Battery 204 (1944-1948) - Battery 204 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Dearborn (4), Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Battery construction started 9 Jan 1943, was completed 14 Aug 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 8 Sep 1944 at a cost of $ 339,029.00. Deactivated in 1948. Site of Air Force radar sites from 1955 to 1968.
Originally built as a World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" T2-M1 rapid fire guns mounted on M3 Shielded Barbette Carriages (SBC) placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete magazine and support structure. Power was supplied by internal generators and commercial power.
These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945).
The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Source: RCW Form 1, 25 Sep 1944, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 104-105 Note 1: Gun transferred from Watervliet 2 Apr 1944.CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun transferred from Watervliet 25 May 1944.CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
During the Cold War Battery 204 was used as Rye Air Force Station (1955-1957) with a TPS-1D radar mounted on top of the battery. From 1957 to June 1968 Battery 204 was the site of an unmanned FPS-14 gap-filler radar site serviced out of North Truro Air Force Station.
Current Status
Part of Odiorne Point State Park, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. No period guns or mounts in place.
