Battery Smur

Battery Smur (1900-1920) - Battery Smur was built at Fort Stevens between Aug 1899 and Apr 1900 at a cost of $11,954.57 and was transferred for service 28 Jun 1900. On 27 Dec 1904 the battery was named after 3rd Lt. Elias P. Smur who died of wounds received at the Battle of Lyons's Creek, 19 Oct 1814 during the War of 1812. Deactivate in 1920. Exterior view of Battery Smur 18 May 2008 Gun Mount position on Battery Smur, 18 May 2008 Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of the Columbia. A concrete Endicott Period battery facing the Columbia River. The battery was built in 1900 to protect mine operations in the Columbia River with two rapid-fire 3-inch M1898MI guns on M1898 Masking Parapet mounts. The rooms on the lower level were used for a plotting room and magazines for the battery. Battery Smur Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 30 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #30, Driggs-Seabury 1900-1920 2 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 35 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #35, Driggs-Seabury 1900-1920 Source: CDSG Battery Smur Plan World War I (1917-1918) 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 Smur was unaffected by the World War I redistribution but was caught up in the following 1920 disarmament program that saw all of the M1898 gun batteries deactivated and disarmed. Battery Smur was deactivated in 1920 with the guns removed and carriages scrapped. World War II (1941-1945) Battery Smur was used as a mine fuse magazine during World War II. Current Status The battery is intact and accessible to the public but is located a bit off the beaten path. No guns or carriages are in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Stevens (1), Clatsop County, Oregon Maps & Images Lat: 46.206407 Long: -123.958853 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 25' GPS Locations: 46.206398, -123.95889 Battery Smur 46.206404, -123.95885 Gun Emplacement #1 46.206441, -123.958941 Gun Emplacement #2 Sources: Hanft, Marshall, Fort Stevens: Oregon's defender at the river of the West, Your Town Press, 1980, page 158-161 Links: CDSG Fortification ID: OR0152 - Battery Smur Visited: 18 May 2008 Picture Gallery Battery Smur Field of Fire, 18 May 2008 Battery Smur Interior, 18 May 2008