"الخليج الفارسي وخليج عُمان. الموارد والدفاعات الساحلية. ١٩٠٣." [ظ‎‎١‎٩] (١٢٠/٤٥)

34
Report of
1889.
/ r
PERSIAN GULF.— RESOURCES AND DEFENCES.
DEFENCES.
Fao Fort.*
Fao Fort is situated on the W. bank of the Shatt-al-Arab
just inside the entrance. It is about 4,600 yards from the
“ inner bar buoy,” and 6,400 yards S.E. of the telegraph station.
It is a closed work in the shape of a blunted redan (but nearly
rectangular) facing approximately S.E.
The fort had been partially constructed by 1888._ In 1889
it was reported that the S.E. face (about 180 jaids in length)
consisted of a curtain, flanked by two bastions, and faced with
white sandstone brought from Koweit; the whole showing some
15 feet above the bank which formed the counterscarp of the
ditch.
In the curtain were two open gun emplacements, to^ he
protected by iron shields, separated by a central traverse. I he
emplacements at the time were loosely bricked up.
The bastions appeared to contain casemates, magazines, <kc.,
judging by the ventilators visible above them. (Ihis face
commands the bar of the river and its approach.)
The N.E., or river face (about 160 yards in length), was
of similar construction, but somewhat lighter, and the curtain
and left bastion were some 4 feet lower than the S.E. lace,
which, therefore, acted as a traverse to it from fire from
seaward.
There were three openings in the curtain, probably intended
to be embrasures. (This face fires across the river, and vessels
must pass within 3,000 yards of it.) The S.W. face was exactly
similar to the river face.
The gorge (about 250 yards long) consisted of a stone 1
curtain, containing casemate accommodation for the garrison, |
with a gateway in the centre protected by a small caponnier.
A shallow wet ditch, some 30 yards wide, surrounded the \
work, and was crossed by a bridge at the gorge. r
A bank some 4 feet high and 6 ^ feet thick, formed the t
counterscarp of the ditch on the three faces, but not on the side
of the gorge. Its interior slope was revetted with brick. s
There was a small group of mud huts or temporary barracks g
outside the gorge of the work.
On the river side was a small landing quay for material, &c.
A small creek ran at right angles to the river from 100 to v
300 feet in rear of the gorge, beyond which were date plan
tations, which, together with some reclaimed ground S.W. and
S. of the fort, were capable of being inundated at spring tides.
No armament was mounted.
° Sec Plan, p. 74, of Plans and Sketches attached to Turkey Coast De- ^
fences, No. 458. This plan is not reproduced, as it may no longer represent
the fort accurately.