At the southern tip of Spain, above the Strait of Gibraltar, stand 3 monumental 381mm Vickers cannons. They are relics of the age of the great battleships and the last fixed coastal guns in the world. They never fired a shot in battle, and for more than 60 years they were the silent guardian of the Spanish coasts and a symbol of the evolution of naval artillery. Today they act as a testimony to the history of the 20th century and a unique tourist attraction.
What will you read about in this note?
- On the lookout for the Strait of Gibraltar – Paloma Alta’s strategic location
- The last guns of the world, or the history of Vickers cannons
- The deployment and fate of Spanish coastal cannons
- Combat service without fighting – 66 years of Paloma Alta history
Paloma Alta: guarding the Strait of Gibraltar
This is a unique complex of a former artillery battery, located on the southern slopes of the Sierra San Bartolomé, some 13 kilometres from Tarifa. Situated 190 metres above sea level, it offers a view of the impressive panorama of the Strait of Gibraltar – one of the most strategic bodies of water in the world, where trade and civilisation routes have crossed for thousands of years. It was here, at the heart of the 'gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean’, that Spain for decades maintained the last active coastal artillery battery in the world.
The last guns of the world – a history of Vickers cannons
At the heart of the Paloma Alta are three Vickers-Armstrong 15-inch (381/45mm) calibre cannons, model 1926. These are impressive designs, originally designed for the Brazilian battleship Riachuelo, but which was not completed. Manufactured at the British Barrow & Furnes Co. factory, they went to Spain between 1926 and 1930.
The Spanish versions differed from Royal Navy ship guns (e.g. Battleship Hood): they had longer barrels (45 calibres vs. 42), which increased range – crucial in coastal artillery. All of the 18 produced were purchased by Spain.
Until the late 1930s, the Spanish coast of the Strait of Gibraltar had no fixed artillery. Some historians speculate that there was an informal Spanish-British agreement not to install guns with the range to rocket Gibraltar. The Second World War brought a change: from 1940 onwards. Spain began installing 18 coastal artillery positions of various calibres – from Cadiz to Ceuta and Melilla. The heaviest guns were installed in Tarifa.
The first Paloma Alta battery (two 381mm guns) transferred from Ferrol entered service in 1942, but due to an accident during the last phase of assembly one of the two guns was destroyed. It was then decided to reallocate from Favarix and assemble at Paloma Alta a second full battery, which entered service in January 1944. This created a completely unusual coastal artillery battery of three 381mm calibre cannons.
Deployment and fate of Spanish heavy coastal guns
During the period of Spanish defence preparations, heavy coastal cannons were deployed at the three main naval bases, which played a strategic role in the coastal protection system.
Eight guns were originally located in Ferrol (Galicia). Two of them, located in Campelo Alto, were moved between 1940 and 1941 to Tarifa to reinforce the southern defence line.
Four cannons were stationed in Cartagena. Two of them – at the Cenizas site – are still preserved today as a tourist attraction, allowing them to be seen in their original setting. The other pair, at Castillitos, has been incorporated into a park and viewpoint, creating one of the most picturesque sites on the Spanish coast.
Six cannons were deployed on Menorca, in Mahón. Two of them were located in the fortress of La Mola, where a museum now operates. The cannons from Favarix were moved to Tarifa between 1942 and 1943, while those from Llucalara were adapted for tourism, combining a historical and recreational function.
The total record of the fate of these powerful artillery pieces is telling: four cannons have been scrapped, one has been destroyed, ten have been made available as museums and three are still standing on the military site in Paloma Alta. In this way, the former pillars of defence have been transformed into an element of historical heritage, attracting tourists and military enthusiasts.
See also:
Within sight of Marbella – a trip to Gibraltar
Gibraltar even closer to Europe. A special place for Poles too
Technological evolution of artillery – from mechanics to electronics
The first phase (1940-1943) was based on Vickers devices – electromechanical counting machines that provided high efficiency but could only operate one gun at a time, limiting the fire potential of the battery
The second phase (1943-1985) was the era of the Costilla system, an original Spanish development by Colonel Juan Costilla. This system was adapted to the unusual size of the battery and already allowed simultaneous fire control of three guns, significantly increasing the battery’s firepower. Even after the introduction of newer technology, it remained maintained as a reserve system.
The third phase (1985-2008) brought full electronification in the form of the Philips 9KA-410 system. It was equipped with computers, electro-optical sensors and radar, allowing precise and automated fire control.
Until 1972, the basis of the targeting system remained classic optics – Barr & Stroud rangefinders with a 9.4m base, supported by smaller 2.4m auxiliaries. It was only later that these were replaced by the Marconi RX80 radar, although the optics still acted as an emergency backup. Some of this equipment can be seen today in the Museum of the 4th Coastal Artillery Regiment in Cadiz.
Equally impressive was the propulsion and hydraulic system. Each gun was operated by a 125hp semi-diesel engine, generating hydraulic power and supported by a huge 100-tonne battery in the form of a vertical cylinder. In addition, the 25hp engine provided 24V DC power, ensuring stability of operation. The last major upgrade was carried out in 1992 at the Bazan shipyard (now Navantia).
In recent decades, the Paloma Alta has been a unique combination of 1920s mechanics and 1980s electronics, controlling cannons with a purely mechanical pedigree.
Combat service without firing a shot, or 66 years of Paloma Alta history
The Paloma Alta battery remained in active service from 1942 until September 2008. – 66 years, being in recent years the last permanent coastal artillery battery in the world. It never conducted combat fire, and for decades had a deterrent and training role. A total of 389 shots (approximately 130 salvos per gun) were fired during the exercise. The last salvo was fired on 24 September 2008 at 12:02, after which the Paloma Alta battery ended its service.
