Defence Types

The tables below give the frequency of the different types of defence work currently in the database.

Frequency by Defence Type		Total
1	Naval Beach Mine	9373
2	Anti-Tank Mine	7789
3	Cylinders	4850
4	Buoys	4829
5	Cubes	4515
6	Sockets	2701
7	Pimples	1722
8	Hairpin Rails	1692
9	Straight Rails	1169
10	Home Guard	672
11	Rifle	442
12	40mm Bofors Gun	181
13	20mm Hispano gun	120
14	Bren Gun	119
15	Anti-Tank Rifle	81
16	Vickers Gun (M.M.G.)	58

Frequency by Defence Type		Total
17	Lyon Light	23
18	Lewis Gun	23
19	Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)	21
20	Bren Gun (Fixed Arc)	17
21	20mm Polsten gun	13
22	3-inch Mortar	8
23	Bren Gun (Fixed Line)	6
24	Magdalux Light	6
25	2-inch Mortar	4
26	Hotchkiss Machine gun	2
27	120cm Searchlight	1
28	20mm Triple Oerlikon gun	1
29	90cm Searchlight	1
30	Browning M.G.	1
31	Strand Pageant Light	1

The tables at left comprise the totals recorded so far of small defensive 'components' that have been excluded from the main statistics tables below (and all other statistical calculations) to avoid inflating the numbers out of proportion. The number of cubes is disproportionately low, due to the main stretches along the coast and around nodal points not having been recorded according to individual numbers.

It should be noted that the Defence Type entries are at present entered using natural language, in many cases taken from the original document entry, until the precise nature of the feature is determined. For example, the 'Defended Walled Garden' is very likely to comprise loopholed walls, although this is not specifically expressed. Further research may reveal exactly how the area was defended and the nomenclature amended accordingly. As the project progresses, a controlled vocabulary based on existing entries will be introduced, as the potential for duplication of sites already exists within the database.

Another point to remember is that not all of these defences existed simultaneously; for example, 75mm guns replaced 4-inch guns, gun positions were relocated as longer-range weapons became available, and slit trenches were always being backfilled and new ones dug. Also, small arms such as Bren Guns are listed as 'components' as they were located within the pillboxes and other defence works listed below.

Frequency by Defence Type		Total
1	Roadblock	588
2	Pillbox	447
3	Gun Position (Anti-Aircraft)	267
4	Defended Post	146
5	Minefield	118
6	Defended Building	110
7	25-pdr Field Gun	110
8	Barrel Flame Trap (Fougasse)	88
9	Demolition (Canadian Pipe Mine)	85
10	Strombos Horn	83
11	Searchlight (Anti-Aircraft)	76
12	Observation Post (Artillery)	69
13	Telephone Exchange	66
14	Slit Trench	64
15	Refugee Crossing Point	63
16	Petrol pump	63
17	Searchlight (BDEL)	62
18	Demolition (Accommodation bridge)	60
19	Observation Post (Home Guard)	60
20	Gun Position (Anti-Tank)	53
21	Billet	50
22	Railblock	44
23	Defended Village	42
24	Gun Position (Field Arty.)	40
25	Pre-registered Target (Coast Artillery)	38
26	Flame trap firing point	35
27	Headquarters (Troop)	35
28	Nodal Point	35
29	2-pdr Anti-Tank Gun	35
30	Battle Disposition (Home Guard)	32
31	Platoon Locality	32
32	75mm Anti-Tank Gun	32
33	3.7-inch Gun (Static)	32
34	Trench	31
35	Pillbox Type 24 (Shell-proof)	27
36	Weapon pit	26
37	Headquarters (Battery)	25
38	Demolition (Bridge)	22
39	Lewis Gun Triple LAA	21
40	20mm Oerlikon gun	20
41	Anti-Tank Cable	19
42	Royal Observer Corps Post	18
43	Shingle Gun	18
44	Headquarters (Platoon)	16
45	9.2-inch Howitzer	16
46	3.7-inch Gun	16
47	Company Locality	15
48	6-inch Gun	13
49	Vulnerable Point	13
50	Beaverette LAA BVT	12
51	Gun Position (Heavy Arty.)	12
52	Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery	12
53	Pre-registered Target (Beach Bombing)	12
54	Sub-Section locality (R.E.)	12
55	Gun Emplacement (Coast Arty.)	11
56	Headquarters (Company)	11
57	Observation Post	11
58	Emergency Coast Defence Battery	10
59	Headquarters (Regimental)	10
60	6-pdr Anti-Tank Gun	9

