|
1933
|
Jun
|
Construction authorised as part of a 6 year NZ army modernisation programme
|
|
|
Nov
|
Sites investigated. Red Bluff near Milford (NZ choice) was deemed unsuitable by the War Office as Counter Bombardment Batteries needed to be built well in advance of the object they are required to defend. War office suggests Rangitoto. Agreed on Motutapu as a 6inch 45degree battery would provide complete defense against bombardment by 8 inch cruisers operating between Tiri and the Noises (their extreme range)
|
|
1935
|
Oct
|
Relief workers clear battery and barracks site of scrub
|
|
1936
|
Mar
Apr
|
Contract let for construction of gun emplacements and associated buildings to Brays Construction under Public Works Department supervision
Road access from Home Bay to site completed
|
|
|
May
|
Majority of construction equipment arrives on site
Excavation work commences
Road constructed to Pig Bay to obtain sand for the construction of hte underground magazines
|
|
|
Jun
Jul
|
First two gun barrels and associated equipment delivered
Quarry was begun at Home Bay to supply road metal
|
|
|
Sept
Oct
|
Work well advanced on two magazines
Work began on the Home Bay wharf, Public Works camp set up at Home Bay to accommodate workers
|
|
|
Dec
|
All three magazines and burster slabs completed
|
|
1937
|
Jan
Feb
|
All three emplacements excavated
Road constructed to Pig Bay to obtain sand for construction of the underground magazines
|
|
|
Jun
|
Emplacements construction complete
Battery Observation post completed
Command Post, engine, radio and plotting rooms complete.
Observation and Fire Commander's posts completed at Matiatia and RangitotoAdministration Bay barracks site drained, watercourses alteredWorkers camp established
Watch room behind the battery completed
|
|
|
Sep
|
3rd gun barrel delivered together with associated equipment
Emplacements completed and grassed
|
|
|
Nov
|
Constuction of barracks at Administration Bay commences
|
|
|
Dec
|
Army begins installation of armaments
|
|
1938
|
Mar
|
Guns shipped to Home Bay and trucked to the emplacements
Gun 1 mounted
|
|
|
Aug
|
Guns 2 and 3 mounted
Magazines interior fitout complete
Administration Bay admin block, guardroom, mess and storerooms completed and handed over to the army
Gun test firings commence
|
|
|
Sep
|
Army HQ Wgtn advised that 'proofing' of the Battery carried out by Northern Military District Commander on 9th Sept. Battery is ready.
|
|
|
|
Top secret radar experiments (shore to sea, shore to air radar tracking systems) comence under Sir Ernest Marsden (had spit the atom earlier with Rutherford). Activites are housed alongside the Battery Observation Post. Was called the 'HS and C' (Hightly Secret and Confidential)
|
|
1939
|
Sep
|
Allies declare war on Germany, 3 September, following German invasion of Poland
Population on Island increases from 10 to 200 overnight
|
|
|
|
Financial approval for final outfitting of Battery camp and the outlaying observation post camps
Rugby matches played at 'Dutchy' Looman's sheep paddock at Home Bay
|
|
1940
|
Aug
|
German raider Orion sinks the steamer Orion off Cape Egmont
|
|
|
Sep
|
Germany, Italy and Japan sign pact
|
|
|
Oct
|
Battery Camp complete
6 barrack buildings, officers quarters, dining rooms, rec rooms, hospital etc.. capable of accomodating 300 men completed
Construction of smaller camps at observation posts completed
|
|
|
Nov
|
German raiders sink Holmwood (off Chatham Islands) and Rangitane (off East Cape)
|
|
1941
|
Jul
|
All married men in unreserved occupations called up for military service
|
|
|
Aug
|
Decision made to relocate Plotting room, radio and engine rooms underground - work commences
Searchlights authorised for emplacement at Billy Goat Point (to illiminate vessels attempting nighttime apporach)
|
|
|
Dec
|
Japan attacks Pearl Harbour 7 December
Britain surrenders Hong Kong to Japanese, 25 December
NZ 'ers have first contact with enemy (67 squadron RAF) during Japanese raid on Rangoon
|
|
1942
|
Jan
|
Fearing land assault, short range howitzer battery arrive on island (three 3.7 inch howitzers WWI guns). Howitzers located on hill behind battery - ability to fire on main landing beaches.
Barbed wire laid along all main landing beaches
Ring of 17 pillboxes built to guard battery and adjacent gulleys
|
|
|
Feb
|
Singapore surrenders to Japanese
First enemy air raids on Darwin (total of 64 raids between Feb 1942 and Nov 1943)
Temp Infantry camp built near the underground complex under construction
|
|
|
Mar
|
13 Mar, seaplane from Japanese submarine I25 overflies Auckland photographing defenses at dawn.
Road from Islington Bay to Administration Bay completed by Fletcher Construction for the army
Light and medium anti-aircraft guns (Oerkilons and Bofors) positioned on ridges around the guns
Light Lewis machine guns mounted on roof of Command Post and the Battery Observation Post
|
|
|
|
US Admiral Nimitz assumes responsibility for South Pacific (including New Zealand)
|
|
|
|
US Navy identifies Auckland as a major US Navy base. Fleet anchorage between Tiri and Rangitoto.
Plans drawn up to create appropriate support facilites.
