Sunderland Dockyard was a principle shipbuilding area and produced more than a quarter of Britain’s ships. Despite the importance of Sunderland it did not received much attention with regard to defences. Between 1859 and 1860 only two batteries were built, one in the North and one in the South. They were:
Listing Type : Defended Commercial Port
Location : England
Abbs Point Battery was built with three SB guns until 1887 when they were replaced with three 64-pdr RML guns. Disarmed in 1902.
Rocker Battery, was adjacent to Abbs Point Battery. This Battery was built in 1914 with two 4.7-inch and later upgraded to two 6-inch BL guns.
Wave Basin Battery with four SB guns, upgraded to 80-pdrs RML gun in 1882. One Machine Gun and one 3-pdr QF gun were later added to the armaments. The RML guns removed in 1902.
The armament of the principal coast defence batteries over the years is outlined in the following table.
BATTERIES IN SUNDERLAND
| Battery or Fort | 1880-89 | 1890-99 | 1900-10 | 1911-20 | 1921-40 | 1941-56 |
| Abbs Point Battery | 3 X SB | 3 X 64_pdr RML | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Rocker Battery | NIL | NIL | NIL | 2 X 4.7-inch Q.F. (from 1914) | NIL | 2 X 6-inch BL (1947) |
| Wave Basin Battery | 4 X 80pdr RML | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL |