Battery Mason

Battery Mason (1906-1942) - Battery Philip Mason was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Preble, Cumberland County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after 1st Lt. Philip D. Mason, 1st U.S. Artillery, who died 18 Jul 1864, of wounds received in action at Trevillian Station, Virginia, 11 Jun 1864. Battery transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 16 May 1906 at a cost of $ 8,042.67. Gun transferred to new location in 1942. Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Portland, Maine. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 3" M1902MI gun mounted on a M1902 Pedestal carriage. This was a two story battery with the gun located on the upper level and the magazine 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 commercial power. Battery Mason Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 154.35" M1902MI 2 Bethlehem Pedestal, M1902, #2, Bethlehem 1906-1942 See note 1 Source: RCB, 31 Dec 1910, 31 Dec 1916, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 72-73 Note 1: Gun & carriage moved to new emplacement 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Mason 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 Mason were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. World War II (1941-1945) Battery Mason was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland plan throughout World War II. When the war ended in 1945 the battery was declared surplus. The guns and carriages were processed for salvage. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Preble, Cumberland County, Maine Maps & Images Lat: 43.649584 Long: -70.226283 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 41' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Portland, Maine, (HDPB-AN-45), 11 Apr 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: No