How Did These Weird Steel Structures Defend London?
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- Опубликовано: 31 окт 2021
- How Did These Weird Steel Structures Defend London?
During the Second World War, the City of London was a major target for both naval and aerial bombardment. In 1943, numerous towers were built in the Thames Estuary as anti-aircraft defences to protect the capital. Known as the Red Sands Forts, these Star Wars Walker-like constructions were initially built on land and floated out to sea in 1943.
These bizarre steel structures helped defend Britain during World War Two. The soldiers stationed there shot down a total of 22 attacking German aircraft and 30 doodlebugs, protecting densely populated London from even more devastation. Later in the war, the equipment was replaced, and removed soon after. The forts were eventually abandoned in 1958. It wasn't until 1964 that the Forts served a new purpose. Screaming Lord Sutch set up Radio Sutch (a pirate radio station) in one of the old towers. However, he soon became bored and handed the project to his friend and unpaid manager Reginald Calvert, who then expanded into all five towers that were still connected and called it Radio City.
After the station was shut down in 1967, the Red Sands Forts were yet again abandoned and remained offshore, slowly rusting away. Luckily, a planned restoration of the forts was scheduled in 2020, but was delayed by COVID 19 pandemic. It is planned for the forts to become a museum once restored.
Recently Dan Snow went to visit Red Sands Forts and was shown around by Dave Foulkes from Project Redsand.
#RedSandsSeaForts #DanSnow #HistoryHit
Are these the strangest looking remains from WW2? Or have you seen something even more bizarre we should go and film?
Is there any footage of these towers in action during the war? It must have been quite a sight to watch them all fire up together.
The flakturme are pretty strange looking. They served a similar anti-aircraft role as well.
they are but now there the best fishing spot ik i got a 7 pound bass last year
Britain’s WW2 heritage is sadly neglected.The Northumberland coast has lots of pill boxes and even an odd stepped structure which looks slightly like a miniature Mayan temple.
@@YellowfinGrouper Where is this odd structure please?
The chap from the project group, gave a great insight and is a credit to the group with his enthusiasm...thanks
Yes, brilliant and so enthusiastic. Pity about the other ignoramus.
Yeah he's loving it
@@speakmiester right? I’ve watched other videos on this channel and liked them a lot, but the show host was just rude to that fella giving him a tour of a lifetime.
@@Fuzzypotato2 I agree with you mate, the guy was buzzing about showing him around and informing him of the history and the stupid idiot was just like "yea cool now what?" well we have this here "ow nice can we go now"
Don't bother sending him to a place he doesn't understand or doesn't want to,
I enjoyed watching it because of the enthusiasm of the tour guide. But I don't rate the documentary very much,
Agreed. He should replace that Snow bloke. I feel the Rumours of nepotism in Snow’s broadcasting career may have some basis after watching this.
I grew up on the Isle of Sheppey, from where these structures are clearly visible. I went to primary school at Delamark Rd, Sheerness and in 1953 anti-aircraft practice from the 'forts' was taking place using a 'plane pulling a 'target'. Unfortunately the a-a crew were a little too close and managed to hit the aircraft and not the target! Quite a spectacular sight a flaming plane flying off into the distance and a lot of excitement for a class of 10 year old boys.
In the 1950's and before, the 3.7in AA guns were radar controlled. Usually two rader sets per Battery, one search control the other fire control. If the guns hit the towing aircraft (?) it would have been a very unusual radar fault which through the Predictor which control the aiming of the guns by hydraulic control. The gunners aim the gun, bearing, elevation and range by aligning pointers on dials.
Rip random pilot
@@BestKCL lol, my thoughts exactly
Here's hoping the air crew was alright.
And I'll just bet you that AA crew got what we in the US call 'a wall-to-wall counseling session' 😅
@@carlhicksjr8401 And dang only the folks who witnessed them will know what you mean
Just as a side note, the walkways between each tower didn't fall into the sea, they were blown up by the Royal Marines because the towers were becoming unsafe, and they wanted to reduce the chances of urbexers/trespassers falling into the sea if one of the bridges gave way.
As a Health & Safety Inspector, wish I could deal with unsafe things by just blowing them up. Problem, what problem?
