Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery at Hythe, deployed here by 2nd August 1944. This formed part of the Littlestone Section of 43 Anti Aircraft Brigade Heavy Anti Aircraft Artillery. The cropmarks left by the eight static guns are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946.

Monument Types

• DIVER BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery at Hythe, deployed here by 2nd August 1944. It was progressively equipped with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc static guns on Pile platforms, Predictor AA No.10 and Radar AA No.3 Mark V radars, and was manned by 370 Battery of the 117 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment, (replaced by 493 Battery of 141 (Mobile) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment on 26th August 1944). This formed part of the Littlestone Section of 43 Anti Aircraft Brigade Heavy Anti Aircraft Artillery. (1)

The Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery referred to above is visible as cropmarks or parchmarks on aerial photographs taken in 1946 at TR 1342 3321 and has been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment NMP. The cropmarks define the location of the eight static guns and the control room at TR 13368 33250. The guns form a shallow v-shape facing southeast towards the coast. (2)

<1> Dobinson, C., Operation Diver : England's Defence Against the Flying Bomb, June 1944-March 1945, pp 195 (Monograph). SWX23707.

<2> RAF, 1946, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1112 3098-3099 12-JAN-1946 (Photograph). SWX23802.

Sources and further reading