Battery Church

Battery Church (1901-1901) - Battery Church was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort Monroe, Virginia. The battery was named in G.O. 105, 9 Oct 1902, after 1st Lt. Albert E. Church (Cullum 508), who, when 1st Lt. of the 3rd U.S. Artillery, was appointed a professor of mathematics at the Military Academy at West Point, and who died 30 Mar 1878, at West Point, New York. Battery construction started on 1 Dec 1897, was completed in December 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 3 Jan 1901 at a cost of $ 90,473.33. Deactivated in 1942. Fort Monroe, Battery Church BC and Plotting Rooms Fort Monroe Battery Church Gun Emplacement #1 Fort Monroe, Battery Church from the Rear Fort Monroe, Battery Church from the Exposed Front History Part of the Harbor Defense of Chesapeake Bay. Endicott Period Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 10" M1895MI guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages. This battery was a two story battery with the guns mounted on the upper level and the magazines on the lower level. Each gun emplacement had a separate magazine, shell room and hoist. The hoist moved the heavy 10" shells from the lower level to the loading platform on the upper level where carts moved the shells and powder bags to the guns. Battery Church Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 10" Rifle 369" M1895MI 32 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #33, Watertown 1901-1942 See note 1 2 10" Rifle 369" M1895MI 33 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #51, Watertown 1901-1942 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Jul 1919, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages ..... Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Church Plan World War I 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 Church were apparently slated for use abroad because they were ordered retained and remounted in 1918. World War II Both guns and carriages were declared obsolete and scrapped 7 may 1942. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. All of the protective sand and earth from the sides and front of the battery has been removed and the battery stands fully exposed. The battery itself is deteriorating and off-limits to all personnel. Location: Fort Monroe, Virginia Maps & Images Lat: 37.0158857 Long: -76.2988713 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 31.6' Sources: Links: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Visited: 22 Jul 2010