Battery 246

Battery 246 (1942-1945) A World War II reinforced concrete gun battery built at Fort Columbia. Construction started on 28 Oct 1942 and was never completed. 6" Gun, Battery 246 Battery 246 1 Feb 1945 History Part of the Harbor Defense of the Columbia. One of three like World War II batteries that provided a "triangle of fire" protection for the mouth of the Columbia River. Battery 245 at Fort Stevens, Battery 246 at Fort Columbia and Battery 247 at Fort Canby made up the three points of the triangle. The battery was a reinforced concrete bunker housing the ammunition and control mechanisms for the two guns outside. At the date of transfer on February 2, 1945, everything was completed except for the installation of the autodyne circuits (improved the amplification radio signals), elevating mechanisms for the guns, installation of gun tubes, and electrical wiring and connections within the gun shields. The date of transfer cost was $220,168.76. The gun tubes were sent to Milagra Ridge Military Reservation, Battery 244 near San Francisco in 1947. Battery 246 did eventually receive its guns in 1994, 52 years after initial construction. Washington State Parks Service transferred these two guns from the U.S. Naval facility in Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada. These guns are identical to the guns that originally would have armed the battery. 6" Gun at Fort Columbia Originally at Fort McAndrew, Battery 281, Argentia, NL, Canada These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945). The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 6" Gun Crew Battery 246 Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 6" Rifle 302.9" T2-M1 17 Watervliet Barbette M4, #17, Wellman 1944-1947 See note 1 2 6" Rifle 302.9" T2-M1 15 Watervliet Barbette M4, #18, Wellman 1944-1947 See note 1 Source: CDSG CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 1: Guns arrived but never mounted. Shipped to Milagra Ridge Military Reservation, Battery 244 Battery 246 Plan Current Status The battery is in excellent shape. One powder room has an interpretive display complete with powder canisters. The two guns and carriages are in place although they are not the originals.. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Columbia, Pacific County, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 46.252052 Long: -123.92083 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 82' GPS Locations: 46.252052, -123.92083 Battery 246 Sources: Coast Defense Study Group Links: Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums Fort Columbia Virtual Tour Fortification ID: WA0019 - Battery 246 Visited: 22 Mar 2008 Nightshade, 16 Feb 2008, 28 Aug 2005 Picture Gallery Battery 246 Under Construction Battery 246 Main Entrance 6" Gun Emplacement from above Side view of main entrance. Entrance from the second 6-inch gun emplacement. Side view of the first gun emplacement. Side view of second gun emplacement. Front left side view of second gun emplacement. Back side of the 6-inch gun.