Sunday 7 July 2013

Seabank Tank Farm

Seabank Tank Farm was originally built shortly after WW1 when the local town was turned into a Navel Base. The town itself was the site of the "Invergordon Mutiny" where 1000 sailors of the British Atlantic Fleet went on strike. 
It was used extensively during the Second World War and was once targeted by a lone Junkers 88:

"On February 15, 1941 a Junkers 88 is reported to have carried out a solo attack on the Seabank tank farm. Approaching from the east at only 40 feet it dropped two 500-pound bombs. The first bomb passed through one tank and into the next. Although it exploded it failed to start a fire, but tons of oil spilled out on to the adjacent railway tracks and nearby station. The second bomb also passed went through another tank, but failed to explode after landing in the oil slick. The aircraft then made a sharp turn to avoid a church steeple, and machine gunned a Sunderland moored in the firth, causing slight damage, before making its escape. The attack had lasted four minutes, and was over before the defences had reacted." (More information here)

Stories conflict as to whether either of the bombs exploded. There was certainly no fire but one tank (Tank 13) was completely destroyed.
The tanks were mainly used for storing oil but some were used for storing drinking water.
The site was used until 1956 when it was decommissioned.

On with the pics!

The tanks were huge
and went on forever

There was one tiny one and two brick ones (in the background)
We climbed up the stairs on one


Most of the original pipework was still there

Some were used for water



There was a large number of outbuilding all with various parts of machinery 


Then we went into the boiler room

Lots of large piping

All over the site there were lots of buttons, leavers ect still surviving










This looked to be some sort of loading area/garage 
There was still a truck left

More controls


This was attached onto the outside wall

This was on the burnt out gatehouse

We then made our way through this hole and into one of the tanks



Birds had taken up residence here


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Sunday 30 June 2013

South Sutor - Boars and Bunkers


So, first new explore we had been on in a while and what a good day we had for it. Brother_Bear, Calthing, TheMadOne and I all set off for a mooch around South Sutor.
South Sutor is just across the water from North Sutor, where we went on a previous occasion. Together the guarded the Cromarty Firth which was used as a base for the Royal Navy Home Fleet and the scene of the Invergordon Mutiny in 1931.

South Sutor - we had been told - was larger than North Sutor, however some of it was..."guarded"...by Boars which were being kept there by the landowner. The site was split into two halves - as the map shows. (Map found here)


Sadly, not only were the Boars there (at least 10) they also had young and as we didn't fancy being charged by them we left, vowing to return another day to see the rest of the site.
 Anyway, on the the photos.





The Fire Control Post, complete with camouflage paint and the blast shutters were still intact.

This door was rusted shut



Concrete mounts

A room with a view


The blast shutters
And again

We found these, just along from the Fire Command Post- no idea what they are. Maybe storage for something





We found this in the undergrowth

The stairs were covered in moss

It lead to an engine room
The guard boars 

Walking back we came across this in the woods

We think this was the Extended Defense Officers Post

It was surprisingly undamaged, door opened, blast shutter intact ect



Watch this space, we will return



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