Battery 127: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:58, 6 May 2010

Battery 127 (1942-1948) - A World War II era reinforced concrete Coastal Artillery Battery built in 1942-1943 on Fort MacArthur, California. On 10 Jun 1946 War Department General Order 51 officially changed the name of Battery 127 to Battery Bunker in honor of Col. Paul D. Bunker. Guns were scrapped and removed about 1948 but the concrete Battery support structure remains.

Caretaker Crew for Battery Bunker 1946, image courtesy Fort MacArthur Museum

Battery 127 History

Part of the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles.

Battery 127 was a battery of two, 16", Mark II-M1, Long Range naval guns on M4-1942 Barbette carriages. Each gun position was in a reinforced concrete casemate. The casemates were 500' apart at either end of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. Construction began Apr 1942 and was completed Dec 1943. The Battery was turned over for service 11 Sep 1944 at a cost of $1,256,410.

The 16" guns could fire one-ton projectiles nearly 28 miles and covered most of the northern approach to the Los Angeles Harbor.

**Battery 127 Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	16" Rifle	66.7'	MarkII-M1	54	Watervliet	Barbette, M4-1942, #30, Wellman	1944-1948	Mounted 1944
2	16" Rifle	66.7'	MarkII-M1	72	Watervliet	Barbette, M4-1942, #45, Mesta	1944-1948	Mounted 1944
Source: Coast Defense Study Group

Current Status

Part of the White Point Nature Preserve. No guns or carriages in place. Casemates are open to the public but all of the interior Battery rooms are sealed off. No interpretive signage.

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Location: White Point Military Reservation just North of Fort MacArthur, California

Maps & Images

Lat: 33.719954 Long: -118.313227