Battery Upton

Battery Upton (1897-1942) - Battery Upton was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort Wadsworth (1), Richmond County, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after Colonel Emory Upton (Cullum 1895), 4th U.S. Artillery, (MG, U.S. Volunteers), who died 15 Mar 1881. Battery construction started in 189?, was completed 1897 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 18 Dec 1897 at a cost of $ 61,498.68. Deactivated in 1942. Battery Upton 11 Jan 1932 Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Southern New York. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 10" M1888 guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns mounted on the upper level and the magazines on the lower level. Two Hodges back delivery shell hoists moved the shells from the magazine level to the gun loading platform. The Hodges shell hoists were later replaced with two Taylor-Raymond electric shell hoists. Two type A powder hoist installed. Battery Upton Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 10" Rifle 369.15" M1888 11 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #23, Bethlehem 1897-1942 See note 1 2 10" Rifle 369.15" M1888 19 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #9, Southwark 1897-1918 See note 2 2 10" Rifle 369.15" M1888MII 45 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #9, Southwark 1919-1942 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 2 Apr 1928, 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 124-125, 207 Note 1: Gun and carriage order scrapped 19 Oct 1942CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun transferred to Sand Hook Proving Ground 28 Sep 1918, carriage retained. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Upton 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. The two 10" guns of Battery Upton were listed for service elsewhere on 18 Jul 1918. Gun #19 from Battery Upton was transferred to Sandy Hook Proving Ground on 28 Sep 1918. The guns were ordered remounted later in 1918 and gun #45 from Fort Hamilton, Battery Spear replaced gun # 19 on 19 Mar 1919. World War II The salvaging of this battery was authorized on 12 November 1942. The guns and carriages were ordered salvaged on 19 Oct 1942. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Wadsworth, Richmond County, New York Maps & Images Lat: 40.6007328 Long: -74.0569067 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 15' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of New York, (HDNY-AN-44), 1 Sep 1944, CDSG Links: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Visited: 15 Aug 2010