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Pasir Panjang Pillbox

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Pasir Panjang Pillbox
Part of World War II-era Defence of Singapore
Singapore
Pasir Panjang Pillbox, here photographed in 2006.
Coordinates1°17′20″N 103°46′41″E / 1.289°N 103.778167°E / 1.289; 103.778167
Site information
Controlled byBritish military (former)
Open to
the public		Yes (externally only; access inside the pillbox is not allowed)
ConditionGood
Site history
Builtpre-WWII
Built byBritish military
MaterialsConcrete (reinforced) and steel
Battles/warsBattle of Pasir Panjang
EventsSecond World War
Garrison information
Current
commander		None
Past
commanders		Unknown
Garrisonoccupied by British military forces in Singapore (former)
OccupantsBritish military (former)

Pasir Panjang Pillbox is a strengthened-concrete defensive structure from World War II, located in Pasir Panjang in the southwestern area of Singapore.

Background and history

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In advance of the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore between 1941 and 1942 during World War II, a number of concrete-built defensive pillboxes were built along Singapore's eastern and western coasts.[1]

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  • The Pasir Panjang Machine Gun Pillbox.
    The Pasir Panjang Machine Gun Pillbox.
  • An angled defensive-wall behind the pillbox offers protection to those defending the rear of the structure (albeit having little to no protection over their heads without a roof).
    An angled defensive-wall behind the pillbox offers protection to those defending the rear of the structure (albeit having little to no protection over their heads without a roof).
  • A memorial plaque established by Singapore's National Heritage Board (NHB) in front of the pillbox commemorating the history of the structure.
    A memorial plaque established by Singapore's National Heritage Board (NHB) in front of the pillbox commemorating the history of the structure.
  • The memorial plaque's content shown here.
    The memorial plaque's content shown here.
  • The entrance-door into the pillbox, now having been sealed up and access inside prohibited.
    The entrance-door into the pillbox, now having been sealed up and access inside prohibited.
  • The rear-area of the pillbox, with square holes placed in the defensive-wall provided to allow troops to fire on approaching enemy soldiers getting too close to entering the structure.
    The rear-area of the pillbox, with square holes placed in the defensive-wall provided to allow troops to fire on approaching enemy soldiers getting too close to entering the structure.
  • The entrance-door shown here together with one of the pillbox's gun embrasures.
    The entrance-door shown here together with one of the pillbox's gun embrasures.
  • Two gun embrasures shown together with the rounded observation cupola on the roof of the pillbox.
    Two gun embrasures shown together with the rounded observation cupola on the roof of the pillbox.
  • A wide-angle view of the Pasir Panjang Pillbox.
    A wide-angle view of the Pasir Panjang Pillbox.
  • Another wide-angle view of the historic structure.
    Another wide-angle view of the historic structure.
  • The entrance-door of the pillbox with the top of the observation cupola also seen.
    The entrance-door of the pillbox with the top of the observation cupola also seen.
  • The front of the pillbox towards which an enemy force would face.
    The front of the pillbox towards which an enemy force would face.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pasir Panjang machine-gun pillbox.
  1. ^ National Heritage Board, Singapore's 100 Historic Places, p. 122, Archipelago Press, Singapore, 2007.
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