Fort Schwatka

Fort Schwatka (1941-1945) - A World War II Coastal Fort first established in 1941 on Ulakta Head at the North end of Amaknak Island, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska. Named Fort Schwatka pursuant to an order dated 22 Mar 1943 after Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka (Cullum 2389), who led an expedition to explore the Yukon River in 1883. Abandoned in 1945. Fort Schwatka Barracks on the Saddle between Hills (after abandonment) World War II (1941-1945) Part of the Harbor Defense of Dutch Harbor. Initial construction began in the summer of 1941 by civilian contractors from the Seims Drake Puget Sound Company along with members of the 206th Coast Artillery. The initial construction built the original defenses and the cantonment area. Initial armament was 155mm GPF guns, first on-field mounts and later on Panama mounts. Fort Schwatka World War II Battery (edit list) Battery Click on Battery links below No. Caliber Type Mount Service Years Battery Cost Notes Battery 402 2 8" M1 Barbette 1942-1943-1943-1945 $ ? Tac 3 Battery 299 2 6" Shielded Barbette Not Built $ ? Battery 155 - Fort Schwatka 4 155mm Panama Mounts 1941-1943 $ ? Battery AMTB - Amaknak Spit 2 2 90mm 90mm Fixed Mobile 1944-1950 $ ? Tac 1a Source: CDSG After the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor in 1942, the facilities were upgraded and the defenses strengthened. In February 1943 the Navy Seabees began to replace the civilian contractors as they left. The largest battery in the harbor defense, the 8" Battery 402 and its associated PSR was completed in November 1943. This battery was built over the site of two emplacements of the earlier Battery 155 - Fort Schwatka. In addition to Battery 402, a smaller 90mm AMTB battery was constructed on the spit below, see Battery AMTB - Amaknak Spit. Fort Schwatka was also the site of the Harbor HECP/HDCP used to identify and challenge ships entering the harbor, it was completed and accepted for service in February 1944. An SCR 582 radar set was associated with the HECP/HDCP. On 11 Apr 1945 Fort Schwatka was placed on caretaker status. The 8" guns were destroyed by explosives in August 1946. Current Status Part of the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area. Remains on Ulakta Head, Amaknak Island, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska. Many of the concrete structures of the gun batteries and the fire control stations survive. The Ounalashka Corporation and the National Park Service have developed an excellent NPS - Fort Schwatka Self Guided Tour booklet on Fort Schwatka. Hiking permits are required for visitors. Fort Schwatka Self Guided Tour Stops 1. EM Barracks 2. Enlisted Men’s Recreational Area 3. Cabana and Enlisted Mens Life in a Barracks 4. The Dispensary and Building Fort Schwatka 5. Administration, Personnel & an Officer’s Life 6. Ammunition Magazines 7. Harbor Entrance Command Post 8. Battery Command and Base End Station 9. Battery 402 10. 8–Inch Gun Platform 11. Wooden Sled: Hauling Materials 12. Panama Mounts and 155mm Guns 13. Base End Station: Defense & Observation Location: Ulakta Head, Amaknak Island, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska. Maps & Images Lat: 53.9141 Long: -166.5073 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 194' GPS Locations: 53.91410, -166.50730 Fort Schwatka 53.92061, -166.51035 HECP/HDCP 53.92303, -166.51441 Battery 402 53.92379, -166.51614 Battery 155 - Fort Schwatka 53.90168, -166.511804 Battery AMTB - Unalaska Spit See Also: Harbor Defense of Dutch Harbor Fort Mears Fort Learnard Fort Brumback Sources: Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 27 U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project Harbor Defenses of Dutch Harbor, (SRHDDH), 1944, CDSG Denfield, Colt, Dutch Harbor Coastal Defenses, Coast Defense Study Group Journal, Volume 7, Number 1, February, 1993, page 30-36. Willford, Glen M., Visitation to Alaskan WWII Coast Defense Sites, August 1997, The CDSG Newsletter, The Coast Defense Study Group, Inc., November 1997, page 2-3. NPS - Fort Schwatka Self Guided Tour (large pdf) Excellent source USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2436030 CDSG Links: North American Forts - Fort Schwatka NPS - Battle for the Aleutians Visited: No