TAB Episode 14: 15 Inch Vickers Coastal Guns - La Mola, Menorca

[@TheArmourersBench]

Check out the accompanying blog which includes more detail about other 15 inch batteries on the island as well as contemporary photos of the guns - armourersbench.com/2018/02/09/15-inch-vickers-battery-at-fortalesa-isabel-ii/

[@gunner678]

Great video, I don't know why you have only recently popped on to my you tube radar! This type of video is just right for me.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks Matthew, glad to hear it! Follow us on Facebook (if you use it, link in the description box above) and click the notification bell too, they're the best ways to keep up to date with when we post. We try and post every Sunday. Thanks for watching - Matt

[@Squib1911]

I appreciate you including standard measurements along with metric in the video.

[@britishmuzzleloaders]

Those are some small arms..... I can't imagine the "Armourer's Bench" needed for those!.... Very cool.

[@TheArmourersBench]

britishmuzzleloaders All guns big and small! Definitely wouldn’t know where to start disassembling with this one Rob!

[@carlistasycia]

These guns never fired in anger, but they did serve a deterrence role during the civil war, making it impossible for the nationalist fleet to aproach or land on the island. The guns in Cartagena however did see action, impeding a nationalist landing by firing at the fleet, on march 7 1939, just 23 days before the war's end.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Carlos I That's great extra info thank you, I'll add that to the accompanying blog!

[@BigxCat]

Could you guys work on making your audio from mono to stereo? Really annoying to hear everything in only one ear, loving the videos and channel btw!

[@TheArmourersBench]

Will do, still trying to master the video editing software!

[@elitearbor]

I wouldn't worry too much about shaky video... the quality of each frame is fine, and there hasn't been much of any quality video of emplacements such as this 15" gun.

[@TheArmourersBench]

elitearbor Thank you, I managed to stabilise it a little in post at least. I know, I knew when I saw them I had to out something together on them.

[@_j.v.st._7367]

So whats up with the Steyr ACR? You said it comes soon months ago.

[@TheArmourersBench]

_J.v.St__._ Vic's working on the ACR videos at the moment!

[@_j.v.st._7367]

Great to hear!

[@Reactordrone]

The mid 2000s? That's very recent. You wouldn't think they'd have rusted so much in 13 years :P

[@TheArmourersBench]

I know, It’s very exposed up there on the cliffs I guess! I think they paint the exterior every few years. - Matt

[@gunnerclark]

I'm surprised the powder and shells were so exposed when lifted and put into the turret. That seems a weakness.

[@TheArmourersBench]

It does seem unusual, the shells themselves were lifted by a hydraulic lift which is actually inside the turret to the left of the gun, but even bringing up the cordite externally seems a weakness. But there are shortcomings to all systems I guess!

[@michaeldenesyk3195]

@@TheArmourersBench I would propose that those hatches were used to load the magazine below the gun. I think that the guns were supplied like a battleship installation, ammunition and propellant hoist from below

[@TheArmourersBench]

I think you're right Michael, there is another hoist inside the gun housing which I assume brought up the ammunition from the ready magazine which was probably fed from other magazines below the hoists outside the gun and in turn they were fed from stores away from the battery.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

It's so big that the camo is pointless

[@TheArmourersBench]

True, but better than nothing I suppose. It would no doubt have been covered with camo netting during periods of conflict- Matt