They were pulled down by a grapling hook from a tug in and around 1979.
There were the remains of the catwalk from G4 to Control Tower until 1996 when the remains finally let go and fell into the sea.
@@nearestyoutube A navy electrician told me that if equipment wasn’t marked as inspected the officer would cut the power cords.
Why does the host seem like he’s rushing/not remotely bothered about what the other bloke is saying? The interviewee seems so enthusiastic and happy about showing him around
I thought that was weird/rude, too. It surprised me because I didn't get that from Snow's other videos I've seen.
Genuinely love watching stuff like this when the person showing the other person around is so passionate about his work and what he’s doing 👌🏻👌🏻
Would love to se an authetic WW2 TV-Series about the life on these forts.
My dad , a reporter, from the Herne Bay press, went out to these in the 60s, to interview the radio DJs.
As a child in the 60's l grew up listening to pirate radio under my pillow to think that this as well as the war time history is being preserved is amazing but boy does it make me feel old. l wish them good luck with the work.
Don't they remind you of a far more chilling object from fiction - War of the World's machines walking in the sea? Albeit not tripods, but far more resemblance to them than the Star Wars walkers....
That’s exactly what I thought.
Wow I thought of the tripods as well haha!
In the rough geographical area the HMS Thunder Child took them on.
@@arkboy3 Oh! Now that's a rather interesting coincidence! I haven't read the book proper, awesome, as if done on purpose.
By the way, Drachinifel made a video trying to figure out which type of ship HMS Thunder Child was, whether a Dreadnought or pre-one... it's interesting and obviously, has Drach's typical Python-esque humor. Cheers!
@@hansvonmannschaft9062 That was a real good one! I never miss his videos.
It is such a blessing that we have volunteers and projects like this attempting to preserve world war history like this. I can’t understand why governments don’t participate more actively in the preservation of these towers. The potential tourism and income generating potential of this project once restored would have international interest surely.
Gordon Agent... I couldn't agree more.... This is British Heritage on the scale of Hadrian's Wall and all the years in between.
The Atlantic Wall of Hitler's coastal defence is preserved in Normandy... Brilliantly.
It is part of the History Of The World...and needs to be seen and appreciated by subsequent generations.
It's a cliche, but those who ignore history (or attempt to eradicate history: The Colston Statue in Bristol, for example) are DOOMED to repeat it. Slavery continues to this day around the globe....but the 'wokes' ignore that ...whilst using their mobile phones and wearing their designer trainers. Give me strength!)
But most Governments have no interest in history:
Let's face it, it embarrasses them! It shows them up for what they are: Failures. Highly-paid failures. Endlessly looking for the Gravy Train.
Not so much..
" I can’t understand why governments don’t participate more actively in the preservation of these towers"
Because there's no money in it for them.
@@patagualianmostly7437 We are having that problem with a certain republican governor of Florida closing libraries and cutting reading programs because, he was told by the Supreme Court that the banning of books is unconstitutional and he is running for president!!
@@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim They just want all history eradicated!! Dumb people believe what you tell them!🙃 That is a right wing point of view!
I have spent the last 26 years running in and out of the Thames on ships.
These are as familiar to me as anything ashore. Nice to see inside them.
I was on various coastal ships that took coal up the Thames etc in the 70's....Kings North Power Station to name but one...but no one bothered to point them out to me! Grrrrr! 😭
I've forgotten the number of times I've been past these forts, but it's a lot.
21 of these towers were built at Red Lion Wharf Gravesend and towed down the Thames, in complete condition, strapped to 2 barges and towed by 4 tugs. Each weighed 4,500 tons and were lowered to the sea bed using hand winches.
The 7 towers at the Nore, were demolished after being hit by a ship and scrapped, but the bases in double cross form, were taken to Cliffe Wharf and dumped just to the South, where you can see them at low water.
I'm glad to see restoration is in progress at Red Sand.
Regards, Richard Godden.
..
@RoryTrackrod hello Richard! 👋 Hope all is well.