Construction commences
|
|
|
April
|
NZ prepares for possible invasion - City evacuation plans prepared
Construction of the Controlled Mine Base at Islington Bay, Rangitoto commences (completed - May 1943)
|
|
|
May
|
Japanese forces heading for Port Moresby suffer setback in battle of The Coral Sea, 8 May
24 May, seaplane from Japanese submarine I21 overflies Auckland's defenses, again at dawn (believe this is the floatplane seen by Major Derek Thorburn and reported to North Head, they told him ' not to worry as its not one of ours'.)
|
|
|
|
Japanese Midget subs attack Sydney Harbour, 31 May (Group of submarines assembled off Sydney commanded by Commander Imada Hiroshi, from the same submarine 121)
|
|
|
Jun
|
US victory at Battle of Midway effectively ends any danger of NZ invasion
|
|
|
July
|
Underground facilites and tunnels completed
|
|
|
Aug
|
Air raid drills being held regularly in NZ schools
Allies land offensive at Guadalcanal
|
|
|
Sep
|
US Navy identifies Auckland as a major US Navy base
|
|
|
Dec
|
Billy Goat searchlights (2) plus directing station, power supply and crew accommodation completed (to minimal design) to counter midget submarine, torpedo boats entering the harbour.
|
|
1943
|
Jan
|
Japan commence withdrawing forces from Gauadalcanal
|
|
|
Jul
|
USNavy completes construction of 50 large concrete underground magazines (24mtrs x 6mtrs) at south western end of island liked by 11km of new road.
Camp for US Marines to sevice the magazines built on northern side of the road above the current rangers house at Islington Bay
Large support storage facility at Home Bay completed and later used for some time by the NZ Army (removed in 1950's and relocated to Papakura Military Camp - concrete floor still obvious next to camp toilet block).
9km of link roads plus a wharf (Yankee Wharf) at Islington Bay and a causeway linking the two islands (the fleet never came and the magazines were never used)
|
|
|
Aug
|
Allied and US troops retake Georgia and Solomon Islands
Threat of attack on New Zealand recedes, Motutapu assumes more relaxed atmosphere. Planned additonal defence projects halted
|
|
|
Sep
|
Australians capture Lae, New Guinea and attack Japanese ships in Singapore
|
|
|
Oct
|
3 NZ Division secures Vella Lavella
|
|
|
Nov
|
Risk of attack dimishes, War in the Pacific has moved north
Troops and artillery withdrawn and temp camp abandoned
|
|
1944
|
Jan
|
Battery placed in reserve (guns manned only at dawn/dusk - 1 gun could be fired within 10 mins, Gun 2 and 3 within 30 mins)
|
|
|
|
RNZN establishes Anti Submarine Fixed Defense Station ("Emu") in front of the Battery Observation Post to listen for subs and ships
Radar fire control installed rendering Fortress System obsolete (ability to plot both range and bearing day and night). Observation Posts abandoned
|
|
|
Jun
|
Dawn/dusk manning discontinued
D Day - Allied landing in Normandy
|
|
|
Oct
|
Gen MacArthur returns to Phillipines
Army engineers remove barbed wire from coast.
Dismantle buildings at all camps exept the Mine Base, HMNZS Emu and the artillery camp at Administration Bay
Only 50 people remain at artillery camp, mainly staff and service crew for the radar units
|
|
|
Nov
|
Allied planes bomb Singapore and B-29's bombTokyo
|
|
1945
|
Jan
|
German submarine U 862 cruises into Gisborne and Napier ports looking for suitable vessels to attack (didn't find anything worthwhile but got close enough to watch couples dancing in the street cafes)
|
|
|
Feb
|
US flag raised over Iwo Jima
|
|
|
May
|
British liberate Rangoon, Burma
|
|
|
Jun
|
US troops liberate Phillipines
|
|
|
Aug
|
US drops bomb on Hiroshima 6th Aug, Nagasaki 9th Aug
|
|
|
|
Germany surrenders on 8 August
|
|
|
Sep
|
Japanese surrenders unconditionally on 2 September aboard the USS Missouri
|
|
1946
|
Jan
Sep
|
Battery now only used for training
Both Whangaparoa and Motutapu now termed 'Port Approaches Batteries'. Both using fire control radar - greatly extending their range and effectiveness
Restrictions on public access lifted except for the camp areas
Remaining W.A.A.C's and service crews leave the island
Administration Bay camp begins use by territorials as part of the Compulsory Military Training (CMT). Continues through the late 1940's and 1950's.
|
|
1951
|
|
Battery closed and placed in reserve
Long range fire responsibilities now assumed by the 9.2inch battery at Whangaparoa
|
|
1953
|
|
Whangaparoa Battery laid up
Long Range responsibilities again assumed by Motutapu
Training recommences
|
|
1955
|
|
Personnel withdrawals commence heralding the end of NZ's coastal artillery
Live firing exercises continue
|
|
1957
|
Mar
|
Coast Artillery disbanded following Defense Force review (in common with Aust, Canada and Britain)
Motutapu battery now laid up. Recognition fixed coastal defences no longer part of modern military thinking
|
|
1958
|
|
Battery area stripped of any salvageable material - only the guns remain
|
|
1960
|
|
Guns offered for sale
|
|
1961
1962
|
Jan
|
Successful purchaser, Bradmand and Co, cuts up the guns for scrap
Army uses Administration Bay camp for training and storage
Administration Camp now empty (due to the decline of CMT, easing of Cold War tensions)
|
|
1966
|
|
Administration Bay facilities begin operating as an outdoor education camp
|
|
1970
|
Feb
|
Army vests all the battery land under the control of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park Board
|
|
|
|
Park Board re-establishes an outdoor education camp at the barracks area of Administration Bay
|
|
|
|
The Battery land later passes to the Department of Conservation
|
|
1991
|
|
The Motutapu Outdoor Education Trust is formed and assumes the lease from DOC
|
|
Today
|
|
The Administration Bay complex continues to be managed by the Outdoor Education Trust (MOEC) offering a huge range of activities to thousands of Auckland's kids annually.
|
Heritage 
