Battery Guenther: Difference between revisions

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== {{PAGENAME}} History ==
== {{PAGENAME}} History ==
A concrete [[Category:Taft Period Battery|Taft Period]] mortar battery protecting the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean approaches. Originally armed with four, 12" M1890MI mortars on A.R.F., M1896MI Carriages, two in each of two mortar pits. Each pair of mortars required about 30 men to operate. All four of the mortars at Battery Guenther were moved from [[Battery Clark]] at [[Fort Stevens]] and a 6" gun was moved from [[Battery Harvey Allen]] at [[Fort Canby]].
A concrete [[Taft Period]] mortar battery protecting the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean approaches. Originally armed with four, 12" M1890MI mortars on A.R.F., M1896MI Carriages, two in each of two mortar pits. Each pair of mortars required about 30 men to operate. All four of the mortars at Battery Guenther were moved from [[Battery Clark]] at [[Fort Stevens]] and a 6" gun was moved from [[Battery Harvey Allen]] at [[Fort Canby]].


The each of the mortars at Battery Guenther were test fired twice in Apr 1922 with shot weighing 1,046 pounds each. The battery was the last seacoast mortar battery built in the United States.
The each of the mortars at Battery Guenther were test fired twice in Apr 1922 with shot weighing 1,046 pounds each. The battery was the last seacoast mortar battery built in the United States.
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[[Category:Washington Battery]]
[[Category:Washington Battery]]
[[Category:Coastal Battery]]
[[Category:Coastal Battery]]
[[Category:Endicott Period Battery]]
[[Category:Taft Period Battery]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Preserved]]
[[Category:Preserved]]
[[Category:Active Military]]
[[Category:Active Military]]
[[Category:Fort Canby]]
[[Category:Fort Canby]]

Revision as of 22:21, 1 July 2009

Battery Guenther (1917-1942) - A concrete mortar battery built at Fort Canby between Jun 1918 and May 1922 and transferred for service 30 Jun 1922. Battery Guenther was named for Brig. Gen. Francis L. Guenther a U.S. Civil War veteran who died 5 Dec 1918. Battery Guenther is the only mortar battery originally built in a 2/1 configuration (2 mortars per pit) rather than the standard 4/1 configuration (4 mortars per pit) of the Endicott Period.

Battery Guenther History

A concrete Taft Period mortar battery protecting the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean approaches. Originally armed with four, 12" M1890MI mortars on A.R.F., M1896MI Carriages, two in each of two mortar pits. Each pair of mortars required about 30 men to operate. All four of the mortars at Battery Guenther were moved from Battery Clark at Fort Stevens and a 6" gun was moved from Battery Harvey Allen at Fort Canby.

The each of the mortars at Battery Guenther were test fired twice in Apr 1922 with shot weighing 1,046 pounds each. The battery was the last seacoast mortar battery built in the United States.

Battery Guenther was deactivated in 1942. The mortars and carriages were salvaged in 1943.

Battery Guenther Armament (edit list)
Empl
No
Caliber
Type
Barrel
Length
Model Serial
No
Manufacturer Carriage Service
Dates
Notes
A-1 12" Mortar 129.25" M1890MI 29 Builders Mortar, M1896MI,
#124, Am. Hoist & D. Co.
1921-1942 From Battery Clark
A-2 12" Mortar 129.25" M1890MI 35 Builders Mortar, M1896MI,
#123, Am. Hoist & D. Co.
1921-1942 From Battery Clark
B-1 12" Mortar 129.25" M1890MI 48 Watervliet Mortar, M1896MI,
#119, Am. Hoist & D. Co.
1921-1942 From Battery Clark
B-2 12" Mortar 129.25" M1890MI 34 Watervliet Mortar, M1896MI,
#120, Am. Hoist & D. Co.
1921-1942 From Battery Clark
Source: CDSG
Battery Guenther Plan


Current Status

The battery is not accessible to the public except for by permission of the Coast Guard. The battery is in excellent condition structurally but has been modified as a haunted house and has Halloween themed graffiti. Mortar emplacements A-2 and B-1 are overgrown. The rooms are dry with the exception of the oil room and truck and tool rooms in pit #2. All rooms are being used as storage and as such filled with clutter. Some of the rooms are not accessible. No period guns or carriages are in place.


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Location: Battery located at Fort Canby (Cape Disappointment State Park) on the property of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment.

Maps & Images

Lat: 46.28093 Long: -124.054667

Sources:

Links:


Visited: 26 Jun 2009

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