page_title: Fort Siloso
section_title: Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Fort Siloso / History / Construction
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Reconstitution d'une batterie d'artillerie cotière britannique de 6 pouces du Fort Siloso à Singapour English: Replica 6-inch Mk VII gun and crew at Fort Siloso, Sentosa Island, Singapore.
context_page_description: Fort Siloso is the sole restored coastal gun battery from the 12 such batteries which made up "Fortress Singapore" at the start of World War II. The fort is situated on Pulau Blakang Mati, an island south of mainland Singapore. The fort is now a military museum open to the public. The Surrender Chambers in Fort Siloso reopened in June 2017 with a refreshed exhibition and free admission.
context_section_description: The word "Siloso" of the fort's name is derived from a Malayan word meaning "rock". There was a huge rock at the mouth of Singapore's harbour which imposed a hazard to passing shipping. With trade ever flourishing in Singapore since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, it became necessary to protect Singapore's port. Based on the report by Major Edward Lake of the British Royal Engineers, a fort was decided to be built on Pulau Blakang Mati (Sentosa) in 1874 to protect Keppel Harbour. As part of the planned fortifications, Mount Siloso's top was blown off to flatten it for the installation of coastal-artillery gun platforms. By the 1880s, several gun batteries were located on Mount Siloso and Mount Serapong (facing north towards mainland Singapore on Sentosa's northern coast) on Pulau Blakang Mati, becoming a stronghold of British naval defences in Singapore.
caption: One of Fort Siloso's coastal-artillery guns
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