Battery 238

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Battery 238 (1942-1946) - A World War II era Battery built in 1942-1943 as a reinforced concrete Coastal Artillery Battery on Fort Rosecrans. Construction began 2 Feb 1942 and was completed 14 Oct 1943. The Battery was turned over for service 20 Jun 1944 at a cost of $199,661.23. Later named after Capt. Charles Humphreys the first commanding officer of Fort Rosecrans. Guns were removed about 1946 but the concrete Battery support structure and fire control post remain. Also known as Battery Humphreys.

Battery 238 History

Battery 238 was a battery of two, 6" rapid fire Barbette mounted guns on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure.

6" Gun at Fort Columbia

These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945).

The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Canada.

6" Gun Crew

**Battery 238 Armament**
No.	Caliber	Length	Model	Serial No.	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates
1	6" Rifle	302.9"	M1903-A2	1	Watervliet	Barbette M1, #101, Wellman Eng. Co.	1944-1946
2	6" Rifle	302.9"	M1903-A2	101	Watervliet	Barbette M1, #104, Wellman Eng. Co.	1944-1946
Source: Coastal Defense Study Group