Fort Delimara’s Facebook page took to social media to highlight a very interesting fact about how heavy guns were transported and mounted in forts, back in the day.

Transporting and mounting the colossal 12.5-inch, 38-ton RML (Rifled Muzzle Loader) guns in Maltese forts was a monumental task that required remarkable ingenuity and effort. These guns, crucial for the defense of Malta, had to be transported from the dockyard to their respective forts—a journey that was as challenging as it was lengthy.

Fort Delimara received six of these formidable guns, while two were destined for Fort St. Elmo and The National War Museum. The path to Fort Delimara was particularly demanding. A special road was constructed from sea level to the fort's main gate, an engineering feat that is still visible today.

The process of moving the guns uphill was painstakingly slow, involving wooden platforms, rollers, capstans, and jacks. Each gun took nearly three months to make the arduous ascent to Fort Delimara.

The journey to Fort St. Elmo, while shorter, was still a considerable challenge. The guns arrived near the Jews' Sallyport in Valletta and then took over a month to be maneuvered into position on St. Gregory Bastion and St. Lazarus Battery.

This complex operation showcases the immense effort required to fortify Malta, with each gun representing a triumph of determination and teamwork in the face of daunting physical obstacles. The remnants of these transportation efforts serve as a reminder to the ingenuity and perseverance of those who safeguarded Malta’s shores.