Gibraltar Coastal Defenses
Spain's important position in controlling both shores of the Straits of Gibraltar makes it a highly strategic nation, effectively capable of blocking off control of the Mediterranean. The Straits of Gibraltar is a narrow strait, less than 20 kilometers across, and at some places a bare 15 kilometers. This means that it is special in that it can be closed off with heavy artillery guns to a degree that other straits cannot - the English channel, at over 30 kilometers across even at the closest point, has different sides controlling the two flanks, making artillery fire from one side, even with very long ranged artillery guns, far less effective than can be desired. The Oresund would require three straits to be closed, although to be fair, it would be very easy to mine and any individual strait does not represent a significant engineering problem - although in any case, it is a far less consequential access point than the Mediterranean. Only the strait between French Somaliland and Yemen represents a final region where straits exist which can be blockaded, but the same problems as those which plague the English Channel simultaneously sabotage this approach.
It is in the greater interest of Spain, it must be stressed, to secure the defense of its coasts, through measures which are financially feasible and within its reach. Spain has precious little money available for spending on defense projects, due to the poverty of the kingdom, internal instability, and a lack of its own internal industrial capability for building defensive weaponry. It cannot hope to meet any significant foreign power on anything approximating equal terms. Thus, the possibility of closing off the Mediterranean, protecting much of the Spanish coast from enemy attack (or vice versa, was a Mediterranean power to attack Spain, hence closing off the Atlantic), is a highly tempting one. In the pursuit of such an interest, it has been decided that the 2 Spanish Espana-class battleships, equipped with 16 305mm guns in 8 twin turrets, are to be disarmed of their main guns, as the battleships are obsolete and need to be replaced with fresh ships.
Instead, these guns are to be placed at the Straits of Gibraltar, with 5 twin turrets to the north, and 3 twin turrets to the south, providing for interlocking fire over the straits [spoiler]and for a significant number of them for the capability to fire directly on Gibraltar[/spoiler]. These will be emplaced in barbettes sunk deeply into rock to provide for large supplies of ammunition, fuel, food, etc. that will enable each turret to operate independently. Fire control installations will be installed along the coast, linked together and to the turrets and to central fire control stations by both wires and radio installations. In their heavy turrets with thick armor, small size, and camouflage, they will be almost impossible to destroy.
For defense against smaller ships, the mounting of 6 inch guns is envisioned, of which 22 will be provided in single mounts - 13 to the north, and 9 to the south, tied into the same fire control network but in open mounts with gunshields and their concrete bastions being their main protection, other than their camouflage. Given the limited size of the strait, they will be capable of firing directly across as well, but their main targets will be ships that the big guns, with their slower rate of fire and lower traverse speeds, will have trouble hitting - destroyers, torpedo boats, etc.
The final element is an expected provision of anti-aircraft defense, with the local production of French 75mm and 13.2mm anti-aircraft guns, with an expected 30 of the former (also useful against raiding parties), and distribution of 84 of the latter at various installations to protect from enemy medium and low altitude attacks. These will be camouflaged, and supplied with their own ammunition and crews nearby.
To protect such an installation a number of barracks, bomb-proofed, and shore defenses against landings will be provided, to prevent enemy special forces raids. The various installations will be linked together with roads, and in certain cases with narrow-gauge military railroads, upon which armored trains may be deployed. Bunkers and bomb shelters will complete the picture in regards to protection from enemy aircraft - and for combating this threat in a proactive manner, airfields will be expanded in the hinterland, on both the Moroccan and Spanish sides of the straits.
It is in the greater interest of Spain, it must be stressed, to secure the defense of its coasts, through measures which are financially feasible and within its reach. Spain has precious little money available for spending on defense projects, due to the poverty of the kingdom, internal instability, and a lack of its own internal industrial capability for building defensive weaponry. It cannot hope to meet any significant foreign power on anything approximating equal terms. Thus, the possibility of closing off the Mediterranean, protecting much of the Spanish coast from enemy attack (or vice versa, was a Mediterranean power to attack Spain, hence closing off the Atlantic), is a highly tempting one. In the pursuit of such an interest, it has been decided that the 2 Spanish Espana-class battleships, equipped with 16 305mm guns in 8 twin turrets, are to be disarmed of their main guns, as the battleships are obsolete and need to be replaced with fresh ships.
Instead, these guns are to be placed at the Straits of Gibraltar, with 5 twin turrets to the north, and 3 twin turrets to the south, providing for interlocking fire over the straits [spoiler]and for a significant number of them for the capability to fire directly on Gibraltar[/spoiler]. These will be emplaced in barbettes sunk deeply into rock to provide for large supplies of ammunition, fuel, food, etc. that will enable each turret to operate independently. Fire control installations will be installed along the coast, linked together and to the turrets and to central fire control stations by both wires and radio installations. In their heavy turrets with thick armor, small size, and camouflage, they will be almost impossible to destroy.
For defense against smaller ships, the mounting of 6 inch guns is envisioned, of which 22 will be provided in single mounts - 13 to the north, and 9 to the south, tied into the same fire control network but in open mounts with gunshields and their concrete bastions being their main protection, other than their camouflage. Given the limited size of the strait, they will be capable of firing directly across as well, but their main targets will be ships that the big guns, with their slower rate of fire and lower traverse speeds, will have trouble hitting - destroyers, torpedo boats, etc.
The final element is an expected provision of anti-aircraft defense, with the local production of French 75mm and 13.2mm anti-aircraft guns, with an expected 30 of the former (also useful against raiding parties), and distribution of 84 of the latter at various installations to protect from enemy medium and low altitude attacks. These will be camouflaged, and supplied with their own ammunition and crews nearby.
To protect such an installation a number of barracks, bomb-proofed, and shore defenses against landings will be provided, to prevent enemy special forces raids. The various installations will be linked together with roads, and in certain cases with narrow-gauge military railroads, upon which armored trains may be deployed. Bunkers and bomb shelters will complete the picture in regards to protection from enemy aircraft - and for combating this threat in a proactive manner, airfields will be expanded in the hinterland, on both the Moroccan and Spanish sides of the straits.
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