O'Hara's and Lord Airey's Batteries are located at the highest point on the Rock of Gibraltar at a height of 426 meters (1,383 ft). The Batteries are built on the site of O'Hara's Tower and named after Governor General Charles O'Hara. O'Hara had believed that, if a watchtower was constructed on the highest point of the Rock, the Garrison would be able to observe the Spanish fleet at Cadiz. O'Hara's Tower was not successful in its intended purpose and was therefore nicknamed O'Hara's Folly.
O'Hara and Lord Airey's Batteries are two of three surviving 9.2 inch Mark X Coastal Defence Gun emplacements in Gibraltar. The third emplacement is located at Breakneck Battery which continues to under the ownership of the Ministry of Defence and inaccessible. A similar 9.2 inch Mark X Coastal Defence Gun originally sited at Spur Battery below O'Hara's Battery was dismantled and relocated at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. A photo of the Gibraltar Gun at Spur Battery can be viewed in the set of the same name in this photostream.
The 9.2 inch Mark X Coastal Defence Guns at O'Hara's, Lord Airey's and Spur Batteries had a range of 29,600 yds which easily covered both the Straits of Gibraltar (25,500 yds) and the Bay of Gibraltar (9,000 yds).
Español: Túnel excavado en el Peñón que conduce de la Sala de Máquinas a las Baterías de O'Hara y Lord Airey están situadas en el punto más alto del Peñón de Gibraltar, a 426 metros de altura. Las Baterías están construidas en el emplazamiento de la Torre de O'Hara y deben su nombre al Gobernador General Charles O'Hara. O'Hara había creído que, si se construía una torre de vigilancia en el punto más alto del Peñón, la Guarnición podría observar la flota española en Cádiz. La Torre de O'Hara no cumplió su propósito, por lo que fue apodada la Locura de O'Hara.
Las baterías de O'Hara y Lord Airey son dos de los tres emplazamientos de cañones de defensa costera Mark X de 9,2 pulgadas que se conservan en Gibraltar. El tercer emplazamiento se encuentra en Breakneck Battery, que sigue siendo propiedad del Ministerio de Defensa y es inaccesible. Un cañón de defensa costera Mark X de 9,2 pulgadas similar, situado originalmente en Spur Battery, debajo de O'Hara's Battery, fue desmantelado y trasladado al Museo Imperial de Guerra de Duxford. Una foto del cañón de Gibraltar en Spur Battery puede verse en el set del mismo nombre en este photostream.
Los cañones de defensa costera Mark X de 9,2 pulgadas de las baterías de O'Hara, Lord Airey y Spur tenían un alcance de 29.600 yardas, lo que cubría fácilmente tanto el Estrecho de Gibraltar (25.500 yardas) como la Bahía de Gibraltar (9.000 yardas).
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