Submarine Mining Establishment

Submarine mining was the term given to the defensive mining of harbours in the Victorian and early Edwardian eras. The museum is housed in the 1878 submarine mining establishment which still has tramway tracks embedded in the floor.  It was along these tracks that mines were moved when assembled and ready for laying. 

The work was carried out by the Royal Engineers who had a small fleet of steam and sailing boats to lay and retrieve mines.  The mines were not laid permanently but there were annual exercises to lay a minefield and then to retrieve the mines and return them to the stores.  This was often carried out by the militia or volunteers working with the regular Royal Engineers.

The mines could be buoyant, as in the reconstruction on display in the museum, or ground mines laid on the sea bed.

The position of the mines was recorded and marked on the plotting table of the Watkin Position Finder situated in an observation chamber high on the walls of Landguard Fort.  The position finder was aimed at the bows of the enemy vessel and if over a mine contact was made and the mine exploded.  The range finder had to be regulary re-set to allow for the rise and fall of the tide, and search lights were used for night operations. 

The submarine mining establishment had many rooms and buildings.  Felixstowe Musem is housed in what was the main building, the Ravelin Block, just outside Landguard Fort, where the mines were assembled, packed with guncotton and stored.  Other buildings were on land now occupied by the docks.

The whole system became obsolescent due to the increased range of guns.  It was transferred to the Royal Navy who closed it down in 1905.

Visitors to the museum can learn more about the fascinating history of submarine mining.  Notes and drawings of the various stages of assembly, storage and priming can be examined for private research.

(Research: Alan Lockwood. All rights reserved)