Battery Schenck (2)

Battery Schenck (2) (1900-1923) - Battery Schenck was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Morgan (1), Baldwin County, Alabama. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 15 May 1903 after 1st Lt. William T. Schenck, 25th U.S. Infantry, who was killed 29 Jan 1900 in action with insurgent Filipinos near Subic, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1900, and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 8 Jun 1900 at a cost of $ 9,000.00. An additional gun emplacement was started in 1903, completed in 1904, and transferred to the Coast Artillery on 28 Apr 1904 at a cost of $ 7,965.97. Battery deactivated in 1923. Battery Schenck Overview Overlooking Battery Schenck, Viewed from Battery Thomas Battery Schenck Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Mobile, Alabama. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 3" M1898MI guns mounted on M1898 Masking Parapet mounts. In 1904 an additional gun emplacement was added for one 3" M1902 gun mounted on an M1902 Pedestal carriage. The new emplacement became emplacement #1 and the original emplacements became #2 and #3. Battery Schenck Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 154.35" M1902MI 1 Bethlehem Barbette Pedestal, M1902, #1, Bethlehem 1906-1923 See note 2 2(1) 3" Rifle 154.35" M1898MI 70 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #70, Driggs-Seabury 1903-1920 See note 1 3(2) 3" Rifle 154.35" M1898MI 72 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #72, Driggs-Seabury 1903-1920 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1,Jan 1923, RCB, 10 Oct 1903, 31 Dec 1907, 31 Dec 1909, 31 Dec 1910, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 70-73, 212 Note 1: Carriages & guns arrived 14 May 1903. Guns #70 & #72 transferred to Morgan 3 Jul 1920. Carriages were ordered scrapped 20 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Carriage & gun arrived 29 Jun 1906. Gun #1 transferred to Watervliet 11 Apr 1923. Carriage #1 transferred to Fort Barrancas 19 Feb 1923. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Schenck 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 three 3" guns at Battery Schenck escaped the World War I redistribution but got caught up in the 1920 disarmament program and on 27 Mar 1920, the A.G.O. approved the removal of the two M1898MI guns to Watervliet and the salvage of the carriages. The last remaining gun was transferred to Watervliet on 11 Apr 1923 and the carriage was transferred on 19 Feb 1923 to Fort Barrancas for use in the repair of #16 carriage at Fort Pickens. Current Status Part of Fort Morgan State Park, Baldwin County, Alabama. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Morgan State Park, Baldwin County, Alabama Maps & Images Lat: 30.229529 Long: -88.023459 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: #1 21.138', #2 21.09', #3 20.713 Sources: Links: CDSG Visited: 1 Oct 2021, 23 Dec 2011, 10 Dec 2009 Picture Gallery View of the added Gun position at Battery Schenck, Fort Morgan Alabama Looking at Battery Schenck from Battery Thomas toward the north, Fort Morgan Alabama Battery Schenck Gun Emplacement #1 Battery Schenck Gun Emplacement #2 Battery Schenck Gun Emplacement #2 Closeup Battery Schenck Gun Emplacement #3 Battery Schenck Gun Emplacement #3 Closeup Battery Schenck Magazine Battery Schenck Magazine