Middle ground off the harbour.

The Middle Ground Coastal Battery is an islet off the coast of Mumbai (Bombay), India. The isle, situated a few hundred metres away from the Gateway of India, lies in the Thane Creek. The islet is actually a piece of hard basalt rock, emerging from the creek bed, having an area of a few hundred square metres. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (400x668, 16 KB) Middle Ground isle off the coast of Mumbai in the Mumbai Harbour. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (400x668, 16 KB) Middle Ground isle off the coast of Mumbai in the Mumbai Harbour. ... Mumbai (Hindi / Marathi: मुंबई) (pronounced in Marathi, and in English), formerly known as Bombay is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, and the most populous city of India, with a estimated population of about 18 million (2005). ... A small island in the Adriatic sea An island is any piece of land smaller than a continent and larger than a rock, that is completely surrounded by water. ... The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... The Gateway of India as seen from the water. ... Thane Creek is the estuary of the Ulhas river, opening into Bombay Harbour. ... Basalt Basalt is a common gray to black volcanic rock. ... A running stream. ...

The Middle Ground Coastal Battery was once part of a reef, like the nearby Oyster Rock. After the setting up of the British East India Company in Bombay, the island was fortified in 1682 to curb the sea piracy in the area. Later a marine police force comprising of Bhandaris were stationed there to keep an eye on the pirates who used to board the ship. The Bhandaris were chosen for their loyalty, honesty and local knowledge. With their yellow turbans and blue trousers, the police were a formidable sight. After piracy moved to the South China Sea, about two hundred years ago, the police were disbanded and the Royal Navy gained control of the rock. Closeup of the isle The island in the harbour Oyster Rock is an island in the Mumbai harbour, Mumbai, India. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company of investors, which was granted a Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intent to favour trade privileges in India. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... Copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in a manner that violates one of the copyright owners exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. ... The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3,500,000 km². It is the largest sea body after the five... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ...

The British added to the fortifications with the use of cannons and later on three anti-aircraft guns to protect the harbour from a perceived Japanese invasion during World War II. The guns are replaced by more modern anti-aircraft guns, but the deep cylindrical mountings of the old guns still remain. A small cast-iron cannon on a carriage ????? Cannon also refers to a large, smooth-bored, muzzle-loading gun used before the advent of breech-loading, rifled guns firing explosive shells. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the...

The island is manned by a staff of three sailors of the Indian Navy who keep in touch with the mainland through a wireless set. Currently the island serves as the saluting base to the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. The guns are fired along with a bugle call when a new Commander-in-Chief takes over or when a naval ship which has been out for a long time returns to the harbour. Components Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian Navy Indian Coast Guard Indian Paramilitary Forces Strategic Nuclear Command History Military History of India British Indian Army Indian National Army Ranks Air Force ranks and insignia of India Army ranks and insignia of India Naval ranks and insignia of India Related Info... Wireless is an old-fashioned term for a radio receiver, referring to its use as a wireless telegraph. ... The word bugle has two different meanings: A brass musical instrument, seeBugle (instrument) An often cultivated lamiaceae, Bugle (plant) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Inside the edifice, artefacts of the colonial era such as ceramic bathtubs are stored. A maritime museum used to occupy some rooms in the past, but was shut down in 2000 and the exhibits moved to the decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which was subsequently opened to the public. A few ship ensigns still remain in the storerooms. Crown The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικος (keramikos, having to do with pottery). The term covers inorganic non-metallic materials whose formation is due to the action of heat. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ... The INS Vikrant (formerly the HMS Hercules (R49)) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. ... Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ...

The islet is difficult to visit owing to the problems faced while berthing during low tide. The Navy has been offered many lucrative deals for the obsidian isle, but refuse to sell it as it is an important part of the Navy's heritage. This article is about tides in the ocean. ...