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For many years the peninsula
that covers the entrance to the Grand
Harbour, vital for
it's protection, lay unguarded except for a tower constructed in 1629
intended to keep people in rather than out. Its purpose was to prevent
galley slaves from escaping.
Built in 1670 by the architect Valperga, Fort Ricasoli
was much criticised. Some said it was too small and cramped, once engineer
saying that it was really no more than a crownwork, a fortification
normally added to strengthen a major work. A few additions have been made
to the fort until 1715, but from that time on, much of the work was
renovation and repairs, mostly prompted by a Turkish threat in 1722.
However, once finished, the vital importance of Fort Ricasoli
was realised and the British armed it strongly. The fort had to fulfil two
major tasks. Its guns had to cover the approaches and the entrance to the Grand Harbour, and it had also to be
capable of withstanding a direct assault upon its land front.
Over the years, like with all the fortifications in Malta,
various modifications and upgrades to its defence equipment and methods
were constructed. Weaponry was also updated.
By 1906 Fort Ricasoli had four 6-inch BL guns,
although it was recommended in that year that one be removed, and replaced
by four 12-pr. QF guns. All these we primarily intended to prevent an enemy
running in ships to smash the harbour boom or block the entrance at its
narrowest point. To fight the guns at night a searchlight was installed in
May 1889, with others at Fort St Elmo and fort Tigne,
and, by 1906 additional fighting lights had been added.
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