Frequency by Defence Type		Total
61	4-inch Gun	8
62	Gun Position (Super-Heavy Arty.)	8
63	Mineboard	8
64	Pillbox Type 25	8
65	Vickers 'K' Twin	8
66	Clearance Demolition	8
67	3-inch Gun	8
68	3.7-inch Gun (Mobile)	8
69	A.A. L.M.G. Post	7
70	Anti-Tank Ditch	7
71	Defended Coastal Town (Nodal Point)	6
72	Gun Emplacement (Anti-Tank)	6
73	Martello Tower	6
74	Pillbox (dummy)	6
75	Pillbox Type 24 (Thin-walled)	6
76	Searchlight (CASL)	6
77	Loopholed Wall	6
78	60-pdr Gun	6
79	12-inch Howitzer	5
80	Resource Denial: Factory	5
81	Armoured Truck	4
82	Battery Observation Post	4
83	Battle Headquarters (Company)	4
84	Demolition (Pier)	4
85	Obstructed Landing Ground	4
86	Ryder Flare	4
87	Breastwork	4
88	4.5-inch Howitzer	4
89	Anti-tank obstacle	3
90	Coast Defence RDF Station	3
91	Flame Jet	3
92	Gun Emplacement	3
93	Lewis Quad	3
94	Pillbox Type 22	3
95	Prohibited Area	3
96	Anderson shelter	3
97	Gun position	3
98	12-pdr gun	2
99	3-pdr Gun	2
100	4.7-inch Gun	2
101	6-pdr Hotchkiss Gun	2
102	8-inch Howitzer	2
103	Battle Headquarters (Brigade)	2
104	Beach Flame Barrage	2
105	Booby-Trap	2
106	Camouflaged landmark	2
107	Coast Defence Battery	2
108	Demolition (Canal lock)	2
109	Flooded Area	2
110	Gun Position (Medium Arty.)	2
111	Headquarters (Battalion)	2
112	Headquarters (S/L Battery)	2
113	Medical: First Aid Post	2
114	Observation Post (Infantry)	2
115	Observation Post (mobile)	2
116	Pillbox Type 23	2
117	Pillbox Type 28	2
118	Pillbox Type 28a	2
119	18/25-pdr Field Gun	2
120	Demolition (Building)	2

Frequency by Defence Type		Total
121	Sniper position	2
122	4-inch Gun (Lorry-mounted)	1
123	A.R.P. Control	1
124	Air Raid Shelter	1
125	Barbed Wire	1
126	Battery Plotting Room	1
127	Battle Headquarters	1
128	Battle Headquarters (Battalion)	1
129	Bridge Construction	1
130	CORPS STOP LINE	1
131	Defended Locality	1
132	Defended Port	1
133	Defended Walled Garden	1
134	Elephant shelter	1
135	Examination Battery	1
136	GHQ LINE	1
137	Gun Position (Field Arty.) (alt)	1
138	Harbour Immobilisation: Blockship	1
139	Headquarters (Div arty)	1
140	Headquarters (Naval)	1
141	Headquarters (ROC)	1
142	Magazine	1
143	Maycrete hut	1
144	Medical: ADS	1
145	Medical: RAP	1
146	Minefield (dummy)	1
147	NEWHAVEN FORT	1
148	Nissen Hut	1
149	Obstruction	1
150	PEVENSEY CASTLE	1
151	Rangefinder	1
152	RDF Station	1
153	Repeater Station	1
154	Spigot mortar	1
155	Tank Road	1
156	Target run	1
157	Telephone Exchange (Military)	1
158	W/T Station	1