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Nab Tower has been a prominent structure marking the deep water entry of The Solent. Helping guiding shipping around the channels of Portsmouth and Southampton.
Nab Tower however was built for another purpose during World War One.
Nab Tower has been a prominent structure marking the deep water entry of The Solent. Helping guiding shipping around the channels of Portsmouth and Southampton.
Nab Tower however was built for another purpose during World War One.
Nab's Tower was devised as Project M-N as a series of 8 anti submarine towers devised by Sir Alexander Gibb. These were to be sunk in the Straits of Dover with steel nets on booms between them to close off the channel to submarines.
They were to be armed with 4 inch guns, searchlights and hydrophones to detect submarines in the English Channel.
This was an attempt to counter the unrestricted submarine warfare being waged by the Imperial German Navy.
This was an attempt to counter the unrestricted submarine warfare being waged by the Imperial German Navy.
Construction took place of two of these towers in Shoreham Harbour in July 1918 and were quickly dubbed 'Shoreham's Mystery Towers'.
Only one was completed when the armistice was announced, with a second one partially built.
Only one was completed when the armistice was announced, with a second one partially built.
The completed tower was at a height of 80ft of reinforced concrete, with interlocking water compartments. It was topped with a 90ft steel column which was 40ft wide.
It was a vastly expensive project coming in at £12m (compared to the new HMS Revenge battleship costing £3.5m).
It was a vastly expensive project coming in at £12m (compared to the new HMS Revenge battleship costing £3.5m).
In 1920 the completed tower was towed out to Nab Rock to replace a lightship which occupied the spot the tower sits in today.
The 18 watertight compartments were flooded and she rested on the seabed with a 3 degree tilt which can be seen today!
The 18 watertight compartments were flooded and she rested on the seabed with a 3 degree tilt which can be seen today!
The Nab Tower was manned as a lighthouse to assist shipping entering or leaving the shipping channels in the Solent.
The @RoyalNavy manned it as a radio station and during WW2 Bofors AA guns were mounted on the tower.
In 1983 the lights were automated removing need for people.
The @RoyalNavy manned it as a radio station and during WW2 Bofors AA guns were mounted on the tower.
In 1983 the lights were automated removing need for people.
In 1999 the tower was hit by a cargo ship causing more damage to the ship than the tower.
In 2013 the Nab Tower was fully refurbished, major work included removed the steel column and external steel work.
Major upgrades were done by @trinityhouse_uk
In 2013 the Nab Tower was fully refurbished, major work included removed the steel column and external steel work.
Major upgrades were done by @trinityhouse_uk
Hope you have enjoyed this thread! Have sat on this for a while!
Any feedback or questions please feel free to reply, like or share!
Any feedback or questions please feel free to reply, like or share!
