Battery Vicars

Battery Vicars (1902-1917) - Battery Thomas Vicars is a concrete Endicott Period battery located on Fort Worden, Jefferson County, Washington. Named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after 1st Lt. Thomas Allen Vicars, 27th U.S. Infantry, who was killed in the Philippine campaign against the Moros 2 May 1902. Construction began in 1900, was completed in 1901, and was transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 16 Jun 1902. Both guns were removed in 1917. Battery Vicars Mount Position Gun #2 Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Designed to protect both the Straight of Juan De Fuca and the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound. Built with two 5" M1897 rapid-fire guns on M1896 balanced pillar mounts in a concrete battery at a cost of $11,000. The battery is a relatively small one with five rooms below the gun mounts. Each gun position has a magazine and a storeroom and shares a common latrine. Battery Vicars Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 5" Rifle 225" M1897 22 Bethlehem Balanced Pillar Mount, M1896, #20, Bethlehem 1902-1917 See Note 1 Carriage arrived 29 Dec 1900 2 5" Rifle 225" M1897 9 Bethlehem Balanced Pillar Mount, M1896, #9 Bethlehem 1902-1917 See Note 1 Carriage arrived 24 Jan 1901 Source: Coast Defense Study Group, RCW Form 1, Apr 1932, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 88, 217 Note 1: Both guns sent to Morgan 31 Dec 1917. Both carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Vicars 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. Both of Battery Vicars guns were removed 31 Dec 1917 for use overseas in World War I and both mounts were scrapped in 1920. Both gun tubes from Battery Vicars actually made it to France in 1918 and both were returned to the U.S. in 1919 after the end of World War I. Battery Vicars was not rearmed after World War I. Current Status Part of the Fort Worden State Park Conference Center. The Battery is accessible to the public and the rooms are clean and dry but empty. No guns or carriages are in place. The 1982 movie, "An Officer and a Gentleman", starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger and Lou Gossett was filmed on location at Fort Worden and Battery Vicars was featured in one scene. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location: Point Wilson on Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, Jefferson County, Washington. Maps & Images Lat: 48.142459 Long: -122.759643 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 42' Sources: Links: Excellent pictures and description Battery Vicars Virtual Tour CDSG Visited: 19 Jul 2008 Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Battery Vicars Gun position #1 Battery Vicars Gun position #1 Magazine Door Battery Vicars Gun position #2 Magazine Door Battery Vicars Gun position #2 Battery Vicars Magazine Entrances