@@RoryTrackrod Just a note the Red Lion wharf is in Northfleet, During the war my family lived about 200 hundred yards away My mother told me how she could see them being fabricated but really did not exactly realise their purpose Loose lips sink ships i suppose Not far from this yard was Henlys who took part in the manufacture of the PLUTO pipeline for D Day Northfleet ,Busy area there was bombed quite a lot because of industry
@@leehotspur9679 Yes, it's Northfleet, but sometimes the address is Northfleet, Gravesend, or Gravesend, probably because it's a larger town. All sign of the wharf and dry dock is gone now.
Henleys made electrical components for Pluto. The actual pipeline was made just across the river, in a purpose built factory at Tilbury.
Thanks for the correction.
..
The dude from the project has so much charisma. He should have his own show.
Don't make me laugh...
i'm amazed they want to repair this place, usually these kind of structures are just left to slowly rot. so cool!
As stated by others, Mr Foulkes is a very bright and positive light…a credit to his organization. Seems like a genuinely good man…would be a pleasure to chat with.
Growing up on the Kent coast I was always amazed by these strange structures sitting in the sea , harsh conditions enabling creative solutions
Could you see them from the shore? They had 3 'sets' of them off the Mersey.
I was hoping for some explanation for the layout of the 7 towers. There must be some reason for each to be located in their particular position. From a glance, and since they don't appear to be laid out in any standard geometric shape, it's hard to guess why each tower came to be in its own location.
Man, I would absolutely love visiting a restored version of these.
This was interesting. I didn't know you had radio pirates too. Here in Sweden we had Radio North and Radio South in the 60's. Both on ships out on international water so swedish law couldn't reach them. They mostly played music from USA for us teens.
And Radio Syd in 1962.
I still fancy Britt Wardner..!!
I owned one of the famous Dunkirk Little Ships, she was built in 1930 in Castleford, Yorkshire. Built of ash planking on oak she made her way down the East Coast, in 1940 was collected off the Thames and saw service for 3 days ferry troops off the Dunkirk beach to larger craft off shore returning to blighty fully loaded with troops and holed at the water line. She was then taken into the Royal Navy and used for parachute mine patrol of the Thames Estuary. Based at Queensborough under the command of Chatham, sailing the water depicted in the video.
I owned the boat for 15 years and moored her on the upper Thames, London City, the Medway and in Holland so she sailed those waters she had patrolled many time now in happier times.
Don't you mean famous? Infamous is for something evil....
@@timengineman2nd714 Thanks for that.
A lot of people seem to think that most of the Allied WW2 emergency build stuff was cheaply and sloppily built. Plus people putting in substandard metals to increase their wartime profits.....
This shows just one of many times how the people designing and building them, were determined to do their best to help defend their country! Almost 80 years later, with no major maintenance and a lot of pilfering, they are still standing tall!!
So true Tim, well said!
it is to bad everything is now made to be sub standard at best....
It's wonderful that whatever the historical landmark, there's a group of dedicated volunteers to run it. We went to visit the Titan II missile silo in Arizona, and the volunteer-led tour was just magnificent.
I agree, dedication and passion. There's a couple of cold war ROTOR bunkers run by volunteers over here and they're so interesting to tour.
Regardless of something being historical, volunteers run this world
I wish you were right....
And the thing with "dedicated volunteers" is that this is their bag... this is their thing! They'll come home from work and spend their free time reading library books about it.
So anything they tell you will be from the research they've willingly undertaken. What's the old saying about one volunteer being better than ten pressed men! 👍
I climbed up the iron ladder from my speed boat to one of the forts back in the early 80’s, quite an accomplishment for some one suffering from vertigo! They have deteriorated quite a bit since then but they have great sentimental value for two periods of the last century. Those periods were the 2nd World War and the pop pirates of the 60’, 70’s and the 80’s. I actually supplied Radio Caroline and also serviced and looked after their outboard and rib risking 2 years imprisonment if caught! Radio Caroline was then moored a little further out in the Estuary from the Red Sand Forts actually nearer to the Shivering Sand ones. The ex trawler that Caroline was then using dragged its anchor one stormy night ending up on a sand bank where she sank leaving just the massively tall radio mast visible. Luckily, all of the crew were rescued. Exciting times and i am only glad to have experienced them. They will never be repeated.
