Battery Wilkin

Battery Wilkin (1902-1928) - Battery Wilkin was a concrete Endicott Period 6" disappearing gun battery located on Fort Washington (1), Maryland. The Battery was named for Capt. Alexander Wilkin, 17th U.S. Infantry, on 15 May 1903. Battery construction started in June 1899, was completed 27 Oct 1902 and was transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 27 Oct 1902 at a total cost of $64,630.00. Deactivated in 1928. Battery Wilkin Panorama History Part of the Harbor Defense of the Potomac. Battery Wilkin was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 6" rapid fire gun battery with two M1897MI guns mounted on M1898 disappearing carriages. The carriages arrived at Fort Washington on 26 Jun 1900 from Watertown Arsenal. The guns were mounted on the carriages in August 1902. At least 10 rounds were fired by the battery for practice over its lifetime. The Battery was deactivated sometime in 1928 and the guns were shipped to Aberdeen on 27 Aug 1929. The carriages were scrapped 9 Aug 1929. Battery Wilkin Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 6" Rifle 277.85" M1897MI 25 Watervliet Disappearing, M1898, #12, Watervliet 1902-1929 See Note 1 Rounds fired 5 2 6" Rifle 277.85" M1897MI 12 Watervliet Disappearing, M1898, #11, Watervliet 1902-1929 See Note 1 Rounds fired 5 Source: Coast Defense Study Group, RCW Form 1 1 Feb 1919, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 94, 209 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA, CDSG gun carriage card collection from NARA. Current Status On Fort Washington National Park, Maryland. No period guns or carriages are in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Washington National Park, Maryland. Maps & Images Lat: 38.7045076 Long: -77.0276597 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 131.182' Sources: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Links: Visited: 4 Apr 2009 Battery Wilkin Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #1 from Loading Level Battery Wilkin Gun Emplacement #1 Counterweight Well Battery Wilkin Gun Emplacement #1 Shell Tray Battery Wilkin Gun Emplacement #1 Shell Hoist Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #1 Shell Tray from Above Fort Washington, Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #1 Counterweight Well Closeup, photo by John Stanton 4 Apr 2009 Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #2 Counterweight Well Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #2 Shell Hoist Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #2 from left Loading Level Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #2 from Above Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #2 Lower Level Battery Wilkin, Gun Emplacement #2 from Parade Battery Wilkin Shell Tray