Wave Basin Battery was originally built in the 1860s and was armed with four 80-pdr RML guns. The two end guns were on central pivots firing en-barbette, while the two gun between them were on front pivot firing through embrasures. Between 1882 and 1887 these four 80-pdr guns are shown on armament returns.
In 1895 one Machine Gun (Gatling) and one 3-pdr QF gun were added to the armaments. By 1902 the four RML guns had been removed and the position armed with four machine guns. The number of machine guns was gradually reduced in the run up to 1914. It is possible some of these machine guns were mounted on the parapet wall adjacent to the battery.
The Number I gun position has been concreted over, possibly as a result of the installation of the boom defences adjacent to it. The Number 4 gun, with a central pivot, survives, the the Number 2 and 3 guns still have some of their races for the front pivot traversing carriage in place.
For most of its life the battery was used primarily for training purposes.