My chum Pete Chicago tried desperately to save the Mi Amigo and was the last person ever aboard her. She sank in 1980 and the mast, which Pete also built, stood out of the sea until 1986.
Were you on the Offshore One then?
@@shiveringsand I climbed the Red Sand Towers. The Caroline boat I supplied was the Mia Amigo moored off Margate
Was there ever any women aboard Caroline? Or did the wives & girlfriends ever stay over?
Am just curious.
It's truly unique, glad you had such amazing times.
Amazing how you keep managing to turn the story back toward yourself.
That's just amazing, good to hear they are restoring them.
They should be restored and turned into a Museum / Resort. ... They're a piece of History that should DEFINITELY be preserved.
They are tho?
Its been planned since 2020 but Covid has halted it for now
Really fascinating, and the fact these structures still exist is most incredible. In the beginning I had wondered why they were all in a cluster near each other rather then spread out in a line, but obviously by having a group of guns working together is much more effective for a barrage of bullets are sprayed towards the enemy, like a wall, much more likely to hit the target.
im absolutely in awe that people have taken on the project of fixing these towers, i only hope one day when i have children we can visit these amazing structures in their full glory
what are they called?
@@scotttownsend2123
The Maunsell "Army" Forts, they were off the Thames and the Mersey.
I grew up in Kent. You can see the forts on the sea horizon from Whitstable and Herne Bay. Always wondered what they look like close up.
This would make an amazing tourist attraction of restored. They're not too far gone yet, they can still be saved. Repair the catwalks, restore the buildings to a mock-up of what their original purpose was, and it'll be the most unique museum in the world.
Why would a tourist want to go there?
They're knackered mate.
We did a survey 15 years ago when we also had a diver do a report on the concrete frames which are the only parts which are ok.
I put my foot through the rotten roof of the Control Tower about 12 or so years back too.
When half inch thick armour plate is rotten and holed.....
Love his enthusiasm. Great to see important projects met with people that love their job
It's good to see them being maintained and restored
they are not being restored.
Sounds like security is going to be crucial, if the buildings keep getting raided and stripped out.
After hearing the comparison with the Walkers from 'The Empire Strikes Back' movie. I probably will never "unsee" that particular connection with these ghostly remnants of WWII.
Definitely!
Life imitates art!
Good they're being restored.
Any TV work Dan Snow has done is always interesting to watch and learn from.
I agree but in this he is very dull.
@@santinodagostino4441He thinks all his docs are about him. That’s the problem. He never gets out of the way.
@@santinodagostino4441 With an ego the size of Kent.!
I would love to live there. Can you imagine the peace and quiet, and no stupid people around you?
Great video! So glad I found this channel, I'm binging all your older vids nows, looking forward to more. Cheers!
Even the objects with the most obscure origin have the deepest history, brilliant video !
Brilliant i always learn some thing new about WW2 every day.
Urban explorers and vandals have a lot to answer for.
Pity the film crew could only access one tower, would be fascinating to see inside the remains of the radio studio.
Radio 390's studio was on Gun Tower 3 (G3) and is the only tower that I haven't accessed as yet. The equipment is long gone but the studio partitions and desk cut outs remain.
I am totally amazed at this video.. history at its best,,, you learn something every day... Amazing thank you
Wow! Absolutely fascinating
What a brilliant and worthwhile project. I will definitely look forward to visiting this
Thank you, Dan
Great video. There was an episode of the 1960s spy series Danger Man which was filmed at the fort. It was called “Not So Jolly Roger”. The plot was that the pirate radio station was a cover for spying operations. The interiors were probably filmed in a studio but most of the the exterior shots were at the actual fort and you can see people walking between the towers on the walk ways which still existed then. It os a really good tv series and you can buy the hour long episodes ( of which that was one) from Network DVD.
ruclips.net/video/33qlOAOdX_Q/видео.html
It was also featured in the 1975 film Flame when the band Sade went out to it for an interview with Tommy Vance who was playing the part of a pirate radio station DJ ( he used to be a DJ for radio Caroline).
The exterior shots are of the towers but the internal shots were done in a film studio.
Excellent video, thanks! This fantastic location was also featured in the very memorable 1968 Doctor Who story "Fury from the Deep" as the Control Complex of the futuristic Euro Sea Gas. This six episode story starred Patrick Troughton as the Doctor and there were extensive sequences filmed using two helicopters and one of the towers covered in BBC Visual FX foam! Helicopter pilot "Mad" Mike Smith also flew his helicopter under one of the connecting walkways for one shot. Although, sadly, the original copies of this were wiped by the BBC there is an animated version of the story available and off-screen photo reconstructions of the episodes, as well as a lovely documentary reuniting some of the original production personnel on a journey to the forts. Well worth a look for anyone interested!
I found the episode on RUclips with little effort and judging by the interiors seen on the tour, I believe that much of the episode was filmed onboard.
Referring to the Not So Jolly Roger Danger Man episode, I was.
I remember my British mom telling me about these forts when I was a kid; my grandfather in England would send me picture books of the RAF, the navy, that's where I first saw what they looked like. Amazing structures.
shame your Bitish mum dident teach you how to say mum correctly
Great to see people are trying to save such a a cool peace of WW2 history. Howdy from Texas
this is so well made, great work
Wow, what a site. I had heard of these structures for years but never saw the inside. Fascinating.
I will deff come visit these when we are able! Both kinds of history are very interesting to me! ww2 and the pirate radios. Thank you very much for your work!
Never, ever, ever heard of them before. Oh well, learn something every day. BIG job for the Volunteers. 🇦🇺
In the 60’s I sailed through the two masts which was quite an eerie feeling particularly as there was quire a bit of rigging in those days . Now the wreck is closely watched by the Medway Port Authority . I also went up on one of the forts which had a good vertical ladder . There also used to be connecting walkways between the towers now all gone . The Thames Estuary is full of history. In the 80’s I was involved with supplying Radio Carolyn which was then moored off Margate . I managed to avoid getting caught which had a maximum prison sentence of 2 years! The then Labour Government seemed to dislike the Pop Pirates! They introduced The Marine Offences and Broadcasting Act with the 2 year term . As a teenager in the 60’s the Pirates gave us pop music and the only other radio station to do so was Radio Luxembourg which used to fade in and out! I was proud to do my bit to keep them going!
Marine Offences Act 1967 Good old Mr Wilson, eh.?
@@shiveringsand yes the law was rubbish. You got less if you were doing drugs! The government cam out with excuses like ‘they were interfering with emergency communications which was proven to be false. I think they just hated the fact that the so called Pirates were pulling one over the government. Long may that continue!
@@shiveringsand one things for sure, the pop pirate days from the 60’s to the 80’s were great times to grow up in!
A wonderful collection. Brilliant. 👍
Have spent days fishing around them over the last 40 years. You can hear them creek and grown with tide ect. Nice to see them restoring them.
I wonder what type of fish you caught. Plaice, halibut, flounder?
@@kingkong5483 Sea Bass in the main. They spawn around the base of the towers.
"Lads, lads, make sure the wind hits my loose top to show off my physique as much as possible" Dan Snow 2022. 🤣🤣🤣
On a serious note, i never knew these structures even existed.
This was really awesome- I learned something amazing today about WWII I didn’t know about.. Great video 👍🏼
Guy Anson Maunsell (1 September 1884 - 20 June 1961) was the British civil engineer responsible for the design of the World War II Naval sea forts and Army forts used by the United Kingdom for the defence of the Thames and Mersey estuaries.
Thank you for that mate.!!
Really great to see these up close
Why would anyone want to vandalise these, it's beyond belief. They are our heritage and should be preserved or even turned into a tourist attraction to fund the restoration.
You must be naive to not know the filth and gutter trash that you need share your ball of dirt and free oxygen with.
The Red Sands Fort, was used as a filming location for Danger Man ("Not So Jolly Roger") and Doctor Who ("Fury from the Deep"). The latter's cast and crew returned there recently as recorded as an extra for the DVD release.
Also used for Slades In Flame fim from 1974.
I love Patsy Anne Noble in that Danger Man episode which was filmed just as Radio 390 took over the place from Radio K.I.N.G. in September 1965
I remember seeing the tower's when sailing into Thame's Port.
