The 9.2-inch Mark X gun of Breakneck Battery

Breakneck Battery is located on Ministry of Defence property at the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, situated north of Lord Airey's Battery. The mounting of 9.2-inch guns on Gibraltar's batteries commenced in the 1890s, and the battery remains in its position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was used for coastal defence and was effective in dealing with hostile warships and their associated long-range attacks.

Following an explosion of a muzzle-loading gun on HMS Thunderer on 2 January 1879, a Committee on Ordnance was founded to analyze the direction of British artillery. After research and deliberations, the committee settled on rifled breech-loading guns as an improvement over customary muzzle-loading weapons. By the late 20th century, the 9.2-inch guns in Gibraltar, Bermuda, Portugal, South Africa, and Australia were the remaining examples of an emplacement that at one point had been mounted at strategic locations across the British Empire.

Breakneck Battery features a 9.2-inch Mark X breech-loading gun on a Mark V mounting. A shell store and bombproof shelter for the crew are located beneath the gun position, excavated from the solid rock. The gun originally had a steel shield in front of it, which was extended during the Second World War to form a steel enclosure open at the back to provide protection from shrapnel.

Breakneck Battery was refurbished by 10 Signal Regiment in 2012 and 2016 while they were on ceremonial duties. Members of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland also participated in the refurbishing of the coastal artillery gun in April 2012. While Breakneck Battery remains closed to the public, O'Hara's Battery and Lord Airey's Battery were opened in May 2010.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons