on the outbreak of war in 1939, one of the war stations of the northfleet section was to man the 120 cm searchlights at coalhouse fort at east tilbury on the north bank of the thames estuary. these new remote-controlled 'fighting lights' installed on the north caponier of the fort were powered by hornsby engines and enabled the fort's 6-inch coast defence guns to fire at night. anti-aircraft searchlights were also installed at the fort.