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HM Fort Knock John (U4), or Uncle Four (U4) is one of several World War II Maunsell Sea Forts; it was grounded on 1 August 1942 approximately 16.1 kilometres (9 nmi) from the coast off Essex in the Thames Estuary. In 2009, a disorientation was seen in one of the legs when viewed west to east, which the disorientation believed to be caused by Hydrodynamic scour where the fort is grounded.

Fort Knock John was decommissioned on 14 June 1945 and evacuated on 25 June 1945, but the platform was still maintained until May 1956 when it was abandoned. The fort is notable for being similar to HM Fort Roughs, which is claimed by the micronation Sealand. The fort is one of two remaining of the original four Maunsell Sea “Navy Style” Forts left in the world. Unlike HM Sunk Head and HM Tongue Sands, the fort was not destroyed, and still remains standing today.

History
During World War II, on 1 August 1942, HM Knock John was grounded off the coast of Essex to help defend the United Kingdom from German air raids. The fort was given the code nam Uncle Four or U4, which following the end of World War II, Fort Knock John was decommissioned on 14 June 1945, and 11 days later was evacuated on 25 June 1945. The fort was never reactivated for the start of the Cold War in 1947, but Maintenance of the platform was continued following the evacuation until May 1956.

Pirate Radio
Paddy Roy Bates occupied the Knock John Fort in 1965 and established Radio Essex, which would later be renamed BBMS—Britain's Better Music Station, but was better known for his post-pirate activities. Painted on the side of the fort are the words Radio Essex 222, a reference to Bates pirate radio station. Following the termination of BBMS in late 1966, he moved the station's equipment to Roughs Tower, further from the coast, but did not recommence broadcasting.

Modern History
The fort ever since its abandonments by the Royal Navy and later Paddy Roy Bates has sat in the Thames Estuary untouched, compared to Tongue Sands Fort (U3) and Sunk Head Fort (U2) which have now been destroyed. It is believed that if HM Fort Roughs had been destroyed, then Fort Knock John would have possibly been destroyed or been the last fort standing. In 2009, 43 years after its second abandonment, it was observed that there was a slight distortion of the legs when viewing the tower from west to east. It is thought that underscouring is the cause of this.

Location
Fort Knock John is located in the Thames Estuary, 16.1 kilometres (9 nmi) off the coast of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Fort Knock John, along with Fort Tongue Sands (U3) were the closest of the Maunsell Naval Forts to land, with Fort Knock John being almost directly in the center of the Thames Estuary. Like like the other Maunsell Naval Forts like HM Fort Roughs, was grounded in international waters and remained in international waters until the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which expanded the territorial waters of the United Kingdom to include Fort Knock John and the already destroyed Tongue Sands.

Confusion with HM Fort Roughs
Fort Knock John as one of two remaining Maunsell Naval Forts has been confused with the notable HM Fort Roughs, home of a micronation, the Principality of Sealand. Despite the two having notable differences, such as HM Fort Roughs has no top tower anymore and has modifications made by human habitation and Sealand making their mark on the tower, they are simply confused by the fact that they are both held of the water by two stilts, and are the same size.

Fort Knock John is known as the most Sealand like fort, to the point some have confused Fort Knock John when picturing it for HM Fort Roughs. Fort Knock John has made its appearance in add-ons for Flight Sim, but has never made any actual appearance in any games or movies unlike other Maunsell Forts.