Battery Brooke

Battery Brooke (1904-1920) - Battery Brooke was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort St. Philip, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after 1st Lt. Francis J. Brooke, 6th U.S. Infantry, who was killed 25 Dec 1837, in action with Seminole Indians at Okeechobee, Florida. Battery construction started 25 Jun 1900, was completed 24 Oct 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 23 Feb 1904 at a cost of $ 9,816.81. Deactivated in 1920. Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of the Mississippi. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 3" M1898MI guns mounted on M1898 Masking Parapet mounts. This was a two-story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant. Battery Brooke Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 76 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #76, Driggs-Seabury 1904-1920 See note 1 2 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 77 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #77, Driggs-Seabury 1904-1920 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 26 Mar 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 70-71 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet 20 Jul 1920, carriages scrapped 20 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Brooke Plan World War I (1917-1918) The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Brooke were transferred to Watervliet 20 Jul 1920 after Fort St. Philip was deactivated on 11 Mar 1920. Current Status Private property, access by boat with permission, in very dangerous condition. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort St. Philip, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Maps & Images Lat: 29.3628307 Long: -89.4641751 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=18.99', Gun #2=18.86' Sources: Links: CDSG Visited: No