Battery 237 (1943-1946) - A World War II era Battery built in 1943 as a reinforced concrete coastal artillery battery on Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California. Later named Battery Woodward for Colonel Charles G. Woodward, who had commanded Fort Rosecrans as a captain in 1906-1907. Construction began 4 Mar 1943 and was completed 29 Oct 1943. The Battery was turned over for service 31 Aug 1944 at a cost of $ 255,912.24. Deactivated in 1946.
Battery 237 was a battery of two, 6" rapid fire Barbette mounted guns on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. Battery 237 was built late in the war and was intended to replace the two former Marine batteries, Battery Gillespie and Battery Zeilin.
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, 4 Jan 1945, 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:Guns transferred 28 Jul 1943, carriages transferred 2 Jun 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Battery 237 Plan
Current Status
Active Navy military installation. No public access. No guns or carriages in place.
