Battery Croghan

Battery Croghan (1900-1946) - Battery Croghan was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3-inch coastal gun battery on Fort San Jacinto, Galveston County, Texas. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Colonel George Croghan, Inspector General U.S. Army, who died 8 Jan 1849. Battery construction started on 12 Jul 1899, was completed Jan 1900, and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 31 Mar 1900 at a cost of $ 32,988.75. The 1900 Galveston hurricane damaged the battery before it could be armed and it was repaired, armed, and re-transferred for use on 21 Aug 1911. Deactivated in 1946.

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  Battery Croghan
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  Battery Croghan CRF Platform

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Galveston. The major mission of Battery Croghan was the protection of the shipping channel mine fields.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery slated for two 15-pounder 3" Driggs-Seabury M1898 rapid-fire guns mounted on masking parapet carriages. The battery was completed and accepted early in 1900 before the 1900 Galveston hurricane but not armed. The battery structure survived the hurricane but was left exposed on its pilings. The battery was refurbished and the ramparts were rebuilt. When the time came to arm the battery, the more modern rapid-fire 3" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 pedestal mounts were emplaced. The carriages were transferred 9 Dec 1907 and the guns were mounted sometime before 1 Jan 1910.

A stand-alone mine casement that was destroyed during the 1900 Galveston hurricane was relocated and reconstructed on the right rear traverse of Battery Croghan. An exposed cable tunnel leads from the mine casement room of Battery Croghan to the water's edge.

Battery Croghan Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	3" Rifle	170"	M1903		6	Watervliet	Pedestal, M1903, #29, A. & B. M.	1900-1945	See note 1
2	3" Rifle	170"	M1903		48	Watervliet	Pedestal, M1903, #30, A. & B. M.	1900-1945	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, Aug 1921, 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 74, 213 Note 1: Carriages transferred 9 Dec 1907. Guns and carriages declared obsolete 18 Oct 1945 and processed for salvage 27 May 1946. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Croghan 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 Croghan was not impacted by the World War I transfers.

World War II (1941-1945)

Battery Croghan WWII Coverage

Battery Croghan served throughout World War II but after the end of the war, all the batteries were placed in an inactive status. The guns and carriages were declared obsolete (18 Oct 1945) and were processed for salvage on 27 May 1946.

World War II Ammunition Allocation for Battery Croghan

Projectile Weight	Projectile Type	Total Rounds	In Battery	In Reserve
15 lb	High Explosive	600 Rounds	400 Rounds	200 Rounds Current Status Accessible from the end of Seawall Avenue. No period guns or mounts in place. Context Location: Fort San Jacinto, Galveston County, Texas Lat: 29.336° Long: -94.757° Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM Loading map... Elevation: Gun #1 = 21.59', Gun #2 = 21.42' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Galveston, (HD-G-ANN-45), 15 Mar 1944, CDSG Links: CDSG Gallery Battery Croghan Gun Emplacement #1 Battery Croghan Gun Emplacement #2 Battery Croghan Mine Casement Tunnel Battery Croghan Mine Casement Tunnel Inside Battery Croghan Lower Level Center Battery Croghan Gun Emplacement #2 Lower Level Battery Croghan Lower Level Magazine Battery Croghan Mine Casement End Related: CDSG, CDSG Gun Card Collection, Coastal Battery Gun List, Coastal Gun Service Dates, Endicott Period, Fort San Jacinto, NARA, New and Updated Batteries, World War I, World War II,