Conway Maritime Press - Warship 44

Hood Guns
Brian Head recently visited
Ascension Island, and sends
these photographs of the
guns still in place in the
island. The two 5.5in guns
were landed there in March
1941, and mounted on Cross
Hill, 300 feet up overlooking
Georgetown. They were in
action on 9 December 1941
when U124 was sighted on
the surface on her way back
to Germany after a patrol in
the South Atlantic, during
which she sank the cruiser
Duned.in. Kapitan-kutnant
Mohr submerged after the
guns opened up at 11,000
yards. lhe guns are
apparently some of those
removed from Hood. and the
small dents in the face plate
would appear to be from
small calibre ammunition.
The Victorian muzzle
loading rifles on Scott's
carriages are mounted close
to the later weapons,
although no one is aware of
when they were installed.
One explanation might be
linked with the 1879
Carnaervon Commission-on
colonial defence, which
called for tJre protection of
strategic bases. By that date
these guns, which appear to
be 6 or 7in types, were
almost obsolete and could
have been spared. Does
anyone have any ideas?
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