Devil’s Gap Battery is a coastal battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, overlooking the Bay of Gibraltar near the westernmost limits of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
Called by the Spanish, Punta del Diablo English: Devil’s Point, Devils Gap Battery stands on the escarpment above the city looking out across the bay at a height of 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level. During the 1779-1783 Great Siege of Gibraltar, it mounted at least one mortar, possibly more. In 1878 two RML 9-inch 12-ton guns were proposed and installed at the battery in June 1881 but later dismounted in 1900. In July 1896 work started on a new platform to the north of the battery for two QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval Mark I guns which were ready on 31 August 1896.
In June 1900, it was proposed to mount two BL 6-inch Mk VII naval guns on central pivot Mark II mountings with a range of 5,500 metres (6,000 yd) capable of bearing on land batteries and on the bay. These were installed in 1902, with magazines and shelters added in October 1903.
In August 1917 one of the guns fired upon and sunk a German submarine travelling on the surface close to Algeciras, which was the only action seen by Gibraltar’s coastal defences during World War I.
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