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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}

The '''Middle Ground Coastal Battery''' is a [[heritage site]] of an antique coastal [[gun battery]] managed by the [[Indian Navy]] on an islet off the coast of [[Mumbai]], [[India]]. It is situated on ''Middle Ground'' [[island|isle]] in [[Mumbai Harbour]], a few hundred metres away from the [[Gateway of India]], in [[Thane Creek]].<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery">{{cite news|title=Middle ground coastal battery|publisher=Rediff|access-date=28 Nov 2015|url=http://pages.rediff.com/middle-ground-coastal-battery/317866}}</ref><ref name="Island Of Mumbai">{{cite news|title=Island Of Mumbai|publisher=Indian Islands Tour|access-date=28 Nov 2015|url=http://www.indianislandstour.com/islands_mumbai_harbour.htm}}</ref>

[[File:Thane Creek and Elephanta Island 03-2016 - img01 Mumbai Harbour.jpg|thumb|350px|The Middle Ground Coastal Battery in Mumbai.]]
==History==
The Middle Ground Coastal Battery was once part of a reef, like the nearby [[Oyster Rock]]. ''Middle Ground'' islet is a piece of hard [[basalt]] rock, emerging from the [[Stream|creek]] bed, having an area of a few hundred square meters.<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery"/><ref name="Island Of Mumbai"/>

The island was fortified in 1682 by the [[British East India Company]] to curb the sea [[piracy]] in the area. Later a marine police force of [[Bhandaris]] was stationed on the islet to keep an eye on the pirates who used to board ships. The [[Bhandaris]] were chosen for their honesty and local knowledge. They had a distinctive uniform of yellow turbans and blue trousers. After piracy moved to the [[South China Sea]], about two hundred years ago, the police were disbanded and the rock passed into the control of the [[Royal Navy]] (RN), and from thence to the [[Royal Indian Navy]] (RIN) and eventually to the [[Indian Navy]] (IN).<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery"/><ref name="Island Of Mumbai"/>

The RIN added to the fortifications with the use of [[cannon]]s and later on three [[anti-aircraft gun]]s to protect the harbour from a perceived [[Japan]]ese invasion during [[World War II]]. The AA guns were eventually removed, but the deep cylindrical mountings of the old guns still remain.<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery"/><ref name="Island Of Mumbai"/>

==Current use==
The island is manned by a staff of eight sailors of the [[Indian Navy]] who keep in touch with the mainland through radio communications. Currently the island serves as the saluting base to the Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the [[Western Naval Command]]. The old cannons are ceremonially fired along with a [[bugle (instrument)|bugle]] call when a new FOC-in-C takes office or when a naval ship returns to its home port in the harbour after an extended deployment.<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery"/><ref name="Island Of Mumbai"/>

The edifice stores artefacts of the colonial era such as [[ceramic]] bathtubs, etc. A maritime museum occupied a portion of the isle, but it was shut down in 2000 with the exhibits moving to the maritime museum of the decommissioned [[aircraft carrier]] {ship|INS|Virat|} when it was opened to the public. [[Ensign]]s of old naval ships are still stored on the isle.<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery"/><ref name="Island Of Mumbai"/>

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 selling it would heavily compromise the security of warships berthed at Naval Jetties.<ref name="Middle ground coastal battery"/><ref name="Island Of Mumbai"/>

==See also==
* [[List of islands of India]]
* [[Bhandaris]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mumbai topics}}
{{Islands of Mumbai harbour}}
{{coord missing|Maharashtra}}

[[Category:Geography of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Islands of Mumbai]]

Middle Ground Coastal Battery - Revision history

imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 2 templates: hyphenate params (2×);