Battery Experimental

Battery Experimental (1916-1918) - Battery Experimental was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort Morgan (1), Baldwin County, Alabama. The battery was expressly built to test the survivability of Endicott Period gun batteries against bombardment from battleships. Deactivated in 1918. Battery Experimental Gun Emplacement Battery Experimental B.C. Station and Mezzanine Room Entrance. The Magazine Level is Buried in Sand Fort Morgan Battery Experimental World War I (1917-1918) Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 10" M1888MII gun mounted on an M1896 Disappearing carriage. This was a single-story test battery with the gun loading platform located on the same level as the magazine and the plotting room. An empty room was built on a mezzanine level and above that room was an open BC Station. Shells were to be moved from the magazine to the gun loading platform by an ammunition truck. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electricity furnished from Battery Dearborn. The battery was built on a remote section of the reservation. This battery was built to test the survivability of Endicott Period gun batteries against bombardment from battleships. Testing took place 13-14 Mar 1916. Two battleships sent a total of 55 shells into the experimental battery using various test scenarios. The test results indicated that there was less than a 10% chance of hitting the target and even less chance of those shells hitting the target causing any damage. The M1888MII #56 gun was ordered removed for service abroad 25 May 1918 and was removed 11-12 Jul 1918. Battery Experimental Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 10" Rifle 340" M1888MII 56 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #27, Bethlehem 1916-1918 See note 1 Source: CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 124-125 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Current Status In the beach sand, no period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Morgan, Baldwin County, Alabama Maps & Images Lat: 30.2289631 Long: -88.0012822 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 10' (at loading platform) Sources: Report of Experimental Firing at Type Seacoast Emplacement, Fort Morgan, ALA. March 13 and 14, 1916, U.S. Army, Board of Ordnance, 1917, CDSG Digital Library Links: CDSG Visited: 27 Apr 2013, 28 Dec 2011