Once, mighty 15-inch guns stood here at the Former Buona Vista Battery No. 2 Gun. These guns formed part of Singapore’s defenses in the late 1930s. The Former Buona Vista Battery No. 2 Gun and its sister emplacement were built to protect Singapore.
Unlike other large guns, the Former Buona Vista Battery No. 2 Gun had a limited firing angle. So it saw no action during the Battle of Singapore. The British partially destroyed it in February 1942. The Japanese repaired the Number 2 gun during their occupation.
After the war, modern construction replaced the Former Buona Vista Battery No. 2 Gun. Today, no visible remnants remain. The No. 2 gun was located where the Nexus International School used to be. Now, the site is slated to become a dormitory for foreign workers.
The massive concrete trusses of the railway bridge that served gun No. 2 were demolished about 10 years ago. Military historian Peter Stubbs used maps and aerial photos to plot the gun positions. He also spoke with retired British Royal Artillery gunners.
Each 15-inch gun mount was about three stories deep. Ammunition was stored in reinforced concrete magazines beneath the gun. Soil covered the gun mounts. The guns had barrels as long as a bus and were adapted from naval guns.
Pictures from the 1950s and 1960s show that the gun positions were still intact then. The underground structures extended to a depth of some three stories. They included the shell store, cartridge store, and the power room.
The Former Buona Vista Battery No. 2 Gun, like other batteries, was built inland. This protected it from counter-fire from warships. The 15-inch guns were indirect fire weapons so they did not need to see targets to hit them. Fire control came from remote locations.
These batteries had an advantage over enemy ships. They were fixed and stable. Ships had to account for waves and the earth’s curvature. The guns’ deterrent value was so great that the Japanese attacked from Singapore’s landward side.
Although the guns are gone, the underground reinforced concrete magazines may remain. Perhaps one day, the Former Buona Vista Battery No. 2 Gun will be rediscovered and celebrated as a historical treasure.