This is fantastic to see, keep it up
Very good 👍
Thank you !
Love the zoomed in shots on bolts and stuff that you never see in other documentaries.
Love your work 👍
One of these AA batteries was turned into an autonomous country just outside the former UK territory. It used to be 3miles, and it was just outside of that.
Sealand, the name of that country, is the reason why it's 12miles now. Quite the interesting and very controverse story. It was accidentally recognised as a real country and was raided, some say illegally, by the crown a few times and the sealanders defended themselves with arms.
It also served as a pirate radio station for a while, as mentioned, bt most of it's life, it's an independent nation, completely legal but unrecognised by most countries in the world.
For me personally they don't remind me of Star Wars, they remind me of War of the Worlds Tripod Walkers that the aliens use.
That's one of the Naval forts with the bigger Bofors guns, with the double cylindrical columns and platform, formerly known as Roughs Tower fort I think?
Thank you Dan!
This is added to my bucket list!
Good to see that shot of Screaming Lord Sutch and Radio CIty boss Reg Calvert.. presumably with a deejay on the right..
I knew the pirate radio I tuned into during the 60s/70s was broadcast from the Thames Estuary but I didn't realise until now it was from here.
Fantastic. 👍👍👍👍🇬🇧
I remember listening to Radio 390 in the 60s ... amazed that the towers are still viable.
Like the way dave has love for his work. Decent job too. Lots of knowledge about it aswell.
My dad has been on them. He was a pirate radio operator.
What a strange sight, really intresting mini doc.
That is an awesome setup. If I were a kid that would be the ultimate fort.
1 should be as a radio museum, another a war time museum and 5 others transformed into a boutique hotel
This is a very cool piece of history 👌
Well done!
Cool video 👍
very cool 👍
You see this is the little things that here in the USA we aren’t told about in history class lucky me I love studying ww2 history these are fascinating
Tbh I doubt in a country so fond of not realising that there is a world outside of itself, would teach anything that is not MURICA manifesting its destiny
WW2 history is such a vast subject that details such as this aren't taught even in British schools. That's what fantastic resources such as youtube is for.
I live in Herne Bay and you can see them from the downs and cliffs especially on a clear day. They are fascinating!
Brilliant!
Wow. Always learning something new about wwii
Talk about a enthusiasm vacuum! That chap was so knowledgeable and excited to talk about it, and show off what's left and what's been found.
I just wish the host would have at least shown a bit of interest. Just seemed indifferent to it all.
I think Dan knew that Dave was making most of it up as he went alomng.
He knows that the catering for the men was on the Bofors tower or for the officers on the Control tower.
Lord knows why he kept bull shitting..!?
The pirate broadcasting part of their history is really the most interesting part -- I remember hearing about these being used for that reason before.
You'd love the stuff I've collected from the 60#s pirate stations mate,, Agreed.!
Extremely cool!
very interesting nice movie
Dave is a brilliant tour guide.
Way off subject but cormorants are amazing creatures, I like watching them dive into a little lake here in Washington state. They dive into the water and stay under for what seems like forever to catch fish. I timed one at almost 3 minutes.
They could make them vacation rentals. That would pay for upkeep and renovations. You'd have to sign a waiver obviously lol. I'd rent a room. Especially if they brought portions back to war time conditions.. put a couple non opp flack on the roofs and such. I've always wanted them to do that with Fort Colombia here. It's the only Fort on the west coast of America to fire in anger at a real enemy target. It was a japanese submarine that was attempting to sneak up the Colombia River. Now the Fort has been allowed to deteriorate. They don't do anything other than mow the grass.
Uh, we might be needing them again sometime soon. 😅
Any chance we can give em a lick of paint and set em up in the channel 😉
I would pay good money to have that gent show me about.
I've seen these in games over the years and never realised they are apart of my Nations history.
What a interesting place must see it some time
Is dan nervous here cos of the sea or is he just dull ?? In this video??
Nice to see. It needs to be restored.
outstanding
I hate abandoned structures and I’ve now found I hate abandoned structures on water even more.
great vid