Battery AMTB - Point Wilson (1944-1946) - Battery AMTB - Point Wilson was a reinforced concrete World War II rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Worden, Jefferson County, Washington. Battery construction started 1 Nov 1943, was completed 25 Feb 1944 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 25 Mar 1944. Total cost was $ 26,142. Deactivated in 1946. Also referred to as Battery AMTB 6 within the harbor defense.
The AMTB battery at Point Wilson consisted of two 90mm gun mounted on 90mm M3 gun mounts. Concrete pads for both these guns were laid at the edge of Point Wilson, in front of the Point Wilson Light House. The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.
From FM 4-91:
"This weapon consists of the 90-mm gun M1 and top carriage M1A1 on the 90-mm gun mount M3. The mount M3 is of the turret type, the shielding being constructed of boiler plates. This boiler plate shield provide fragmentation protection only. No shielding is provided at the rear due to the requirements for service of the piece. A sighting port in the shielding in front permits sighting in direction by the gun pointer."
References:
FM 4-91 - 90-MM Gun, Fixed Mount Service of the Piece
FM 4-126 - Antiaircraft Artillery, Service of the Piece, 90-mm Antiaircraft Gun
TM 9-373 - 90-mm Gun M1 and 90-mm Gun Mount T3 (M3)
Source: 1. RCW Form 1, 25 Mar 1944, Coast Defense Study Group 2. Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 80-81. 3. NARA RG165, E257 Box 68 - Bolling Smith
Battery AMTB - Point Wilson Plan
Current Status
No gun or mounts in place. The circular concrete pads have been broken up by erosion and by jetty stone being dumped on them.
U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project, Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound, (CCA-AN-PS), 12 Aug 1945, CDSG
Seacoast Artillery Ammunition Report of Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound For the period 1 July 1945 to 31 Dec 1945, NARA RG165, E257 Box 68 - Bolling Smith.
