Battery AMTB - Baker Beach

Battery AMTB - Baker Beach (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB - Baker Beach was a reinforced concrete World War II rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Winfield Scott, California. AMTB stands for Anti Motor Torpedo Boat. Battery construction started 29 Jun 1943, was completed 6 Sep 1943 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 18 Jan 1944. Deactivated in 1946.

Battery AMTB - Baker Beach History

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. This battery was designed to protect the MCII and MCIII Combined Mine Casemate located just behind it.

The AMTB battery at Baker Beach consisted of two 90mm gun mounted on 90mm M3 gun mounts. Concrete pads for both these guns were laid at Baker Beach directly in front of the MCII and MCIII Combined Mine Casemate. The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.

AMTB Front View	AMTB Interior View	AMTB Side View	AMTB Back View
The above photos were taken at Fort Monroe, Battery Parrott From FM 4-91: "This weapon consists of the 90-mm gun M1 and top carriage M1A1 on the 90-mm gun mount M3. The mount M3 is of the turret type, the shielding being constructed of boiler plates. This boiler plate shield provide fragmentation protection only. No shielding is provided at the rear due to the requirements for service of the piece. A sighting port in the shielding in front permits sighting in direction by the gun pointer." References: FM 4-91 - 90-MM Gun, Fixed Mount Service of the Piece FM 4-126 - Antiaircraft Artillery, Service of the Piece, 90-mm Antiaircraft Gun TM 9-373 - 90-mm Gun M1 and 90-mm Gun Mount T3 (M3)

Battery AMTB - Baker Beach Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		7113	General Motors	Pedestal Mount, M3, #223, General Motors	1944-1946
2	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		7151	General Motors	Pedestal Mount, M3, #224, General Motors	1944-1946
Source: 1. RCW Form 1, Oct 1943 2. CDSG 3. Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 80-81, 217. 4. Armament Data - Harbor Defenses of San Francisco, undated, NARA RG165, E257 Box 68 - Bolling Smith.

File:Fort Winfield Scott AMTB - Baker Beach.jpg.jpg

Battery AMTB - Baker Beach Plan

Current Status

Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. No period gun or mounts in place, concrete pads not visible.

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Location: Baker Beach, Fort Winfield Scott, California. Location shown is approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 37.7921469 Long: -122.4837667 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 38.53'

Sources:

• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums

Links:

Visited: 27 Aug 2009, 18 Aug 2009

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