singapore, but the rest of her empire in the Far East, and Australasia.

Singapore's strategic location as the western gateway to the Far East prompted Britain's Overseas Defence Committee to choose her, in 1921, as the site for a naval base. The Main Fleet would be based in Europe. It would sail to Singapore to protect Britain's Far East interests and possessions should they be threatened.

The success of this strategy hinged on the swift dispatch of the Main Fleet, and on keeping Singapore secure until it arrived. To the British Overseas Defence Committee, it seemed clear that an attack could come from the sea and, or from Johore. They therefore devised a strategy that took these alternatives into account.

By 1939, the main defences of Singapore consisted of a series of 12 Coastal Artillery Batteries. Contrary to popular belief, the guns, except two, were made to fire both landward and seaward.

Certain that the Japanese would first attack from the sea, the British defence planners were confident that the Main Fleet and reinforcements would arrive in Singapore well before any landward attack. It was however a disastrous mistake as the Japanese later invaded from the north during the Battle of Singapore.

Main coastal batteries in the south of Singapore

Johore Battery

Two of the Johore Battery's 3 × 15 in (381 mm) guns had all round traverse and could be fired landward. These joined in the battle for Singapore. One was on an older mounting, and could not be brought to bear. However, they were equipped only with ammunition to counter armoured ships and were not effective against land troops and field artillery.

Fort Siloso

Fort Siloso guarded the narrow western entrance to Keppel Harbour. By 1939, there were 2 × 6 in (152 mm) MK2 guns and one rapid firing 12 Pounder gun.

Buona Vista Battery

The 2 × 15 in (381 mm) guns at Buona Vista Battery had only a limited traverse of about 180 degrees. Given their limited traverse, they could only shell sections of the southwest coast of Johore.

Labrador Battery

Built in 1939, the Labrador Battery had a complex of gun emplacement and gun turret with 2 × 6 in (152 mm) guns facing south. The guns had a range of over 10 miles, firing 102-pound shells using 31-pound cartridges.