Battery Weymouth

Battery Weymouth (1901-1942) - Battery Weymouth was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort McKinley, Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Captain George Weymouth, who made extensive explorations in this region, 1603. Battery construction started in 1898, was completed in 1901 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 22 Jan 1901 at a cost of $ 156,247.40. Deactivated 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 three 8" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing 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 three Taylor-Raymond front delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant. Battery Weymouth Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 14 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #17, Pond 1901-1942 See note 1 2 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 17 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #16, Pond 1901-1942 See note 1 3 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 22 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #23, Morgan 1901-1942 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 31 May 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 110-111 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet 7 Jun 1943, carriages were ordered salvaged on 15 Dec 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Weymouth 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 Weymouth were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. World War II (1941-1945) Battery Weymouth was obsolete at the beginning of the war but remained a part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland plan until declared no longer required and ordered salvaged on 6 Nov 1942. The guns were transferred to Watervliet on 7 Jun 1943 and the carriages were ordered salvaged on 15 Dec 1942. Current Status Mostly private property on Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine Maps & Images Lat: 43.681484 Long: -70.189502 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 92.14' Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort McKinley Military Reservation D01ME042402, December 1994, Portland , ME. Large pdf download U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Portland, Maine, (HDPB-AN-45), 11 Apr 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: No