| During World War 2, the Isle of Wight was | | | | defend the guns. The battery was also for the |
| considered to be of incredible military importance. To | | | | purposes of land defence, as if the island was taken, |
| begin with, the main focus was on defence, as if the | | | | the plan was to first engage on the beaches and, if |
| island fell to a German invasion, it could act as an | | | | that was unsuccessful, retreat to Newport and, if |
| excellent launch pad for an invasion of southern | | | | that was also unsuccessful, withdraw to the west of |
| Britain. As the war continued, however, it became | | | | the island. |
| recognised as a military asset, providing a view of | | | | As the war continued, and people were drawn away |
| the channel that the rest of Britain lacked. The use | | | | from the garrison to be put to use elsewhere, the |
| of the Needles battery through the war is a | | | | battery was defended by only fifteen people. They |
| testament to this. | | | | set up a fake gun and manned it with fake soldiers |
| At the beginning of the war, when there were | | | | to give the appearance of a larger force. |
| worries about the vulnerability of the Isle of Wight, | | | | As mentioned earlier, the main aim of the guns was |
| the Needles battery was garrisoned by around fifty | | | | to attack enemy vessels in the channel, but this |
| men. These men worked two machine guns and two | | | | wasn't possible when it was Allied ships being |
| of the 9.2" guns commonly used in coastal defence | | | | attacked by the Luftwaffe. On top of this, German |
| at the time. The main idea of the battery was to | | | | submarines patrolled the channel, against which the |
| protect against German ships coming through the | | | | battery had no way of knowing where to fire. |
| channel, and the garrison were there to man and | | | | |