Battery Hoppock

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Battery Hoppock (1905-1946) - Battery John Hoppock was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort H.G. Wright, Fishers Island, Suffolk County, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Capt. John L. Hoppock, 15th U.S. Infantry, who was killed in action at York, Upper Canada, 27 Apr 1813, during the War of 1812. Battery construction started in August 1903, was completed in July 1905 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 29 Aug 1905 at a cost of $ 17,250.00. Deactivated in 1946.

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Long Island Sound.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 3" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 Pedestal mount carriages. 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. Power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in Battery Butterfield.

It appears that this battery was first armed in 1913 with a set of guns transferred from Battery Greble, Fort Terry, 2 Aug 1913.

In 1914 a CRF and BC station was built about 40' west of the battery. It was accepted for service 27 Mar 1914 at a cost of $ 1,347.65.

Battery Hoppock Armament (edit list)
Empl
No
Caliber
Type
Barrel
Length
Model Serial
No
Manufacturer Carriage Service
Dates
Notes
First Set Transferred from Battery Greble, Fort Terry, 2 Aug 1913
1 3" Rifle 170" M1903 61 Watervliet Pedestal mount,
M1903, #88, Detrick & Harvey
1913-1933 See note 1
2 3" Rifle 170" M1903 62 Watervliet Pedestal mount,
M1903, #87, Detrick & Harvey
1913-1933 See note 1
Second Set Transferred from Battery Hagner, Fort Terry, 26 Apr 1933
1 3" Rifle 170" M1903 59 Watervliet Pedestal mount,
M1903, #88, Detrick & Harvey
1933-1946 See note 1
2 3" Rifle 170" M1903 55 Watervliet Pedestal mount,
M1903, #87, Detrick & Harvey
1933-1946 See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 May 1926, 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 74-75, 205
Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Battery Hoppock 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 Hoppock were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.

The first set of guns was replaced with a set of guns transferred from Battery Hagner, Fort Terry, 26 Apr 1933. The original guns were placed in storage.

World War II

Battery Hoffman was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound plan throughout World War II. When the war ended in 1945 the battery was declared surplus. The guns and carriages were processed for salvage on 15 Mar 1946.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.


Location: Fishers Island, Suffolk County, New York

Maps & Images

Lat: 41.255817 Long: -72.019428

  • Multi Maps from ACME
  • Maps from Bing
  • Maps from Google
  • Elevation: 37.81'

Sources:

  • U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Long Island Sound, (HDLIS-AN-45), 15 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

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