Battery Barlow-Saxton

Battery Barlow-Saxton (1915-1943) - Battery Barlow-Saxton was a reinforced concrete Taft Period 12" mortar battery located on Fort MacArthur, California. The Battery was named for Bg. Gen. John Whitney Barlow and Maj. Gen. Rufus Saxton. Battery construction started 1 Apr 1915, was completed 27 Jun 1919 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 27 Jun 1919 at a total cost of $290,300. Guns were mounted 29 Dec 1916. Deactivated in 1943.

Battery Saxton Mortar Loading circa 1920s, image courtesy Fort MacArthur Museum

Battery Barlow-Saxton History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Los Angeles.

Battery Barlow-Saxton was a reinforced concrete Taft Period mortar battery with eight rifled M1912 12" mortars mounted on M1896III mortar carriages. This battery was unusual because all eight of the mortars were in a straight line instead of being clustered in groups of four. This configuration made them easier to service and faster to load and fire.

The battery was divided into four mortar pits with two mortars in each pit. The first two mortar pits were designated as Battery Saxton and the second two pits were designated as Battery Barlow but the complete structure was referred to as Battery Barlow-Saxton. Each of the mortars had a 360 degree field of fire and a range of about 11 miles with a 700 lb projectile. With a 1,046 lb projectile the range was reduced to about 6.7 miles.

Battery Barlow-Saxton Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
Battery Saxton
A-1	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#37	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #29, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
A-2	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#30	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #30, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
B-1	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#31	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #31, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
B-2	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#32	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #32, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
Battery Barlow
A-1	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#33	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #33, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
B-2	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#34	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #34, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
A-1	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#35	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #35, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
B-2	12" Mortar	200"	M1912		#36	Watervliet	Mortar M1896MIII, #36, Watertown	1916-1943	Mounted 29 Dec 1916
Source: RCW Form 1, 27 Jun 1919

Battery Barlow-Saxton Plan 1919

Current Status

No guns or carriages in place. Covered with graffiti and trash, unprotected by the Los Angeles Unified School District who has possession of the property.

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Location: On Fort MacArthur, California. Maps & Images Lat: 33.7161655 Long: -118.2956153 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 244'

Sources:

• Fort MacArthur Museum
• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums

Links:

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