Battery Tousard

Battery Tousard (1910-1942) - Battery Tousard was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Getty, Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after Lieutenant Louis Tousard, 2nd U.S. Artillerists and Engineers, Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army, who was commended by act of Congress of 27 Oct 1778, for gallantry and zeal displayed in action in Rhode Island, and who died 18 Sep 1821, at New Orleans. Battery construction started in Jul 1901, was completed in Jul 1903 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 7 Jun 1910 at a cost of $ 222,000. Deactivated in 1942. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 12" M1900 guns mounted on M1901 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines and support rooms on the lower level. Shell were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by shell hoists. The original shell hoists were replaced in 1918 with three Taylor-Raymond back delivery electric hoists that were accepted for service 30 Sep 1918. Electrical power was furnished from a separate emplacement power plant located across the roadway in back of emplacement #3. The guns were mounted in 1904 but the battery was not accepted for service until 1910 probably because the post was not garrisoned until 16 Jul 1909. Battery Tousard Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 12" Rifle 480" M1900 4 Watervliet Disappearing, M1901, #8, Midvale 1910-1942 See note 1 2 12" Rifle 480" M1900 8 Watervliet Disappearing, M1901, #7, Midvale 1910-1942 See note 1 3 12" Rifle 480" M1900 7 Watervliet Disappearing, M1901, #9, Midvale 1910-1942 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1927, 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 150-151, 205 Note 1: guns & carriages ordered scrapped 4 Nov 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Tousard Plan World War I The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. Battery Tousard was not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. In 1923 a type "D" fire control switchboard was added to two lower rooms in emplacement #1 and accepted for service 6 Jul 1923. A plotting room was added to rooms below emplacement #2 and accepted for service at the same time. World War II By the beginning of World War II all of the Endicott Period batteries on Fort Getty were obsolete including Battery Tousard. The guns and carriages of Battery Tousard were ordered scrapped on 4 Nov 1942 during the first large scale scrap drive of World War II. Current Status Part of Fort Getty City Park, Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. No period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Getty City Park, Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. Maps & Images Lat: 41.489983 Long: -71.399159 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=42.25', Gun #2 & #3= 42.29' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: No