Battery Wilhelm

Battery Wilhelm (1902-1942) - Battery Wilhelm was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 12 inch gun battery on Fort Flagler, Washington. Named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after Capt. William Herman Wilhelm, 21st U.S. Infantry who was killed in 1901 while fighting Philippine insurgents. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1899, and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 17 Aug 1902 at a cost of $71,190.68. Deactivated in 1942. Battery Wilhelm History Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Endicott Period Battery Rawlins, Battery Revere and Battery Wilhelm were built starting in 1897 and completed 1899 as a single large unnamed battery with four 10" and two 12" rifles, all Barbette mounted. The large Battery was initially named Battery Wilhelm in 1902 when it was accepted for service and administrative separated into three batteries in 1906. The part that became Battery Rawlins was originally armed with two 10" M1888MII rifles mounted on M1893 Barbette carriages. The part that became Battery Revere was armed similarly to Battery Rawlins. Battery Wilhelm became the middle battery armed with two 12" M1888MII rifles mounted on M1897 Altered Gun Lift Carriages. These carriages were unique in that only three were built and placed in service; they were left over from the gun lift carriage program that started and ended with Battery Potter at Fort Hancock. In 1914 the telephone switchboard and batteries were removed from the plotting room building behind Battery Wilhelm and placed underground in Battery Wilhelm for greater protection. The plotting room building was subsequently modified to provide a dormitory room for telephone operators and a workspace for artillery engineering. Battery Wilhelm Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 12" Rifle 440" M1888MII 35 Watervliet Altered Gun Lift Barbette, M1897, #2, Watertown 1902-1942 See Note 1 & 2 2 12" Rifle 440" M1888MII 25 Watervliet Altered Gun Lift Barbette, M1897, #1, Watertown 1902-1942 See Note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, Aug 1921, 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 146, 216 Note 1: Both guns and carriages ordered salvaged 24 Oct 1942 CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Carriage card shows carriage #3 installed, Form 1 shows #2 installed Battery Wilhelm Plan World War II The guns and carriages of Battery Wilhelm were ordered scrapped on 24 Oct 1942. Current Status A part of Fort Flagler State Park. No guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Flagler, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 48.102158 Long: -122.694304 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 132.87' GPS Locations: 48.102158, -122.694304 Battery Wilhelm Sources: Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums Links: Battery Wilhelm Photo Gallery Fortification ID: WA0075 - Battery Wilhelm Visited: 18 Jun 2009, 19 Jul 2008 Picture Gallery Battery Wilhelm BC Station Battery Wilhelm Plotting Room Bldg. Battery Wilhelm Observation Post Battery Wilhelm Shell Hoist Above Battery Wilhelm, Hoist Mechanism Below Battery Wilhelm, Gun Emplacement #1 Battery Wilhelm, Gun Emplacement #2 Battery Wilhelm, Gun Emplacement #2 Mount Base Battery Electrical Power House