the only local military action during world war ii occurred on 9 december 1941. at around mid-day, the approached georgetown on the surface with the intention of sinking any ships at anchor or shelling the cable station. fort bedford, a two-gun shore battery at cross hill, above georgetown, fired on the submarine. the guns scored no hits but the u-boat submerged and retreated. the battery remains largely intact to this day, together with its guns, bl 5.5 inch mark i naval guns removed from during a refit in malta in 1938.