Battery Hale

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Battery Hale (1898-1942) - Battery Hale was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort Greble (2), Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Captain Nathan Hale, of the revolutionary forces, who was captured by the British and hanged as a spy, 22 Sep 1776. Battery construction started in March 1879, was completed in May 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 6 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 99,034.66. Deactivated in 1942.

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 10" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the three guns mounted on the upper level and three magazines on the lower level. Three electric Taylor-Raymond back deliver shell hoists, installed in April 1905, moved the shells from the magazine level up to the gun loading platform. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in Battery Mitchell (2).

Battery Hale Armament (edit list)
Empl
No
Caliber
Type
Barrel
Length
Model Serial
No
Manufacturer Carriage Service
Dates
Notes
1 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 9 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896,
#15, Southwark
1898-1942 See note 1
2 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 12 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896,
#16, Southwark
1898-1942 See note 1
3 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 14 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896,
#17, Southwark
1898-1918 See note 2
3 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 50 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896,
#17, Southwark
1918-1942 See note 1 & 3
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1927, 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 126-127, 205
Note 1: Guns and carriages ordered scrapped 4 Nov 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Note 2: Transferred to Watervliet on 18 Jun 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Note 3: Gun from Fort Wetherill, Battery Walbach 13 Dec 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Battery Hale 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. On 25 May 1918 one gun of Battery Hale was ordered dismounted for service abroad with a shipping date of 18 Jun 1918. Gun #14 was dismounted and transferred to Watervliet on 18 Jun 1918 but was replaced with a similar model gun, #50, from Fort Wetherill, Battery Walbach, on 13 Dec 1918.

World War II

By the beginning of World War II the three guns and carriages of Battery Hale were obsolete and they were ordered scrapped on 4 Nov 1942 during the first large scale scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status

Part of Dutch Island State Wildlife Management Area Park, Dutch Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. No period guns or mounts in place.


Location: Dutch Island State Wildlife Management Area Park, Dutch Island, Newport County, Rhode Island.

Maps & Images

Lat: 41.50237 Long: -71.400286

  • Multi Maps from ACME
  • Maps from Bing
  • Maps from Google
  • Elevation: Gun #1=76.17', Gun #2=76.15, Gun #3=76.18'

Sources:

  • U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

Visited: NoHale2010.jpg

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