Battery O'Rorke

Battery O'Rorke (1905-1945) - Battery O'Rorke was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Barry, Marin County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904 after Col. Patrick Henry O'Rorke, who was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg 2 July 1963 during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1903, was completed in 1905 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 8 Jun 1905 at a cost of $ 24,462.76. Deactivated in 1945. Battery O'Rorke from Battery Guthrie Battery O'Rorke looking toward Battery Guthrie Battery O'Rorke Panorama Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. Designed to protect the main channel and the northern approach mine fields. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 3" M1903 rapid fire guns mounted on M1903 Barbette carriages with pedestal mounts. The Battery had a separate 9' by 15' magazines for each gun emplacement. No hoists were required even though the loading platform was one level above the magazine. Each round was complete with shell and powder in a self contained cartridge that weighed about 27 pounds and was easily carried. The M1903 Barbette carriages and pedestal mounts were not transferred to Fort Barry until 2 Jun 1909 and the Battery was not completely armed until 1910. In addition to the magazines there was an oil room, a guard room and BC Station on the right flank of the battery. In 1919 a Coincidence Range Finder (C.R.F.) Station was added to the left flank of the battery at a cost of $ 1,560.83, it was accepted for service 25 Apr 1919. The Battery contained no motors, no hoists and no power plant, electric power was furnished by Battery Guthrie's plant and later by commercial power. Battery O'Rorke Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 169-5/8" M1903 90 Watervliet Barbette, M1903, #68, Watertown 1905-1945 See note 1 2 3" Rifle 169-5/8" M1903 91 Watervliet Barbette, M1903, #69, Watertown 1905-1945 See note 1 3 3" Rifle 169-5/8" M1903 92 Watervliet Barbette, M1903, #70, Watertown 1905-1945 See note 1 4 3" Rifle 169-5/8" M1903 94 Watervliet Barbette, M1903, #71, Watertown 1905-1945 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 74-75, 215. Note 1: Carriages sent to Battery 2 Jun 1909. Both guns and carriages declared obsolete 18 Oct 1945, processed for salvaged 7 Mar 1946.CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery O'Rorke Plan World War II (1941-1945) In 1944 the war reserve and battle allowances of ammunition for the battery was: Battery Range Yards Weight Pounds Type Shell War Reserve Battle Allowance Battery O'Rorke 10,900 15 HE 1200 800 HE = High Explosive AP = Amour Piercing Current Status Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. No gun or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Barry, Marin County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.828202 Long: -122.532461 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 198.9' Sources: Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 188 U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project Harbor Defenses of San Francisco, (CCA-P-SFB), 15 Nov 1945, CDSG Links: AngelFire - Battery O'Rorke California Military Museum CDSG Visited: 19 Aug 2009 Battery O'Rorke Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Battery O'Rorke C.R.F. Station Battery O'Rorke Rooms Battery O'Rorke Emplacement #4 Battery O'Rorke Emplacement #1